Beasts of No Nation is a 2005 novel by the Nigerian-American author Uzodinma Iweala,[1][2] that takes its title from Fela Kuti's 1989 album of the same name.

The novel follows the journey of a young boy, Agu, who is forced to join a group of soldiers in an unnamed West African country.

Iweala does not shy away from explicit, visceral detail and paints a complex, difficult picture of Agu as a child soldier.

The book does not give any direct clue as to which country it takes place in, and it remains undisclosed.

Agu loses track of time, understanding only that he was a child before that war but has become a man in a seemingly never-ending trial by fire.

Starved, exhausted and bereaved of his only friend, Strika, Agu joins the disbanded soldiers to try to make their way home.

Amy invites him to share his thoughts and feelings, and Agu tells her he would like to be a doctor and save lives so as to redeem his sins.

A feature film was adapted by Cary Fukunaga, starring Abraham Attah as Agu and Idris Elba as the commander.