We are five days into 2026, happy new year! This is my first post on this blog this year and I am looking forward to an interesting year and to take on more challenges and opportunities.

I stepped into the year reading Africa is not a Country by Dipo Faloyin and if you are from the continent, this book is what I would like to thrust into people’s hands who have for some reason always thought that Nigeria is Kenya’s neighbor, that every Kenyan dresses like the Maasai and would be shocked when I say I do not eat red meat- and the question and shock would be ‘you? what do you mean you don’t eat meat, isn’t that like what you take and fresh blood from cows?’ Oh and have you heard of Kibera? Or I have a friend in South Africa- like Kenya is the living room and South Africa is the Kitchen?

My apologies, I am back to my senses…or not, maybe just a little- bottom line is that this book is long overdue, backed with research and recent insights into the quirks of most of the African countries.

Faloyin does not attempt to sanitize Africa. He presents it as he sees and understands it and that is what makes this such a delightful read. He says:

This book is a portrait of modern Africa that pushes back against harmful stereotypes to tell a more comprehensive story- based on all the humanity that has been brushed aside to accommodate a single vision of blood, strife, and majestic shots of rolling savannahs and large yellow sunsets. It will unspool the inaccurate story of a continent, dragging this bludgeoned narrative towards reality.

He challenges the preconceptions people have of Africa and calls for better understanding of the continent and the people, the chapters shed light on history, culture and geography and relations of the countries in the continent.

I am glad that I started my year reading this book and look forward to reading more interesting books across the year. Last year I got to read 71 of the 100 books I’d set for the #GoodreadsChallenge and I have consistently participated in these challenges, this year however I am not setting a target. It is my hope that I encounter interesting worlds, enrich my vocabulary and meet many more characters in the books I get to read this year.

Have you read Africa is not a Country? Thoughts?