Debut novels are treasured by readers because they introduce them to an author who might become a favourite.
They offer a chance to witness the beginning of an author’s journey, discover their style of writing, and, if enjoyed, follow them through the rest of their work.
Here are some debut novels published this year by authors across the African continent.
Lonely Crowds by Stephanie Wambugu
Released on July 29, the novel tells the story of two outcasts who become friends while attending a Catholic girls’ school. Maria is an orphan with dreams of becoming an artist, while Ruth, the daughter of immigrants, follows her into New York City’s art world of the early 1990s.
“There, ambition and competition threaten to rupture their friendship, while strong and unspoken forces pull them together over the years,” reads the book’s synopsis.
It continues: “Whereas Maria finds early success in New York City as an artist, Ruth stumbles along the fringes of the art world, pulled toward a quieter life of work and marriage. As their lives converge and diverge, they meet in one final and fateful confrontation.”
This new release explores ambition, identity, desire, class, and intimacy.
Wambugu, a Kenyan writer with an MFA from Columbia University, lives in New York, where she works as an editor at Joyland Magazine.
The Tiny Things Are Heavier by Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo
This debut novel follows Sommy, a Nigerian woman who moves to the United States for her education just as her brother Mezie attempts suicide. The story paints a poignant portrait of migration, family relationships, identity, homesickness, and the search for belonging.
As Sommy struggles to stay connected with Mezie, who ignores her attempts to reach him, she falls in love with Bryan, a man whose father is Nigerian, and together they plan a trip to their ancestral homeland.
Okonkwo, a Nigerian PhD student in creative writing at Florida State University, has had her work published in Isele Magazine, Guernica, and Catapult.
Night Dancer by Zabu Wamara
Set in contemporary Kampala, the novel follows Amani, a trainee therapist grappling with the grief of her best friend’s death.
In her practice, she encounters Kay, a patient who introduces her to a man from a remote village with traditional beliefs that clash with her own.
“As tensions rise and her judgment begins to fray, Amani finds herself at the crossroads of faith, identity, and the ethics of care,” reads the synopsis.
Wamara, a writer and therapist based in Kampala, holds an MA in Creative Writing (Prose Fiction) from the University of East Anglia.
Buried in the Chest by Lindani Mbunyuza-Memani
This debut novel, set in post-apartheid South Africa, has earned critical acclaim for its bold and refreshing perspective on the lingering effects of apartheid.
“Buried in the Chest is a poignant tale of self-discovery, love, and community set against the backdrop of post-apartheid South Africa. The story follows Unathi’s journey as she searches for her mother, Mavis, while navigating her identity,” reads the synopsis.
The book traces Unathi’s life as she is raised by her grandmother while confronting themes of sexuality, cultural heritage, belonging, and identity politics.
Mbunyuza-Memani, winner of the Dinaane Debut Fiction Award for the manuscript of this book, is a South African author who recently earned an MA in English Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.