Condia asked 8 African tech leaders for their reading lists and compiled a list of the fiction and non-fiction books they recommended.
Two of the respondents recommended Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
Other books included Ben Horowitz’s The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Simon Sinek’s Start with Why, Ronit Ghose’s Future Money, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s Metaphors We Live By, Annie Duke’s Quit, and Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perr’s What Happened to You?
Raenest CEO Victor Alade recommended Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa. He said:
“As a fintech founder, the majority of your operations involve relating with banks, fintechs, and other regulators. This book helped me better understand how regulators and banks think, especially how Access Bank navigated the Nigerian business landscape.”
“It’s also a historical book that discusses the rise and fall of various banks in Nigeria. I believe that for a fintech aiming for longevity, there’s much to learn from traditional banks. After all, there’s a reason why we have banks that have thrived for over 40 years in the country.”
Ato Bentsi-Enchill from MicroTraction also recommended the same book, commenting:
“I’ve read this book a couple of times and it has been refreshing to read the unscripted version of events that led to building Africa’s largest bank by assets.”
“This book primarily taught me that you can build a world-class business in a relatively short amount of time if you lay the right foundations, optimizing for drive, character, and values.”
“I firmly believe we need more successful African businessmen documenting their journeys in such detail to inspire readers from similar backgrounds to achieve such levels of greatness.”
Flutterwave founder Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola recommended Ben Horowitz’s The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers. He said:
“Everyone understands that building anything requires some kind of resilience. However, building a business such as Flutterwave in Africa requires an insane level of fortitude. I found the practical business wisdom in this book extremely insightful and will be beneficial to anyone who is a doer.”
Launch Africa co-founder and managing partner Zach George recommended Ronit Ghose’s Future Money: Fintech, AI and Web3. He said:
“If you are looking to get your head around money, its history, and some ideas on where the financial world and fintech are heading, this book is a great resource.”
“There is a lot to learn and understand. The history covers all countries and things happening in the evolution of money and its value in the digital world of fintech. It is interesting to read about different countries and continents, how money and fintech evolved over time, the progression of digital assets, and the influence of AI.”
Ndovu CEO Radhika Bachu was impacted by Simon Sinek’s Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. She said:
“I thoroughly enjoyed Start With Why by Simon Sinek because it helped me refocus on the core purpose behind my business. The concept of starting with ‘why’ resonated deeply, as it emphasizes that people are drawn to your mission, not just your product.”
“I highly recommend this book to entrepreneurs and leaders—it’s a powerful reminder to lead with purpose, inspire others, and align actions with your values for long-term success.”
Mark Essien, founder and CEO of Hotels.ng, praised Annie Duke’s Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away. He said:
“I found it insightful because it makes it clear that there are times you actually have to stop investing or spending time on something. It’s good to be persistent, but persisting on something that is not working is very inefficient. Quitting has a negative stigma, but it often is a good thing to do.”
Bernard Ghartey from Norskken22 recommended George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s Metaphors We Live By. He said:
“The book talks about how language, or the way we describe something, shapes our thoughts and, by extension, how others also understand what we’re communicating. The wrong/inaccurate description can either be very limiting or significantly expand thought processes”.
“While not VC related, this is quite helpful in my line of work digesting the many pitches/decks we review. The metaphors we adopt influence how we frame opportunities or how others understand what we’re selling, and it helps shape how you communicate, which is a big currency in this line of work—if not in every line of work.”
Finally, Douglas Kendyson, founder and CEO of Selar, recommended What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perr. He said:
“I picked up this book because I wanted to learn about trauma. Trauma is a word a lot of people use without knowing the actual meaning or the depth of its effect. Interestingly, I was trying to learn about trauma to better understand someone I loved, but as I read through, I realized so much applied to me too. I think it’s an essential book for everyone!”