Read Africa

Read Africa is a program co-sponsored by Africa Access and the Center for African Studies at Howard University. Read Africa promotes accurate, balanced books that have been vetted by African Studies scholars. Our titles help expand American perspectives on Africa by promoting books that are country specific, avoid stereotypical portrayals and generic images of Africa, and highlight African agency and solutions.

Explore our Read Africa initiatives

Read Africa Aloud

Read Africa Aloud is a project which features author readings of outstanding books on Africa together with classroom applications and fun activities for children.

Global Read Webinar Series (Africana)

The World Area Book Awards sponsor webinars on books recognized by one of the awards. The series of webinars is called Global Read Webinar Series. Each webinar features a presentation by an award-winning author with discussion on how to incorporate multicultural literature into the classroom. 

Recommended Reads (on Africa Access)

Americans often have limited knowledge about Africa. Accurate, balanced books can change and expand what we know, think and feel about Africa. Here are books that have been vetted by African Studies scholars.

Read Africa Posters & Bookmarks

2023 Read Africa

See the Read Africa Poster 2023 PDF with new recommended books.

2019 Read Africa

See the Read Africa 2019 PDF with the 2019 recommended books and challenge.

2018 Read Africa

See the Read Africa 2018 Bookmark with the 2018 recommended books.

2017 Read Africa

See the Read Africa 2017 Poster with the 2017 recommended books.

Read Africa "Make and Take" Instructional Videos

Anna Hibiscus

Read Africa: 'Make and Take' featuring the book Anna Hibiscus

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Read Africa: 'Make and Take' featuring the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Kwajo and the Brassman's Secret

Read Africa: 'Make and Take' featuring the book Kwajo and the Brassman's Secret