All people have dignity. Theres nobody who was born without a soul and a spirit.

There is no country in the world with the diversity, confidence and talent and black pride like Nigeria.

Every human being has a bit of gangster in him.

Everywhere I go, I see young people: Confident, forward looking. I have seen them in Lagos, in Rwanda, in the suburbs of London.

I’m extremely optimistic about rapid transformation and change of things in Africa in general.

I believe in, and will to the best of my ability fight for, equal rights and freedom of opinion for everyone, regardless of colour, religion, nationality, orientation - you know the rest.

I like the idea of readers feeling a familiarity, whether its with Africa or childhood.

Africa is to be pitied, worshipped or dominated

People reach an age... where somebody elses platform is no longer yours.

I love playing with words and texture.

I, Binyavanga Wainaina, quite honestly swear I have known I am a homosexual since I was five.

In the dark, there is silence but in the light there is warmth.

When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there?

I am satisfied that when the Almighty wants me to do or not do any particular thing, He finds a way of letting me know it

Sweet praise is like perfume. It is fine if you don't swallow it.

Do not help the quick moneymakers who have delusions about taking possession of classics by smearing them with paint.

Meditation and water are wedded for ever.

Laws do not stop crime; they merely make noise about crime. They say 'Don't take anything that doesn't belong to you'. Well, that doesn't do anything.

If it is sweet to be right, then - let's not deny it - it is downright savory to point out that someone else is wrong.

He was alone in his wonderment, amoung creatures incapable of wonder --for them it was enough to exist and go their way.

Every time I start a new piece of work, I spend a long while under the duvet thinking I can't do it.