WHILE 2021 came with waves of covid-19 and the lockdown that came with it, the freedom to write and express could not be controlled by a pandemic. As the year draws to an end, we bring you the top 5 Rwandan books written in English that stood out in 2021. 

‘Memories at The Table’ by Phiona Ninsiima

This cook book contains several balanced nutritious and delicious meals, whose ingredients can be found at the local market. The book also encompasses different people’s memories with food. Some of the foods that the meals in the book contain include potatoes, rice, beans, that groundnuts can be found whether in urban or rural areas. Moreso, it is a pictorial book and straight to the point since it has pictures of meals and how someone prepares them. The book was launched on December 12.

‘Light in The Dark’ by Sandra Nadege

Light in The Dark is a short memoir that explores the author’s journey to self-care, honesty, and breaking through her darkest feelings. The book, published by Ubuntu Publishers, demonstrates her life from the time she was 9 and couldn't think that her emotions were strong enough to be relieved. Moreso, it expresses the times when she couldn’t embrace her differences, and encompasses her memories when she had not yet realised how bright she could shine. Through the book, she testifies that admitting one’s feelings is the only way to effectively control them.

‘Wet Under the Rainbow’ by Annely Akariza

This novel is about the daily life stories of the youth born after the Genocide showing how trauma is transmitted to them, and the hurdles of acting strong to help their parents heal. The book also talks about how living in this modern life pushes them to depict more happiness than what they have, which makes them ‘wet under the rainbow.’ It was inspired by the Rwandan history and everyday struggles of Rwandans to heal from their unbelievable past and by the Rwandan youth and their silent battle for resilience and their transmission of trauma.

‘The Letter’ by Joyce Umuhire

This novel tackles the youth who rush into marriage for the sake of money and status, but belittle their feelings and happiness. In brief, the main character, Gloria, is faced with an intricate situation. A focused and independent university student, her priority is education. But along the way, a fierce mature man is interested in her. This stranger is willing to do anything to have Gloria as his wife because he is rich. At first, Gloria resists, but the man kidnaps her, and takes her to his home. She faces torture, violence, and rape in marriage. She is impregnated and infected with HIV/AIDS.

‘The End of Black Folly’ by David Rugero

This book is a cultural revival crusade by Black Africans and Black African Diaspora. The campaign focuses on the total change of Black Africans’ mindsets, the leading cause of African people’s centuries-old suffering of all kinds. It starts with compulsory abandonment by Black Africans of all foreign cultural influences and spirituality. The crusade also outlines all Black African flaws and the endless blame game on Western World’s diktat on African affairs, which cannot solve Africa’s problems.  

The Spirits of Black African Ancestors provides a blueprint for the emancipation of Black Africans worldwide. The Spirits select and sanctify Emissaries from Black African countries and give them "Umuti” antidotes to sanitize their people’s brainwashed mindsets and teach them "Ubuntu” and Pan – Africanism philosophies. The same "Umuti” antidote helps to cure racists worldwide attacked by the "melanin virus.” Mr. Ruti, Chief Emissary of the Spirits, and his deputies Miss Salma, Rama, and Kabuto lead the campaign. The outcome is one borderless United Africa with one people and one government.

The End of Black Folly