The Secret Life Of Baba Segi’s Wives By Lola Shoneyin Book Review — Ikwunaeme Lilian
Lola Shoneyin, I just came across your book for the first time, I must confess I admire your work. At a point, I felt like I was seeing a movie. Bravo for such a good job.
This book, The Secret Life Of Baba Segi’s Wives is a very captivating story. The author Lola Shoneyin showed a clear picture of the polygamous setting of a family headed by Mr. Atanda known as Baba Segi. It really amazed me how this man could manage four wives under one roof. Lola Shoneyin really impressed me. She gave a clear picture of the life history of the four wives respectively.
Bolanle, the fourth wife of Baba Segi was the protagonist of Lola Shoneyin’s work. Her marriage changed her life. I prefer calling her “my strong woman”. Not minding the hatred and insults she got from her co-wives, she remained strong. I guess it even got her stronger. Her past was so touching, the rape incident got tears flowing down my cheeks and above all, her sincerity made me love her more. Even when the truth was revealed, her courage to leave the house not minding the challenges ahead of her marveled me.
Iya Tope who referred to herself as a ‘shit packer’ was Baba Segi’s second wife. She happened to be the wife who loved Bolanle from a distance but owing to the fact that her co-wives threatened her, she couldn't help but bury the love unexpressed. Her only worry about Bolanle was that her arrival disrupted the sex rotation.
Iya Femi _ Baba Segi’s third wife. Her cunning knew no bound. She felt she was the most intelligent and neatest of all wives. Her hatred for Bolanle was so intense that she could do anything, definitely anything to get rid of her.
Iya Segi was Baba Segi’s first wife. She was an enormous woman. A business tycoon. She misled her co-wives to the trend in the household. Her only problem was Bolanle and she would not let her turn her future upside down. I really felt for her when she revealed the truth to Baba Segi in the hospital. I wish she didn’t have to lose innocence Segi.
Baba Segi was a man who could never keep things in. He always had a way of getting over his tension usually by clearing his digestive system. I didn't really like him, maybe because of the way he treated Bolanle. To him marriage was just for procreation and nothing more. Unknown to him, he had children but he wasn't a father “His testicles were empty without seeds”. I still imagine the fury he had when he realized he has been fooled all along and for the first time in a long while, he appreciated Bolanle.
I think the message he passed to Akin his first son was not only for Akin, it’s for all men out there. “ When the time comes for you to marry, take one wife and one wife alone and when she causes you pain, as all women do, remember it is better your pain comes from one source alone. Listen to the words she doesn't speak so that you will be prepared”.I respect him for the manner in which he addressed the issue. Not every man is willing to accept children that aren't his.
Finally, thanks Lola Shoneyin for proving my guess wrong. I thought I could guess the end of the story. Thank you for such a work.
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