Another Africa cover

Another Africa

by Robert Lyons

In Another Africa, renowned photographer Robert Lyons and internationally acclaimed author Chinua Achebe have joined together to explore the real Africa behind the stereotypes commonly held by Westerners. In a stunning series of photographs and poems, this work peels away myths to explore the complexity, diversity, and humanity of a place called Africa. The nuance and detail of Robert Lyon's elegantly intermingled still lifes, portraits, and landscapes reveal rich ambiguities and unique perspectives. Informed by a discerning blend of candid observation and artistic imagination, these startlingly beautiful images record "the essential humanity and validity of the observed, and, if our hearts are open, the humanity and the validity of ourselves, the observers" (Artweek). The photographs take on another dimension in concert with the eye-opening essay and enchanting poems by Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian. A "magical writer - one of the greatest of the twentieth century" (Margaret Atwood), Achebe writes about Africa on its own terms, from within. With penetrating insight, he exposes a long history of distorted depictions of this extraordinary continent.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?