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

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

Every human being has a bit of gangster in him.

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

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 have learned that I, we, are a dollar-a-day people (which is terrible, they say, because a cow in Japan is worth $9 a day). This means that a Japanese cow would be a middle class Kenyan... a $9-a-day cow from Japan could very well head a humanitarian NGO in Kenya. Massages are very cheap in Nairobi, so the cow would be comfortable.

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