Book Review: The African First Born by Isaac Mintah

In The African First Born, Ghanaian author and digital publisher Isaac Mintah offers more than a cultural commentary — he delivers a heartfelt and unfiltered exploration of one of the most overlooked roles in African family systems: the firstborn child.

For generations, the firstborn has been revered in African homes — celebrated as a symbol of hope, leadership, and continuity. But behind that praise is a far more complex reality. Firstborns are often forced into adulthood too early, saddled with expectations they didn’t choose, and silenced by a cultural script that rewards endurance over expression. Mintah captures this reality with precision, empathy, and powerful personal insight.

A Book That Names the Unnamed

From the very first chapter, The African First Born peels back the layers of tradition to reveal the hidden costs of being the eldest child in Africa. It covers a wide range of issues — from parentification and financial exploitation, to delayed dreams, late marriages, emotional isolation, and sibling betrayal.

What sets the book apart is not just what it says, but how it says it. Mintah writes with clarity and compassion. He doesn’t attack African culture; he challenges the aspects of it that silently crush the emotional health and future of its firstborns.

A Groundbreaking Chapter: “The Farewell Plan”

One of the most striking additions is a chapter titled The Farewell Plan, where Mintah confronts the quiet dread many firstborns live with — the unspoken responsibility of caring for aging parents and organizing funerals that are often more expensive than celebrations. It’s a sobering reminder of how much weight firstborns carry, even in silence.

A Voice for Healing and Change

This book isn’t just a lament. It’s a guide — offering tools for setting boundaries, reclaiming identity, and breaking generational cycles. It urges firstborns to unlearn guilt, confront internalized pressure, and choose themselves without shame.

It also speaks to African parents — gently but firmly calling for responsible parenting, fair distribution of responsibility, and an end to overburdening one child in the name of tradition.

Final Verdict

The African First Born is a deeply important book — the kind that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the weight of being the “strong one.” It gives language to lived experience, validates unspoken pain, and offers practical hope for healing and growth.

For readers in Africa and the diaspora, this book is a mirror, a map, and a message: You are not alone. You are allowed to rest. And your story matters.

Highly recommended for:

• Firstborn sons and daughters

• African parents and guardians

• Therapists, pastors, and counselors

• Anyone interested in African family dynamics, healing, and leadership

Book Title: The African First Born
Author: Isaac Mintah
Publisher: The Hub Web Publishing
Available on: Amazon (Kindle and Paperback)