The Secret Lives Of Baba Segi’s Wives Book Review — By Fawziyya Zakariyya
A man with many wives and children is a source of pride in some communities in Nigeria. So was it for Baba Segi who had four wives and seven children. The icing on the cake was Bolanle, his fourth wife who was educated up to the university level!
At first, The Secret Lives Of Baba Segi’s Wives was funny. Baba Segi was a proud illiterate polygamist who didn't think beyond his capacity to pound, and his glorious household. The first three wives of Baba Segi were no ordinary women. They had backgrounds that shaped them into who they were and a matriarch who was all knowing. The matriarch, Iya Segi, was the dispenser of advice to the young wives on what to do to keep their marriage. Although, Iya Femi’s wisdom too should not be cast aside. She calculated the future of her children even before she gave birth to them. Sometimes, her calculations ended up wrong. My favorite wife was Iya Tope. For some reason, she was relatable and I loved the fact that the author didn't put it past an uneducated woman to seek and want sexual pleasure. The children were a pleasure to read although we didn't hear much from their point of view. The setting of Segi as a thread that held the siblings together was beautiful; showing us that a polygamous home brings about the beauty of many siblings.
On a deeper note, the book was a serious one. It was apt at describing one of the terrors plaguing our society -rape. It showed that the trauma after sexual violence could not be measured and always hurt, especially if it’s not dealt with. Like Bolanle said herself in the book, “I was lost and I didn't want anything to do with my life.” She said this to try and explain to her mother why she made decisions like marrying Baba Segi. Bolanle’s trial with infertility also described the standard of women blaming and shaming in the face of childlessness.
Lola Shoneyin is a well known adventurous poet with three well known poetry books. She crafted a story that was relatable but spoke about issues in a deep searching way. She didn't pen down the clichéd polygamous home story. This book was written for the readers to think and to feel. This was a great book and an eye opener. I’d recommend it to anyone old enough to read it.
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