In 2002, at the annual Zimbabwe International Book Fair, twelve literary books by African women were included for the first time in the category of "Africa's 100 Best Books of the Twentieth Century." This was an important but belated affirmation of women writers on the continent and a first step toward establishing a recognized canon of African women's literature."The Twelve Best Books by African Women" is a collection of critical essays on eleven works of fiction and one play. The titles by African women that were included in the list of "Africa's 100 Best Books of the Twentieth Century" are: "Anowa", Ama Ata Aidoo (1970); "A Question of Power", Bessie Head (1974); "Woman at Point Zero", Nawal El Saadawi (1975); "The Beggars' Strike", Aminata Sow Fall (1979); "Burger's Daughter", Nadine Gordimer (1979); "The Joys of Motherhood", Buchi Emesheta (1979); "So Long a Letter", Mariama Ba (1980); "Fantasia: An Algerian Cavalcade", Assia Djebar (1983); "Nervous Conditions", Tsitsi Dangarembga (1988); "Living, Loving and Lying Awake at Night', Sindiwe Magona (1991); "Butterfly Burning", Yvonne Vera (1998); and, "Riwan ou le chemin de sable", Ken Bugul (1999).This collection of original essays recognizes the gesture of inclusion as an important shift in consciousness and creates a fresh awareness of the literary works by African women writers. Each essay offers a penetrating analysis of individual texts and opens up a fresh perspective that allows scholars and students alike to explore new dimensions of these writers' work.

In 2002, at the annual Zimbabwe International Book Fair, twelve literary books by African women were included for the first time in the category of "Africa's 100 Best Books of the Twentieth Century." This was an important but belated affirmation of women writers on the continent and a first step toward establishing a recognized canon of African women's literature."The Twelve Best Books by African Women" is a collection of critical essays on eleven works of fiction and one play. The titles by African women that were included in the list of "Africa's 100 Best Books of the Twentieth Century" are: "Anowa", Ama Ata Aidoo (1970); "A Question of Power", Bessie Head (1974); "Woman at Point Zero", Nawal El Saadawi (1975); "The Beggars' Strike", Aminata Sow Fall (1979); "Burger's Daughter", Nadine Gordimer (1979); "The Joys of Motherhood", Buchi Emesheta (1979); "So Long a Letter", Mariama Ba (1980); "Fantasia: An Algerian Cavalcade", Assia Djebar (1983); "Nervous Conditions", Tsitsi Dangarembga (1988); "Living, Loving and Lying Awake at Night', Sindiwe Magona (1991); "Butterfly Burning", Yvonne Vera (1998); and, "Riwan ou le chemin de sable", Ken Bugul (1999).This collection of original essays recognizes the gesture of inclusion as an important shift in consciousness and creates a fresh awareness of the literary works by African women writers.

Each essay offers a penetrating analysis of individual texts and opens up a fresh perspective that allows scholars and students alike to explore new dimensions of these writers' work.

Chikwenye Okonjo Ogunyemi, professor of literature and the founding chair of global studies, is currently faculty emerita, Sarah Lawrence College. Her publications include Juju Fission: Women's Alternative Fictions from the Sahara, the Kalahari, and the Oases In-between and Africa Wo/Man Palava: The Nigerian Novel by Women. Tuzyline Jita Allan teaches at Baruch College, City University of New York. She is the author of the award-winning book Womanist and Feminist Aesthetics: A Comparative Review: coeditor of Literature Around the Globe; and editor of Teaching African Literatures in Global Economy, a special edition of Women's Studies Quarterly.