A. Igoni Barrett Books in Order

Fourteen stories explore everyday life in contemporary Africa through characters whose circumstances can seem strange without losing their recognizable humanity. Close observation, satire, and moments of humor reveal the pressures and contradictions beneath ordinary encounters and experiences.

Across contemporary Nigeria, people negotiate desire, corruption, and the uneven power of love. These stories follow figures from different walks of life, from a troubled policeman to a family whose fortunes unravel across generations of destructive choices.

Furo Wariboko wakes before a job interview to discover that nearly all his skin has turned white. Navigating Lagos with unexpected advantages and unwanted attention, he attempts to build a new identity that his transformation cannot fully secure.

Years after mysteriously becoming white, Furo Wariboko travels through Europe as Frank Whyte. Encounters with expatriates, racism, and migration unsettle his new identity, making him feel more Nigerian abroad than he ever expected to feel at home.