On Black Sisters Street

Written by Chika Unigwe

Narrated by Chinasa Ogbuagu

This stunning U.S. debut from Chika Unigwe won immense acclaim and immediately established its author as a writer to be reckoned with. Lured to Belgium from Lagos by an unscrupulous businessman, Sisi falls into prostitution, her life disintegrating as "Black Sisters Street" saps her every hope. "The author's raw voice, unflinching eye for detail, facility for creating a complex narrative, and affection for her characters make this a must read."-Publishers Weekly, starred review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781461803843

Chika Unigwe

Chika Unigwe was born in Enugu, Nigeria. She was educated at UNN and KUL (Belgium) and  earned her PhD from Leiden University, Holland. Widely translated, she has won awards for her writing. Her books include On Black Sisters Street and Better Never than Late. She teaches at Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA.

Reviews for On Black Sisters Street

[therska · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A well written book with very strong stories about loss, self respect, sisterhood and (broken) dreams!

[seeword · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Four African women have been lured to Europe to work in the sex trade. Each has had a traumatic childhood and the promise of a better life has led them to accept becoming prostitutes. When one is killed, the other three bond and reveal their real life stories. The difficult subject matter is dealt with in a rather straightforward, almost journalistic, manner.

[kellifrobinson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I discovered this book while looking for a Nigerian author for a reading challenge. As with any book set outside of the United States, I liked being transported to two different countries: Nigeria and Belgium, neither of which I had ever visited. I also liked the structure of the book as it moved from the present in Belgium and the mystery surrounding the murder of a fellow sex worker back to the pasts of four different women and their paths from Africa to Europe and to their current trade. This book is dark and the naivete of the characters seems a bit unrealistic at times, but I found myself moving through the story quickly. Men are the aggressors throughout the book but that part of the story seems based on an all-to-often reality for many women in many parts of the world.