Travel Diary: Literary Destinations in Africa

 

By Olumide Labulo

Setting in storytelling is an important feature that adds colour and brings to life whatever story is told. The good thing is that it can be real or imagined. When it is supposed to be like it is in ''Animal Farm'', readers can only go there in their minds, but when it is real, readers can explore both through books and in real life. African literature is rich with stories that transport readers into vibrant cities, rural landscapes, and mythical realms. Beyond their pages, these literary destinations are often rooted in real places, allowing fans to step into the settings or locations that shaped their favorite characters and narratives. Literary destinations are many. So in this week's issue, we'll be looking at a handful of the fascinating ones.

1. Lagos, Nigeria 

It is normal to have a little bias for one's place of birth but it doesn't negate the fact that Lagos is the urban pulse of Nigerian fiction. Besides this, it is the bustling economic capital of Nigeria. Early writers like Chinua Achebe and Buchi Emecheta set their stories partly in Lagos to capture Lagos’ complexity: its grit, ambition, and beauty, through the eyes of their characters---Nnu Ego in ''Joys of Motherhood'' and Obi Okonkwo in ''No Longer at Ease''. Teju Cole's ''Every Day is for the Thief '' also paints a personal portrait of Lagos, blending memory and observation in a city that never sleeps. 

2. Nsukka, Nigeria 

In Chimamanda Adichie's novels, this city in Enugu is considered an intellectual cradle because of  The University of Nigeria that serves as a key setting in ''Half of a Yellow Sun''. This quiet university town becomes a backdrop for romance, war, and revolution, echoing Nigeria's Biafran past. It offers readers a serene but politically charged landscape that shaped generations. She also considers it an intellectual cradle because she comes from a family deeply connected to the university. Her father was a professor at the university, and her mother was its first female registrar. This personal link makes the setting authentic and emotionally weighty. 

3. Nairobi, Kenya

When I read Ngugi wa Thiong'o's ''Weep Not Child'', I imagined all of the places described with words: the miles between his village and the primary school he attended, the red sand, the farms, and the landlords who were ironically foreigners, colonial masters. This backdrop is a recurrent feature in other novels of his, ''Petals of Blood'' and ''A Grain of Wheat'', where Nairobi is a site of post-colonial struggle, resistance, and rebirth. The city captures the tension between tradition and modernity in Kenya’s fight for independence and identity. Today's Kenya has Kenya National Archives, literary cafes, and the thriving local arts scene you may explore on your visit.

4. Johannesburg & Soweto, South Africa 

South African literature cannot be separated from its landscapes of apartheid and post-apartheid transformation. In Alan Paton’s ''Cry, the Beloved Country'' and Nadine Gordimer’s works, Johannesburg and Soweto reflect the stark divisions and resilient spirits of their people. The same goes for Athol Fugard's ''Swize Bansi is Dead'' set in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in the apartheid era. When you vacation in South Africa today, you can have literary walking tours in Johannesburg, visit the Apartheid Museum, Vilakazi Street (home of Mandela and Tutu), and other interesting places.

5. Dakar, Senegal 

Today's Dakar is an intellectual cradle and a cultural beacon. It is home to African Renaissance Monument, Goree Island, and Maison des Esclaves. Senegal’s capital is central in the works of Mariama Bâ, especially ''So Long a Letter'', which addresses themes of womanhood, tradition, and change in West Africa, embodying the feminist spirit of Francophone African literature.

6. Timbuktu, Mali 

Timbuktu is Africa's ancient centre of knowledge. It houses Ancient libraries, mud mosques, and a sense of deep literary legacy. Though often romanticized, Timbuktu’s real history as a scholarly hub is referenced in African historical and literary texts. It once held thousands of manuscripts on science, law, and literature, making it a symbol of Africa’s written intellectual heritage.

7. Cape Coast, Ghana 

Ghana features prominently in African and diaspora literature, particularly in Yaa Gyasi’s ''Homegoing'', which begins at the Cape Coast Castle—an infamous site of the transatlantic slave trade. The castle and the town represent roots and ruptures that continue to echo through time. When you are in Ghana, you can visit Cape Coast Castle, Elmina, and even create memories by participating in their cultural festivals that blend history and storytelling.

Exploring literary destinations in Africa is more than tourism—it’s a journey through history, culture, and identity. Each site carries the voice of a writer, the spirit of a people, and the power of story to bridge generations. Whether through the pages of a novel or a real-life visit, these places invite us to witness the continent through its most profound storytellers.

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