Letters from Africa

From early 2015, over the course of ten weeks, correspondents Tom Mboya (Nairobi), Tolu Ogunlesi (Lagos), Tawanda Mudzonga (Harare), and Tilly Kingston (Cairo) sent weekly dispatches about everyday things in their cities: family, fun, the daily commute, education, sexism, ethnic tensions, the arts and corruption, as well as on-the-ground updates on the Nigerian and Egyptian elections. Extra multimedia content includes photo diaries, Q&A videos, guest posts on the tech industry and must-read literature, as well as a round-up of the best music from around the continent.

About the author

Get a pigeon’s eye view of life as it is really lived across Africa with letters originally written in real time from our correspondents in Harare, Cairo, Lagos and Nairobi.

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Why We Like It

  • Compelling insights into real life in Nairobi, Lagos, Harare and Cairo
  • Showcasing modern Africa, without the prejudice of hysterical western headlines
  • Reflections of life, love and the challenges of 21st-century Africa

Meet the correspondents

Tolu Ogunlesi is a Nigerian journalist, poet, blogger and satirist based in Lagos. He writes about Nigerian and African issues for newspapers and magazines at home and abroad. Between 2009 and 2011 he was Features Editor and editorial board member at NEXT newspapers; and is currently West Africa Editor for the Africa Report magazine. He loves travelling, and is convinced he needs to see a lot more of Africa. @toluogunlesi (Photo credit Teju Cole.)




Tom Mboya is a governance and anti-corruption consultant. In a career spanning the development sector, government and civil society, Tom has dedicated himself to the pursuit of justice, rule of law, and accountability in Kenya. Educated in the US, UK and South Africa, he lives and works in Nairobi. @tommboya



Tawanda Mudzonga is a writer and journalist who is passionate about art and socio-cultural issues. She has written for online and print publications in Zimbabwe and the United States. Her aim is to visit every single country in the world and write about it. @LalaTawanda



Tilly Kingston is a political risk analyst from London. Disillusionment with the corporate world combined with complications in her personal life led her to decide to take a career break. She is currently attending a language school in Cairo while considering a move into the NGO sector.



Meet the illustrator

Thandiwe Tshabalala was born in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2010 she graduated from the Red and Yellow School (Advertising & Marketing) after taking a Graphic Design and Art Direction Course. She is inspired by people, politics, religion, technology and music. She hopes to have her own design agency one day. @Thandiworld http://cmykaffir.tumblr.com/

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TO READ WITH

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2. PICK A BOOK
 

And read it in bite-sized instalments – called staves – that fit busy modern lives.

3. HIGHLIGHT AND DISCUSS
 

Save your favourite bits and leave thoughts to connect with fellow readers.

4. GET BEHIND
THE STORY

Beautiful extras in the margins immerse you in the world of each book.

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