Acclaimed Nigerian authors Oyinkan Braithwaite and Bolu Babalola have been named to TIME magazine’s prestigious 100 Must-Read Books of 2025 list, alongside fellow Nigerians Nnedi Okorafor and Olufunke Grace Bankole. The selection highlights a powerhouse quartet of Nigerian talent redefining contemporary fiction with stories that blend dark humor, cultural critique, and romantic depth, cementing Nigeria’s position as a global literary force.
Braithwaite’s highly anticipated novel, The Road to Obodo, weaves modern Lagos hustle with supernatural drama and her signature dark humor, exploring themes of family, legacy, and the blurred lines between reality and myth in a rapidly changing Nigeria.
Babalola’s Sweet Heat, a sizzling follow-up to her Reese’s Book Club pick Honey and Spice, delivers rom-com energy laced with substance—through sharp banter, emotional heat, and probing questions about love, second chances, and the shadows of the past.
Announced on November 13, TIME’s annual list celebrates the year’s most compelling new releases, selected by the magazine’s editors for their innovation, timeliness, and storytelling prowess. The inclusion of these four Nigerian authors—each bringing unique perspectives from Afrofuturism to romance—underscores the vibrant diaspora’s influence on international literature. As TIME noted, the list features works that “challenge, comfort, and captivate,” with Braithwaite and Babalola’s entries praised for their unflinching wit and emotional resonance.
Oyinkan Braithwaite, author of the internationally bestselling My Sister, the Serial Killer (shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction), expressed her delight:
“Being on TIME’s Must-Read list alongside such brilliant Nigerian voices is a profound honor. It’s a reminder that our stories—from the streets of Lagos to the complexities of love—are resonating worldwide. I’m thrilled for what this means for African literature.”
Bolu Babalola, a British-Nigerian screenwriter and Sunday Times bestseller whose Love in Colour reimagined global myths, added:
“Sweet Heat is my love letter to messy, beautiful second chances. To share this spotlight with Oyinkan and our Nigerian siblings on TIME’s list feels electric—like the world is finally catching up to the fire we’ve always known burns in our words.”
The recognition arrives amid a banner year for Nigerian publishing, with Braithwaite’s book set for release in early 2025 and Babalola’s already generating buzz since its July launch. Fans and critics alike have taken to social media with #NigerianLitOnTIME, celebrating the authors’ contributions to diverse narratives.
About Oyinkan Braithwaite
Oyinkan Braithwaite is a Lagos-born author and storyteller whose debut novel, My Sister, the Serial Killer, has been translated into over 30 languages. Her work fuses thriller elements with sharp social commentary, earning her spots on the Booker Prize longlist and the CWA International Dagger shortlist. The Road to Obodo is published by Doubleday.
About Bolu Babalola
Bolu Babalola is a British-Nigerian author, journalist, and screenwriter whose books blend romance, folklore, and cultural insight. A former BBC producer, she is the author of Honey and Spice and Love in Colour. Sweet Heat is published by Headline.
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