Best African Poetry Books of 2025

The Butterfly's Burden is a collection of Mahmoud Darwish's two most recent full-length volumes of poetry, which include love poems, sonnets, journal-like distillations, and interlaced lyrics. Darwish is known as the leading poet in the Arab world, and his work has been embraced by readers around the world. Translator Fady Joudah does an excellent job of bringing Darwish's words to life in English. The book is a must-read for poetry lovers interested in Middle Eastern literature and culture.

Don’t Wait Til I Die To Love Me vol.1 is a powerful poetry collection that takes readers on a journey of self-discovery. The author, Tavon, writes about the nuances of life and love in vivid detail, encouraging readers to appreciate the little things we often take for granted. The book covers a range of topics, including love, loss, and human nature, making it relatable to a wide audience. The pieces "To The Ones Who Hurt Me" and "For The Misunderstood" will resonate with those who feel overlooked or undervalued. Overall, this independently published book is a must-read for anyone seeking to learn more about themselves and become proactive in loving themselves, others, and the environment.

Healing HER: Poetry that nourishes the soul through feminine energy (Soul-Skin Series) is an award-winning book that has sold over 20,000 copies worldwide. The book is a collection of intention-based poetry and prose that aligns readers with their own self-healing superpowers by intuitively resonating with the nurturing qualities of the feminine psyche. The book allows readers to hold space for their darkness and shows them a way through their pain. The author, Sez, is an emotional alchemist who has created a poetic masterpiece that nourishes, aligns, and inspires readers. This book is a must-read for anyone wanting to become more aligned with their higher self or overcome anxiety with self-love.

On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic is a compelling and informative account of the tragedy that shook the world. The authors delve into the design, construction, and fateful maiden voyage of the Titanic, bringing to light the stories of individuals who sailed on her. The book is profusely illustrated, including rare and unique views of the ship and those who sailed on her. The narrative places the reader in the middle of the maiden voyage, bringing the tragic sinking to life like never before. A must-read for anyone interested in maritime history, this book is a definitive source on the Titanic's story and legacy.

Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head: Poems is the highly anticipated first full-length poetry collection from award-winning Somali British poet, Warsan Shire. The poems explore themes of migration, womanhood, trauma, and resilience, drawing from Shire's own life experiences, as well as pop culture and news headlines. The collection is a fragrant, polychrome, and noisy celebration of survival and resilience that will resonate with marginalized communities everywhere. The editor recommends this book to all poetry lovers, especially those interested in African poetry books.

Every Word You Cannot Say is an inspirational and religious poetry book published by Andrews McMeel Publishing. The book is a collection of powerful words that aim to help the reader find the courage to express their emotions. The author reminds us that sometimes, it can be challenging to articulate what we feel, but the truth is that the words we cannot say only hurt until we say them. This book is a must-read for anyone who struggles with expressing their emotions. It is a beautiful reminder that we are all human, and the closest we can get to showing each other who we are is through words.

'Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth' by Warsan Shire is a collection of poems that explores sensuality within the dominant narrative of Islam. Shire's ability to give simple, beautiful eloquence to this veiled world is what makes this book so powerful. The poems are reminiscent of the work of Tayeb Salih and Nawal El Saadawi, and they offer a more nuanced truth about the experiences of African American women. Shire is a Kenyan-born Somali poet and writer who uses her work to document narratives of journey and trauma. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in African American poetry and the intersection of culture and sensuality.

Chameleon Aura by Billy Chapata is a collection of poetry and prose that explores universal themes of love and pain. The author's empowering messages justify heartache and inspire resilience, while his unique style and emboldened words capture the essence of his narrative. Through a chaptered series of prose and poetry, Chapata celebrates humanity's worth and resilience, leaving readers with hope for growth, rebirth, and self-acceptance. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking comfort and inspiration during difficult times.

The Healing HER: Poetry that heals the soul through Divine Surrender (Soul-Skin Series) is the eagerly awaited second volume of poems from the international bestselling poet, Sez Kristiansen. This collection comprises over 100 pages of poetry that teaches readers how to use surrender as their primary form of self-healing. It is especially empowering for those on the path of healing complex PTSD, emotional trauma, general anxiety disorder, depression, dissociation disorders, and other deeply rooted mind/body/soul wounds. The Healing Her books can be used to deepen one's healing practice in various ways. Overall, the Healing HER is a soul-deep collection that can help readers heal their deepest psychic wounds.

The Tragedy of White Injustice is an epic poem written by Marcus Garvey in 1927 while he was in an Atlanta prison. The book's third edition, published in 1935, sheds light on the white man's prejudice in America. Garvey's style of using facts to portray the conduct of the white race is peculiar and unique. The book is a reprint of the 1935 edition and is an essential read for those interested in African-American and Black biographies. Martino Fine Books has done an excellent job in reproducing this historical piece of literature.