Lola Shoneyin
Forfatter af The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
Om forfatteren
Værker af Lola Shoneyin
Associated Works
New Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African Descent (1992) — Bidragyder — 88 eksemplarer
Of This Our Country: Acclaimed Nigerian Writers on the Home, Identity, and Culture They Know (2021) — Bidragyder — 12 eksemplarer
Satte nøgleord på
Almen Viden
- Juridisk navn
- Shoneyin, Titilola Atinuke Alexandrah
- Fødselsdato
- 1974-02-26
- Køn
- female
- Nationalitet
- Nigeria
- Land (til kort)
- Nigeria
- Fødested
- Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Bopæl
- Ibadan, Nigeria
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Abuja, Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria - Uddannelse
- Ogun State University (BA)
Cargilfield School, Edinburgh - Erhverv
- teacher
writer - Relationer
- Soyinka, Wole (daughter-in-law)
Medlemmer
Anmeldelser
Lister
To read (1)
Hæderspriser
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Associated Authors
Statistikker
- Værker
- 5
- Also by
- 3
- Medlemmer
- 642
- Popularitet
- #39,293
- Vurdering
- 3.6
- Anmeldelser
- 67
- ISBN
- 22
- Sprog
- 5
This is the debut novel by Nigerian poet Lola Shoneyin. It takes a look at the life of a polygamous family in contemporary Nigeria with humour, wit, subtlety and insight. It was longlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction and also features on the list 50 Books By African Women That Everyone Should Read.
When university graduate Bolanle enters the family as Baba Segi’s fourth wife it turns everything on its head. Despite her prestige as an educated woman, Iya Segi, Iya Tope and Iya Femi, the first three wives, are unhappy about the addition of a new wife to the home, and having to share their husband’s bed more sparsely.
Baba Segi is the domineering patriarch of the home, boorish and narrow-minded, but at the same time a warm-hearted family man. He is also prey to his wives’ machinations and manipulations. Bolanle’s failure to conceive, after enduring two years of Baba Segi’s poundings, reduces her status in the home even further. Iya Segi and Iya Femi’s efforts to evict her ramp up, leading to a series of unpredictable events.
This story explores the status of women in Nigeria, the challenges they face and also their strength and resilience. The sappy, romantic side of me was disappointed that the women failed to bond, and to conquer all with the power of female friendship. I guess their attempts to drag each other down, and pass on the hurts and wounds they themselves had experienced is more realistic.
Be aware that all levels of violence toward women are explored in this story. If you can manage that it is a well-written and insightful story. I for one would like to read another from this author.… (mere)