“Let us read.”Those are the words Othuke Ominiabohs engineered into action when he decided to found Masobe Books, a publishing company located in Nigeria. Like protons in the sun fusing to discharge enormous amounts of energy in real-time, Ominiabohs found it imperative to set up a publication worthy of emitting powerful stories, drawing inspiration from his native Isoko origin for its fast-growing household name — Masobe: Let us read.
Masobe began with an assembly of a small dedicated team in April 2018 and a powerful mission: to provide a home for fresh and striking voices, to bridge the gap between reader and writer, and to protect good stories through discovery and promotion. Since its arrival, the literary scene in Nigeria has not been the same.
Nigeria’s publishing industry has long been fraught with challenges, making the prospect of promoting Nigerian literature daunting due to obstacles ranging from production to distribution. Adding to the difficulty, many Nigerian readers gravitate toward Western literature, which is both vast and easily accessible.
Yet, Masobe’s team set out to change this narrative. They took on the Herculean task with clear-eyed determination, aware that even with unyielding passion and the noblest intentions, failure was far more likely than success. Despite the challenges of navigating Nigeria’s literary landscape and the struggles of running a business, they remained undeterred, driven by a vision of a Nigeria where every child can confidently dream of becoming a writer.
It had been only 6 years since Masobe was founded, yet it has shown stellar performance, steady growth, and recorded positive returns in book sales. Publishing more than 100 titles, and selling over 100,000 copies, Masobe is reshaping book publishing in Africa. Their gripping and innovative promotion of books leveraging social media, coupled with exceptional design makes them stand out.
Last year, the company published 28 titles, which is a significant achievement. In 2024, Masobe has reached a new milestone with 41 titles, each telling diverse and powerful stories. Notably, 18 of these titles were featured in Brittle Paper’s 100 Notable African Books of 2024, including Ama Asantewa Diaka’s Someone Birthed Them Broken, set for release in January 2025. This achievement is not only a testament to their unwavering presence and the promise of even greater success but also evidence of their extensive engagement throughout the year. 2024 has truly been a year of literary excellence for Masobe, particularly in its quest to attract more readers. Their dedication is unmistakable, from publishing 41 titles in a single year to introducing groundbreaking works and securing Nigerian publishing rights for others.
We have compiled a list of all 41 books published by Masobe in 2024 for your reading enjoyment, just in time for the sweetest part of the holiday season. It’s the perfect way to pick and fill up your to-be-read list. It’s a long list, so enjoy.
Masobe’s 41 Stunning Titles of 2024
Title: Blessings
Author: Chukwuebuka Ibeh
Publication Date: May 20
Genre: Novel, LGBTQ, Literary Fiction
Description: Obiefuna was banished to a strict Christian boarding school after his father witnessed his intimate moment with the family’s apprentice. His mother, Uzoamaka, wrestled to hold her favourite son and truest friend. Alienated from his loved ones, Obiefuna begins a journey of self-discovery and blossoming desire.
Title: Everything Is Not Enough
Author: Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström
Publication Date: May 20
Genre: Novel, Contemporary Fiction
Description: Three Black women – Kemi, Brittany, and Yasmiin, navigate their complicated lives, confronting themes of place, prejudice, and patriarchy.
Title: Ghostroots
Author: ‘Pemi Aguda
Publication Date: May 21
Genre: Horror, Short Stories
Description: Can evil be inherited? ’Pemi Aguda’s first story in this collection of 12 short stories tells a story of a woman who resembles her late sinister grandmother; she wonders if she got such a deadly capacity for violence passed down.
Title: After the End
Author: Olukorede S. Yishau
Publication Date: May 23
Genre: Novel, Literary Fiction
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: What is life without love? Yet betrayal will always linger. We yearn to live a life full of joy, yet sorrow still lingers. Families are built to keep us safe yet betrayal looms around. Secret whispers in the dark and our vulnerable parts exposed. After the End by Olukorede S Yishau, shows the complexities of love, forgiveness, and healing.
Title: Lost Ark Dreaming
Author: Suyi Davies Okungbowa
Publication Date: May 28
Genre: Novella, Sci-Fi
Description: Decades after the dangerous rise of the Atlantic Ocean, survivors were crowded in a location where the most affluent rule from the topmost floors while the rest are crammed below sea level. Another group, who were left behind for dead, happened to be reawaken by an ancient power seeking retribution from those who offered them up to the waves. Three different personalities brought to the middle of the conflict must work together for everyone’s future.
Title: Broken: Not a Halal Love Story
Author: Fatima Bala
Publication Date: May 31
Genre: Novel, Romance
Description: When Fa’iza left Nigeria for Canada for her studies, her conservative Muslim upbringing was put to the test when she fell in love with Ahmad, a man with a completely different set of values. He takes everything to be a human construct; so he lives his life on his terms. As they struggle with the boundaries between true love and sin, self-discovery, and faith, they take heavy risks that are capable of ultimately consuming them when their past visits. Will it be a story of redemption and a happy ever after?
Title: These Letters End in Tears
Author: Musih Tedji Xaviere
Publication Date: June 5
Genre: Novel, LGBTQ, Literary Fiction
Description: In Cameroon, a forbidden love blossoms between Bessem, a devout Christian, and Fatima, a faithful Muslim. Torn between their faiths and their desires, they must navigate the treacherous landscape of tradition, scripture, and societal expectations.
Title: The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus
Author: Umar Abubakar Sidi
Publication Date: June 10, 2024
Genre: Mystery Novel, Speculative Fiction
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus is a philosophical quest through time in search of a book with obscure origins that might contain the secrets of the alphabet and offer the reader a divine glimpse behind the veil that shrouds our plane of existence. It is the story of a narrator, whose journey is delicately interwoven with innumerable characters and stories from across time and place, on an existential search for the meaning of life, the universe, and the essence of what it means to be a living being.
Title: Edge of Here
Author: Kelechi Okafor
Publication Date: June 14
Genre: Sci-Fi, Short Stories
Description: Imagine a technological world where you are able to explore an alternate love life with a stranger, one where you are able to experience another person’s emotions with the aid of a chip, or one where your DNA can enable you to view snippets of your distant relative’s life. Will there be consequences? Kelechi Okafor’s debut, a collection of short stories, that combine ancient and ultra-modern, examines black womanhood, probing our current situation and a sneak peek into the future.
Title: Sand Roses
Author: Hamza Koudri
Publication Date: June 19
Genre: Thriller, Historical Fiction
Description: The ruthless French colonial army in 1931 changed the lives of two sisters who arrived in Bousaada bursting with dreams of becoming dancers. Their task becomes more difficult—that of outsmarting a French Colonel who seems unstoppable unless the truth is out—caught in a circle of violence each needed to cover a previous crime after killing a soldier in self-defense.
Title: Crooked Seeds
Author: Karen Jennings
Publication Date: June 24
Genre: Novel, Literary Fiction
Description: In post-apartheid South Africa, Deidre van Deventer’s life is disrupted when human remains are discovered on her family’s former property, prompting a police investigation into her brother’s possible involvement in a pro-apartheid terrorist plot. As Deidre confronts her family’s dark past and her own troubled memories, she must navigate the complexities of national trauma, collective guilt, and personal redemption in a country still reeling from its tumultuous history.
Title: Black Ghosts
Author: Noo Saro-Wiwa
Publication Date: June 28
Genre: Novel, Non Fiction
Description: In “Black Ghost”, Noo Saro Wiwa explores the complex lives of African migrants in China, shedding light on their struggles, triumphs, and experiences navigating cultural differences and racism. Through nuanced storytelling and lyrical prose, Saro-Wiwa delves into the intersections of African and Chinese cultures, raising important questions about identity, belonging, and the human condition. By bearing witness to the lives of African migrants, Saro-Wiwa challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about identity, culture, and globalization, offering a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the human experience.
Title: Onyeka and the Heroes of the Dawn
Author: Tọlá Okogwu
Publication Date: July 5
Genre: Novel, Fantasy
Description: It is by principle and also by belief that the human race is expandable. We all have that force. We were created by gods after all. It is believed that we have powers, to command mountains and make a difference. In “Onyeka and the Heroes of the Dawn”, this idea comes to life through the story of a young girl who discovers her own hidden strengths and abilities. With the help of her friends and allies, Onyeka embarks on a thrilling adventure to unlock her true potential and save her community from darkness. A captivating tale of self-discovery, courage, and determination, this book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of the human spirit.
Title: Water Baby
Author: Chioma Okereke
Publication Date: July 9
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Description: Don’t we often dream big when we’re young, our passions and aspirations burning bright like dots in the night sky? Do we ever imagine that those seemingly impossible dreams could one day become the very definitions of our lives?
Meet Baby, the shining star of Makoko, Nigeria’s floating slum. This 19-year-old’s spirit is as vast as the Lagos lagoon, and she’s determined to pave her own path. When a drone mapping project takes off, Baby seizes the chance to put Makoko on the global map. But when a video of her in action goes viral, Baby’s world expands exponentially. Suddenly, she’s faced with choices she never thought possible, including the chance to leave Makoko and represent her community on the international stage.
Title: The Road to the Country
Author: Chigozie Obioma
Publication Date: July 24
Genre: Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction
Description: Ever left your comfort zone in search of something – could be anything? We are made to travel through space and time; we navigate our lives as the wind blows from the east to the directions it chooses to go after the west. “The road to the country is not just a physical journey, but a spiritual one, a journey into the heart of who we are when faced with horror.” The mantle of responsibility shapes who we become – “The Road to the Country”, Conscripted into the Biafran army, Kunle must navigate the harsh realities of war, prophecy, and redemption, in a story of brotherhood, love, and courage.
Title: Little Rot
Author: Akwaeke Emezi
Publication Date: July 26
Genre: Novel, Thriller
Description: The novel follows the complex and intertwined lives of several characters in New Lagos, including Kalu, Ahmed, Aima, and Souraya. Kalu’s relationship with Aima is ending, and he attends a sex party where he discovers a young girl being raped. He intervenes, but this sets off a chain of events that puts him in danger. Meanwhile, Ahmed is dealing with his own secrets and desires and becomes embroiled in a plot to save Kalu from the powerful and vengeful Pastor Okinosho. As the story unfolds, the characters’ lives become increasingly entangled, leading to a shocking and devastating climax. The novel explores themes of identity, morality, power, and the complexities of human relationships.
Title: You Made A Fool of Death with Your Beauty
Author: Akwaeke Emezi
Publication Date: July 26
Genre: Novel, Romance
Description: When sorrow takes a huge grip on you, you can’t help but feel alone in the company of many. Just maybe you will realise the understated words, ‘’moving on.’’ The shattering of a life once shared, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that seems to have moved on without your loved one. The unending reason to feel betrayed by those who have left us alone to conquer life’s battles with those who mean well but less to us. You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty”, unfolds. This heartwarming and powerful exploration of grief, love, and identity follows a woman who, after the loss of her husband, finds herself navigating a complex web of emotions and relationships. With its lyrical prose and nuanced characterization, the novel delves into the intricacies of the human heart, revealing the ways in which love and loss can both destroy and transform us. She must confront the darkness of her grief and the beauty of her resilience, ultimately learning to find a way to live with the pain of her past while embracing the uncertainty of her future.
Title: With Love Miss Americanah
Author: Jane Abieyuwa Igharo
Publication Date: July 30
Genre: Novel, Romance
Description: Jane Igharo’s debut, With Love, Miss Americanah, is a contemporary YA romance story of a teenager who moves from Nigeria to America after the loss of her father. Through grief and the rigid expectations of her mother, she navigates her senior year with the help of classic teen movies and a new crush.
Title: Allow Me to Introduce Myself
Author: Onyi Nwabineli
Publication Date: August 2
Genre: Novel, Literary Fiction
Description: Anuri Chinasa will not see Noelle, her five-year-old sister, pushed down a similar path she has been struggling to abandon. Before ‘mumfluencers’ became a thing, her stepmother (Ophelia) made her an unwilling star in her social media empire. She has been the object of scrutiny by random people online. Meanwhile, she has an unfinished PhD application, and her drinking problem is deteriorating. She is desperate to jump out of her past into a new path she desires, but Ophelia will not easily give in. Now that Ophelia is trying to initiate Noelle, she is going too far.
Title: Someday Maybe
Author: Onyi Nwabineli
Publication Date: August 2
Genre: Novel, Literary Fiction
Description: Someday, Maybe is a stunning, witty debut novel about a young woman’s emotional journey through unimaginable loss, pulled along by her tight-knit Nigerian family, a posse of friends, and the love and laughter she shared with her husband.
Title: An Imperfect Storm
Authors: Chikwe Ihekweazu & Vivianne Ihekweazu
Publication Date: August 8
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: In a world where global connections can be both a blessing and a curse, a mysterious illness emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, spreading rapidly across the globe. As the COVID-19 pandemic reached Nigeria’s shores, the country’s fragile healthcare system was put to the test. An Imperfect Storm” recounts Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, led by Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The book takes readers through the challenges and triumphs of building a robust healthcare infrastructure.
Title: Half Portraits Under Water
Author: Dennis Mugaa
Publication Date: August 14
Genre: Short Stories
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: Through ten stories set against the moving backdrop of socio-political changes in different countries, discover the profound connections that shape our lives, intertwining themes of love, grief, and what it means to be deeply, unflinchingly human.
Title: The Road to the Salt Sea
Author: Samuel Kọláwọlé
Publication Date: August 20
Genre: Novel, Contemporary Fiction
Description: When the stakes are high and the devil’s at your doorstep. One man’s desperate quest for survival will push him to the brink of humanity. From the shadows of a luxurious hotel to the scorching desert sands, Able God’s journey is a heart-pumping, soul-crushing ride into the darkest depths of human exploitation and the gods’ lamentations. Will he find redemption or succumb to the salt sea of despair? Find out on the road to the salty sea. But be warned. This journey will leave you questioning everything. And when the dust settles, you’ll be left with a haunting truth. The greatest prison is not the one that holds you, but the one that binds your mind.
Title: Convergence Problems
Author: Wole Talabi
Publication Date: August 26
Genre: Short Stories, Sci-Fi
Description: The sixteen stories of Convergence Problems probe the rapidly changing role of technology and belief in our search for meaning, knowledge, and justice. The collection includes work published for the first time, rare stories, and recently acclaimed work; it portrays Talabi at his creative best: playful and profound, exciting and experimental, and always interesting.
Title: Sister Spirit
Author: Efua Traoré
Publication Date: August 29
Genre: Novel, Mystery
Description: Sixteen-year-old Tara travels from England to enroll in a boarding school at the foot of Olumo, where she begins a journey to seek the truth of her roots and the spirits that pursue her. She traces her visions to the ancient Olumo Rock in Nigeria; a sacred place, full of magic, and myth, and where whispers of the past linger.
Title: Love, Marry, Kill
Author: Zukiswa Wanner
Publication Date: September 4
Genre: Novel, Romance
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: Owami and Akani, both burdened by secrets of their pasts and emotional baggage, meet in Johannesburg and fall hopelessly in love. As their relationship takes root, they must find a way to resist the calamity that threatens their relationship.
Title: The Parlour Wife
Author: Foluso Agbaje
Author: September 27
Genre: Novel, Historical Fiction
Description: With the announcement of WWII and a change that shakes her family, Kehinde is forced to put aside her dreams of writing and become the third wife of Mr Ogunjobi. Will she find the courage to fight for herself and the other women of Lagos? Or will she remain a caged bird, a parlour wife, forever?
Title: A Very Gidi Christmas
Author: Tomilola Coco Adeyemo
Publication Date: October 28
Genre: Novel, Romance
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: A Very Gidi Christmas is a tale of resilience, ambition, and forgotten love wrapped in a sexy bow. Biodun and Kunle are haunted by a secret from more than a decade ago that shames them both. Mutual enemies hidden in plain sight reveal that secret to the world: becoming a scandal that threatens their career aspirations, and fates they don’t know are intertwined.
Title: Boys, Girls and Beasts
Author: Nathaniel Bivan
Publication Date: November 15
Genre: Novel, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: The United Nations of West Africa lives in the fragile promise of peace in a world forged by delicate treaties and bound by the mysterious power of a supercrop. When it crumbles, Jaka’s life is torn apart and is relegated to the underworld ruled by dark forces. Jaka, who is on the brink of manhood, was captured and conscripted into a brutal militia. With time, Jaka climbs through the ranks to discover that he is a part of a mission older than humanity itself, a mission to conquer Earth. But when he is called to destroy his homeland, Jaka faces a choice that could alter the fates of the two worlds.
Title: The Dance of Shadows
Author: Rogba Payne
Publication Date: November 20
Genre: Novel, Fantasy
Description: In the Hot lands of Basmine, where the once-mighty Odu tribe struggles to survive, a young musician named Rumi dares to challenge the status quo. Born with a voice that can charm the gods, Rumi seeks to free his family from the shackles of poverty and oppression.
Title: On a Day Like This
Author: Edify Yakusak
Publication Date: November 22
Genre: Novel, Psychological Thriller
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: At a family meeting, she begins to uncover that her father, his new wife, and their lastborn have a secret they want hidden which when exposed will challenge everything she thought she knew. Two years earlier, on the night Sayo Dosumu—her mother—turned fifty-two, her car tumbled off the bridge, killing her instantly. Will that family be the same again after that meeting?
Title: Fireflies on the Lagoon
Author: Tunde Leye
Publication Date: November 25
Genre: Novel, Historical Fiction
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: Fireflies on the Lagoon is a story of ambition and betrayal inspired by true events. Destinies of a prince, a princess, an exiled king, and an embittered kingmaker clash in a battle for the soul of Lagos. As their lives intertwine and unravel, the city is smothered by colonial interference that alters the course of history.
Title: Swallow 1 (Efunsetan Aniwura)
Author: Ayodele Olofintuade
Publication Date: November 27 (Republished—New Cover Design)
Genre: Novel, Historical Fiction
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: The British Empire, ahead of Germany and France, set itself up as the world power through the trans-Atlantic slave trade. This was in the early 1830’s when internecine wars and poverty ravaged countries of the global north. In the city-states within the south-west of Oduduwa nation, they face fierce resistance from powerful women they didn’t prepare for.
Title: Swallow 2 (Efunporonye Osintinubu)
Author: Ayodele Olofintuade
Publication Date: November 27
Genre: Novel, Historical Fiction
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: The lives of former lovers, Ẹfúnṣetán and Efunporonye, take divergent paths amid personal and social turmoil in 1840. Ẹfúnṣetán faces serious trial in Ibadan, while Efunporonye battles with loss and business troubles in Abeokuta, seeking comfort in a new lover.
Title: Every Drop of Blood Is Red
Author: Umar Turaki
Publication Date: November 28
Genre: Novel, Literary Fiction
Description: Lives intersect for a young woman on a quest for revenge and a family man with a violent past in this haunting and provocative novel by the author of Such a Beautiful Thing to Behold.
Title: No Pink in a Rainbow
Author: Angel Patricks Amegbe
Publication Date: November 29
Genre: Novel, Literary Fiction
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: It all started when Jan saw Naomi’s photo on Facebook and decided to send a message to her, that is, despite his reservations. Jan from the Netherlands and Naomi from Abuja shattered all barriers to being together and birthed a unique love they believed would be forever. But then, every rose has its thorn. After battling for their uncommon love, Naomi and Jan had to fight harder to keep it.
Title: Three Cheers for the River School
Author: Sabine Adeyinka
Publication Date: December 4
Genre: Novel, Young Adult
Description: This delightful third novel of boarding school adventure is set in Nigeria where a new head of school bans playing football. Rather, the girls should host interschool music competitions which the rival boys’ schools are likely to win. Jummy and her team must swiftly do something to salvage their pride.
Title: The Mystic of Small Dreams
Author: Romeo Oriogun
Publication Date: December 6
Genre: Poetry
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: With lyrical beauty and profound emotions, Oriogun engages with the African diaspora, capturing the heartache, hope, and resilience of those who traverse lands far from their ancestral home. Each poem is a melodic exploration of identity, belonging, and the quest to find a home in the lonely conditions of exile.
Title: Boom Boom
Author: Jude Idada
Publication Date: December 10
Genre: Novel, Young Adult
Description: Despite being grief-stricken by his mother’s loss, Osaik has to find a way to save Eghe, his little sister, from the same fate—as a result of Sickle Cell Disease. Osaik, his loyal dog (Kompa), and his dad rush to save her.
Title: Esu at the Library
Author: Kola Túbọ̀sún
Publication Date: December 12
Genre: Poetry
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: In Èṣù at the Library, Túbọ̀sún returns to his favourite tools of travelogue as a vehicle for the interrogation of memory through the limits of language.
Title: Girls and the Silhouette of Form
Author: Star Zahra
Publication Date: December 13
Genre: Poetry
First Published by Masobe Books
Description: “Beneath this austere appearance of simplicity in Star Zahra’s Girls and the Silhouette of Form, come flashes of an otherworldliness, sudden unearthly transports, mingled with the unassumingness of a child at play. Alluring dream images juxtapose with broken scenes of reality, clothed with the fascinating language of self-grown metaphors.”
