Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives

Yep, it's official: I love novels by Nigerian women set in Nigeria. I’ve spent my life building community to combat racism in America, and at times, I’ve wondered who I’d be if there were no racism. What would I do for a living? African literature allows me to live in a world outside of the white gaze; it gives me peaks into Black people (well, you know what I mean) just being themselves.

The Secret Lives does just that. Of course, since humans are involved,d there is drama, trauma, and assorted fucked up shit. And I’m here for that.

Baba Segi has three wives and a bunch of children. He is truly the King of his castle. His wives take off his shoes when he comes home, bring him food, and kneel before him. Into this happy home comes a fourth wife, who is younger (of course) and a university graduate. And high jinks ensue.

I’ve read five Nigerian novels by Nigerian women over the last year. In those books, there has only been one man who was not a complete and utter asshole. Baba Segi is the second-best man in these books, and he regularly slaps the shit out of his wives. The authors are making a statement about Nigerian culture and men specifically.

One of my sisters-in-law has spent time in various African countries, and the chorus of her time there was: How come you have no husband and no children? The patriarchy is flourishing.

Baba Segi’s fourth wife's arrival heralds the secret's unraveling. Shoneyin’s writing is terse, descriptive, well-paced, and both character—and plot-driven. It is a well-written book, and I recommend it.