Featured image: Tarkwa Bay, Lagos | Photo by Gbenga Onalaja on Unsplash

Nigerian author shows the value of perseverance

by Carolyn Ray, Editor, JourneyWoman

“Brave, fresh . . . unforgettable.”—The New York Times Book Review

“I’m excited about this debut novel from Nigerian author Abi Daré. . . . In Nigeria, and around the world, girls are fighting for their right to learn. I’m grateful to Abi for showing the challenges Nigerian girls face and showcasing the power of their voices.”—Malala Yousafzai

 “A celebration of girls who dare to dream.”—Imbolo Mbue, author of Behold the Dreamers (Oprah’s Book Club pick)
 

Is Nigeria safe to visit? 

At least 60 percent of Nigerians live below the poverty line, existing on less than a dollar a day. Unfair distribution of the country’s oil wealth, as well as political, ethnic, and religious conflicts have put a strain on Nigerian society.

Since Nigeria won independence from Britain in 1960, it has suffered through corrupt leaders and occasional military rule. In 1999 the country adopted a new constitution and the first democratic elections in 20 years were held. With oil as its most important export, it holds significant influence politically and economically in West Africa. Rubber and cacao (for chocolate and cocoa) are also important export products.

According to the US State Department, tourists should reconsider Nigeria as a travel destination Violent crime – such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage taking, banditry, and rape – is common throughout the country. Canadians are advised to avoid non-essential travel due to the unpredictable security situation throughout the country and the significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnapping

Book Club Discussion Questions

We may not get through all of these, but here are some thoughts to start our discussion!

1. What was your favourite passage in the book, and why?
2. Have you travelled to Nigeria? Did you learn anything about Nigeria that surprised you?
3. Adunni frequently uses unusual or idiosyncratic combinations of English words to tell her story. Were these expressions effective, or did you struggle to understand them?  Which was your favourite?
4. How were Adunni’s feelings about marriage different from those of her friend, Enitan, and her co-wife, Khadija?
5. Why do you think Morufu’s first wife, Labake, treats Khadija and Adunni the way she does?
6. Adunni experiences harmony with one co-wife, and conflict with another. Can there be both benefits and drawbacks in a polygamous household? Have you ever encountered polygamy, either in your own country or in your travels, or read other books with polygamy at their core?
7. Human trafficking has been at the edges of a number of books we’ve read recently, but sometimes the exact parameters of human trafficking might seem difficult to define. Is forced child marriage, like that experienced by Adunni, an example of human trafficking? How about unpaid servitude, as Adunni experiences in Big Madam’s house? 
8. Who are Adunni’s allies throughout the book? How do they help her, and do they ever fail her?
9. Adunni feels some sympathy for Big Madam.  Do you?
10. Ritual baths play pivotal roles in the lives of Adunni’s friends. What water-focused rituals have you encountered on your travels? Why do you think so many cultural practices centre on water?
11. Despite the events that led to Adunni fleeing from her home, she never stopped aspiring to improve the lives of her family and her village. What did you think about these aspirations?
12. Did you notice any changes in Adunni’s voice as the story progresses?  How does it change, and why?
13. What did you think about the selection of “Nigerian Facts” that pepper the pages? If you had to contribute just one fact about your hometown to a “book of facts”, what would it be
14. Did the book make you want to travel to Nigeria?

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