Skip to content

Turning the Spotlight on Nigerian Christian Fiction

Turning the Spotlight on Nigerian Christian Fiction

The first time I read Nigerian Christian fiction

 

The first time I read something with a similitude to Christian fiction was when I read Hopes and Betrayals by Matthew Adeta, a Lantern book I still hope I can find again. It was a Nigerian book with a beautiful best friend’s brother story. I reread that book three times, and for a book written by a man, the romance romanced! Gosh, I really wish I can reread it soon.

Anyway, the second time I read Christian fiction, it was a historical romance by Lori Wick—Who Brings Forth The Wind. At this point in my life, I had already been exposed to smut, steamy books, and erotica, so I didn’t quite enjoy this book as I hoped it would have open-door scenes like I was used to. Fast forward to a couple of years later, when I longed for clean books to purge my mind, I stumbled on Tope Omotosho’s thread on Nairaland about her book Once Upon A First Love. I was shocked that there could be Christian fiction with characters that lived in the same country as me, sounded like me, and experienced the same things I did. It was surreal and I wanted more.

I joined Bookstagram officially in 2020/2021, and I found authors like Osar Adeyemi and Ufuomaee who also wrote this type of Christian fiction, and it was like an epiphany. 

There was a whole world of God-honouring books with God at the centre featuring characters who are mostly Nigerians, characters who get stuck in Lagos traffic, complain about the government, pray for NEPA to bring light, and speak Pidgin and other indigenous Nigerian languages. And today, I’m going to share this world with you.

Quick disclaimer: I read romance majorly, so all of the books below fall within that subgenre of Christian fiction.

This is a list of my top favourite Nigerian Christian fiction books, in no particular order.

1) Blue Roses by Tope Omotosho

Nigerian Christian fiction book cover with vibrant flowers, butterflies, and a cosmetic brush forming the letter "O" in stylized "Blue Roses." Bright and lively design.
This book was published in 2024 and I read it then. It’s a story about Nelly whose girlfriend left him to be with a friend of his because God said he was her husband and Odavwaro whose best friend and longtime crush got engaged to her mean, evil cousin. I know this summary makes it a bit more scandalous than it really is, but that’s the premise. This is a feel-good romance, and it’s full of lessons on forgiveness and adoption. Different family dynamics are explored in this book as well as congenital anosmia. I highly recommend this read if you want to experience the rambunctious nature of Nigerian weddings. The main couple in this book also go on some cool dates that will leave you swooning.

2) An Emotional Affair by Ufuomaee 

Book cover for "An Emotional Affair" by Ufuomaee. A woman in a red dress stands confidently between two men in suits against an orange cityscape, suggesting drama and romance. An airplane soars above. Nigerian Christian fiction.

This book is my second favourite by the author. It explores what happens when Bolu neglects his wife, Lola because he believes money will make her happy. Danny slides into the picture to show Lola all the love she longs for. Will Bolu come to realisation on time? This book is what I’ll dub a Nigerian retelling of Temptation: The Confessions of a Marriage Counsellor. If you loved that movie but wanted a happier ending, then you’ll love An Emotional Affair. It has strong lessons on forgiveness and dealing with temptation. I can’t recommend it enough. The drama is intense.

3) After The Storm by Osar Adeyemi

Nigerian Christian fiction. Book cover of "After The Storm" by Osar Adeyemi. A woman in a blue dress looks forward with a cityscape and sunset in the background, conveying resilience.

This book made it to my top 23 of 2023 and my list of preferred books for movie adaptation. The drama in this book had me moving from one spot of my house to another because this drama-loving gal could not keep calm. This book ate. It started with love at first sight between Akeem and Yemi, and like a rollercoaster with highs and lows, dips and curves, After the Storm explored all the challenges faced by a couple from two different sides of the tracks. The romance was swoony, and the faith arcs of both MCs were beautifully done. I recommend this book with my full body and full chest.

4) The One Who Loves Me by Joan Embola

Nigerian Christian fiction book cover for "The One Who Loves Me" by Joan Embola. A woman in a floral top and a man in a lab coat stand against a turquoise city skyline. The mood is romantic.

If you ask me to pick a favourite book by Joan Embola, I’ll have a better chance of solving a quadratic equation correctly than answering that question. The book is set in the diaspora and features Raymond and Amara who meet in the not so palatable way. Both of them are spouse hunting, and while Raymond is attracted to Amara at first, Amara takes a while to realise Raymond is the one she wants and not the man conjured in her list. It’s been a while since I read this, but I enjoyed it and I believe you will too. The romance was beautiful and sweet. The characters will grow on you, and the book has beautiful lessons on finding a partner and understanding your purpose.

5) When The Past Came Visiting by 'Wunmi Izuagie

Nigerian Christian fiction. A woman in a vintage lace dress, and a man in a suit and hat, stand in a dimly lit room, evoking a mysterious, tense atmosphere. Text reads "When The Past Came Visiting" by 'Wunmi Izuagie.

This book! Fun fact about me: I’m more likely to rate a book high if it manages to make me cry, and this book made me cry unashamedly on the bus. The book highlights Kalabari and Ilaje cultures, and I cannot recommend it enough.

This book gave everything it was supposed to give! The drama was impeccable. I felt the characters’ pain and I could relate to them. The story starts when Feyisara is raped by a family friend while her husband, Fubara, is away on a trip, and she gets pregnant. She loathes Eneyi, the daughter her husband is led to keep and father. Their family is mended by God’s grace. All is going well till Eneyi falls in love with the nephew of her biological father. 

Close your mouth and go check it out. You will enjoy it. 

6) Love's Beacon by IyanuOluwa Olorode

Christian fiction book cover titled "Love's Beacon" by IyanuOluwa Olorode features a lighthouse on rocky cliffs at night, symbolizing guidance and hope under a deep blue sky.

This is no self-aggrandisement when I say this is a beautiful romance book. It’s full of drama and two flawed MCs. Dapo, a Sunday School teacher,  is in love with his best friend’s sister, Regina, an unapologetic baddie, who incidentally has feelings for him too. They are water and oil, struggling to mix and their unresolved personal trauma gets in the way of their relationship. I love this book because it’s sweet and topsy-turvy, and references books, movies, music, and food. It also has a beautiful playlist. You can read the first chapter of Love’s Beacon here.

7) Stolen Waters by Emike Osumah

Nigerian Christian fiction. Cover of "Stolen Waters" by Emike Osumah. Two relaxed people, partially visible, are outdoors against a green backdrop, conveying a peaceful, intimate tone.

If you ask me what is one book whose sequel I am actively waiting for, I’ll tell you it is this book. This story held my attention while I read and had me eyeing the progress bar with my heart in my throat. It features Femi and Tamara, a minister and his wife waiting on God for a baby, Elliot, a widowed Casanova who is now terrified of the opposite gender, and Naomi, a single mum looking for love. The connection between these characters is beautiful. This book also delves into the dark side of ministry and the choices ministers make between following God and pleasing flesh and self. I highly recommend this book. If, by any chance, you are close to Emike Osumah, please ask her to publish the sequel already.

8) Now You Know Where It Pinches by Tope Omotosho

Christian fiction cover of "Now You Know Where It Pinches" by Tope Omotosho. Features elegant high heels with bows on a white background, conveying a stylish tone.

This was my first Tope Omotosho book and I loved it. I was still in uni at the time, studying to bag a law degree, and one of the characters, Jadesola, was the badass lawyer with integrity that I wanted to be. This book follows Jadesola who is looking for le beau and finds love on a dating app, Toke and my first-ever book boyfriend, Mayowa, as they navigate being called into ministry while expecting a baby. This book was so real. I remember eating lunch of semovita and egusi and my morsel of semo falling from my hand because I was so wrapped up in this book. I promise you will love it and the rest of the books in the trilogy.

9) Love's Direction by IyanuOluwa Olorode

A vintage compass adorned with a red ribbon and floral accents, set against a warm-toned background. Text reads "Love's Direction" by IyanuOluwa Olorode.

This is a Christian revenge plot novel with strong lessons on forgiveness. It explores what happens when a man divorces his wife to remarry his first wife and the trail of hurts left by that action. This book features Julia who is desperate for revenge, Sophia who is diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time in her life and wants to mend fences with her daughter, Derin who returns to the country to take up a job he hates and seek the forgiveness of his first love, Julia, and Helen who found out her fiancee was cheating on her five weeks to their wedding and is struggling to move on from that pain. The drama in this book is back-to-back. The brokenness of man and his need for a saviour is explored. You can read the first chapter of Love’s Direction here.

Will you be checking these Nigerian Christian fiction books out?

I hope this post spurs you to check out Nigerian Christian fiction, if you have never read it, if you didn’t know such a thing existed, or if you think Nigerian Christian fiction can’t possibly be as good as the Western ones. 

Let me know in the comments which ones you have read and which ones you’ll be checking out. 

Until my next blog post, I love you, but God loves you more!

Related Posts

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x