Africa Is Not a Country

Notes on a Bright Continent

By: Dipo Faloyin

Narrated by: Dipo Faloyin

So often, Africa has been depicted simplistically as a uniform land of famines and safaris, poverty and strife, stripped of all nuance. In this bold and insightful book, Dipo Faloyin offers a much-needed corrective, weaving a vibrant tapestry of stories that bring to life Africa's rich diversity, communities, and histories.

Starting with an immersive description of the lively and complex urban life of Lagos, Faloyin unearths surprising truths about many African countries' colonial heritage and tells the story of the continent's struggles with democracy through seven dictatorships. With biting wit, he takes on the phenomenon of the white savior complex and brings to light the damage caused by charity campaigns of the past decades. Entering into the rivalries that energize the continent, Faloyin engages in the heated debate over which West African country makes the best jollof rice and describes the strange, incongruent beauty of the African Cup of Nations. With an eye toward the future promise of the continent, he explores the youth-led cultural and political movements that are defining and reimagining Africa on their own terms.

Africa Is Not a Country celebrates the energy and particularity of the continent's different cultures and communities, treating Africa with the respect it deserves.

©2022 Dipo Faloyin (P)2022 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

a breath of fresh air

Excellent research of the continent...its trials and all. Worth reading over and over.
I will share this book with my children

The narration and history

I don't know which I enjoyed more: the narrator or the book itself. The blend of history with current events in a way that is eye-opening and often humorous is what makes this book such an amazing find. I enjoyed every second of it. When the narrator changes his accent in various parts in order to illustrate his point will leave you rolling with laughter. Great book and even more amazingly read by the author.

This was a real education about the Why of Africa today.

My only regret is that I had not heard about this book sooner. Truly a must read for anyone who is looking to learn about the subject.

Sorely needed

It's obvious there is so much more to the African continent, but that hasn't stopped the aid advert imagery and other stereotypes from taking root in my mind. This book does a remarkable job of guiding you through how we got there and dispelling myths along the way to show you much much more. A MUST read.

A different view of the world

Loved listening to it, informative and a different view on Africa and it's history.
A pity that the West still holds on to African art as theirs to show.
Now I also wanna taste the different jollof rice to see which is the best.