Hafsa Zayyan Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Hafsa Zayyan is an accomplished writer and a dispute resolution lawyer.

Based out of London, Hafsa won the inaugural #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize in 2019. Her debut novel is titled We Are All Birds of Uganda, which was also inspired by her own mixed background.

Hafsa attended the University of Cambridge where she studied law. She also would go on to attend the University of Oxford, where she has a masters’ degree.

Until We Meet Again is a collection of essays by Hafsa Zayyan. Have you been interested in reading something new but you’re not leaning towards a full fledged fiction book or some poetry? This is the perfect compromise and this essay collection is not only unique but a stellar addition to your bookshelf.

So many have tried to define Nigeria, but to do so is to tell a half-truth. Those who have attempted to define the country have mostly concluded that it is very difficult to be able to capture the real scope and significance of the most populous nation in Africa through images or words.

Here through personal essays from 24 writers, a new picture is seen. In her own essay, Hafsa goes back into her memories and is able to recall how her Aunty and grandfather provided her with stories and experiences of Nigeria that were able to bring her a little closer to her heritage.

An incredible collection of essays that is both powerful and difficult to forget, check out this work and see Nigeria in an entirely new way from those who are familiar with it. These days traveling the world can be expensive– check out this collection of essays and save yourself the airfare while also getting to witness the character and nature of a country from people who know it well.

We Are All Birds of Uganda is a 2021 book by Hafsa Zayyan. This is the winner of the Merky Books New Writers’ Prize and a book that Malorie Blackman calls a ‘remarkably accomplished, polished debut’.

Independent says that this tale of love and loss is ‘well worth the wait’ and Guardian calls it a ‘modern, multi-ethnic vision of masculinity she presents and the solidarity that emerges from it’. The Sunday Times also agreed that this was a wonderful book, saying that it is ‘Rightfully tipped for greatness’.

I-D Magazine says that this dual narrative is ‘woven together with gentle urgency, sensitive and with a rare perspective on how our mixed race backgrounds can help form feelings of both internal power and conflict’. Want to read something original that is also going to feel like you have invested your time wisely? Check this book out and see what you think.

In Uganda in the 1960s, Hasan does his best to keep his family business going after the unexpected death of his wife. As he starts to put his life back together and put the pieces together once more, a new regime seizes power. Meanwhile, a wave of rising prejudice could end up washing away all that he has worked so hard to build.

Meanwhile, in London in the present day, Sameer is a high flying lawyer. He is picking up on a scene of emptiness when it comes to what he believed was actually going to be the life of his dreams. He is called to go back to his family home thanks to an unexpected tragedy and then starts finding his own missing pieces now in future plans but a heritage that he never knew.

This story alternates between two different continents that takes place over the course of a century. We Are All Birds of Uganada is the type of novel that resonates, as it looks into different racial tensions, generational divides, and the concept of what it actually means to belong.

This is a work of fiction by one of the most exciting new authors to hit the literary scene and one you won’t want to miss! It is part of Stylist’s Best Fiction 2021, was the January Book of the Month from The Independent and Marie Claire, was part of the January To-Read lists for Refinery29 Reads and The British Blacklist, and was featured in Elle, Cosmopolitan, Daily Mail, Observer, Monocle, and TLS. It was also selected as a Book Club Choice on the BBC Radio 2 Book Club with Steve Wright.

Readers have been loving this book and they are not alone. So many readers have been praising this book and calling it everything from a gem to a ‘pleasure to read’. There are so many books to potentially enjoy out there and this is definitely one that should be added to your list. If you love exceptional writing and have been looking for something new to add to your must-read list, check this ‘thoughtfully written’ novel out and see what you think!