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Blogger Spotlight: African Book Addict!

Let me introduce you to Darkowaa the blogger behind African Book Addict!

Darkowaa was born in the U.S.A, she moved to Ghana when she was 10 years old where she spent her formative years and later moved back to the U.S.A for undergrad. She curently lives in Accra, Ghana where she blogs from. Some people refers to her as Ghanaian-American, however, she simply likes to be identified as Ghanaian.

She considers herself to be a forever student (welcome to the club). During her undergraduate years, she went to a liberal arts school in the US (Middlebury College) so she studied a bit of everything. However, she eventually focused on Sociology & Anthropology as her major, with pre-dental courses on the side. She is at the moment pursuing her second degree in dentistry - in Accra. 


What inspired you to start your blog?

I enjoy reading books by writers of African descent so I wanted a space where I could discuss the books I was reading more and more. I also wanted to showcase the books and writers I was reading, as I felt they don’t get the shine they deserved. 

How did you fall upon the name “African Book Addict!”, I love it by the way.
Thank you! You can look at the name in 2 ways. African Book Addict! can be interpreted as - an African who is a book addict OR a person who has an African book addiction. I chose to call my book blog ‘African Book Addict!’ because I’m obsessed with books written by people of African descent – writers from Africa and the diaspora. I fervently purchase and I’m constantly searching for new African reads – hence the name!

For how long have you been blogging and for how long do you look forward to book blogging?
I started the blog June 2014. I’m currently a student, so I like taking breaks from studying to write reviews and other blog posts. It’s a fun hobby and distraction from school. I will be book blogging for as long as I can.

What is the highest amount of books you’ve read in a year? 
I think the greatest number of books I’ve read in a year would be 26 books, which I read last year. I’d probably read about 40 books a year, if I wasn’t a student. But school is a priority, so I can’t read a much as I’d like.

In your introduction, you said that you love reading African-literature, African America or Black literature and Caribbean literature, among the 3 you stated what do you read the most?
Among the three, I read African fiction the most. BUT, I really find joy in reading African American fiction - maybe because I grew up reading more African-American novels than African fiction. Caribbean literature will have to be third. I love their stories, but I’ve been slacking on my Carib reads lately.

How do you decide the books you read? Where do you buy or borrow them?
Goodreads helps me decide what I’d like to read, as I’ve compiled many books on my TBR list. I read whatever I’m in the mood for. Whatever is interesting – and by a Black writer of colour, I’m down to read it! I usually buy my books from the US. Accra doesn’t have a lot of African fiction- ironic, I know. African fiction is also quite pricey here as well – again, ironic I know. Publishers also send in books for me to read.

Who are your 3 most read authors
Hmmm… Maya Angelou, Walter Dean Myers, Charles Dickens, Chimamanda Adichie I think.

Your favourite writer?
Hmmm… that’s a hard question. I have quite a few! I love Maya Angelou, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Walter Dean Myers, John Steinbeck, Jamaica Kincaid, Chimamanda Adichie, Diriye Osman… I can go on and on… I don’t have ONE favorite.

Are you participating in any reading challenges? 
I’m participating in the 2016 Goodreads Reading challenge. I participate every year. 

Five African literature blogs you recommend and follow?
  1. Mary Okeke Reviews (of course!)
  2. AFREADA
  3. Incessant Scribbles
  4. Bookshy
  5. Black Applause (this isn’t an African Literature blog. But its an awesome Black British literature blog)
10 African literature, you have read, really enjoyed and highly recommend.
(Honorary mentions: Americanah by Chimamanda Adichie, Houseboy by Ferdinand Oyono, Can We Talk and Other Stories by Shimmer Chinodya)

Contact details
Add me on Goodreads – username: Darkowaa 
africanbookaddict(at)gmail.com

Thank you.





from Mary Okeke Reviews http://ift.tt/2d0waux

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