The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives (novel)

Last updated
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
Cover of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives 2010.jpg
Author Lola Shoneyin
Publisher Serpent's Tail
ISBN 9781846687488

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives is the title of the 2010 debut novel by the Nigerian poet Lola Shoneyin. The novel was longlisted for the prestigious Women's Prize for Fiction in 2011. [1] It won the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Award in 2011 [2] and the ANA Ken Saro-Wiwa Prose Prize in the same year. [3] It was short listed for the NLNG Nigeria prize for literature in 2012 [4] and was listed in the top ten novels about Nigeria by The Observer newspaper in 2014. [5] It has been translated into several languages including Arabic[ citation needed ] and has been adapted for the stage and screen. [6]

Contents

The novel follows the Ibadan, Alao family of Baba Segi, his four wives and seven children, during the period that his fourth wife, a university graduate, is within the household. In South Africa and Nigeria, polygamy is a common practice [7] [8] and the novel, written by an author familiar with this system of multiple wives, [9] deals with the cultural pressures on the infertile and impotent within a polygamous society, [10] as well as with the universal themes of rape, domestic abuse marital property rights, girls’ education, jealousy and power relations in a family. [11]

Because of its themes, the novel has been the basis of academic papers on stress management among co-wives, [8] polygamy [12] and female agency, [8] and has contributed to a feminist analysis of patriarchal structures. [13]

Plot summary

The life-changing events of rape and abortion, which she has largely kept secret, have led Bolanle to choose to become the fourth wife of Baba Segi, a man she sees as plump, prosperous, kindly and undemanding. Her mother, who has worked hard to give her daughter the benefit of a university education, is furious at her decision. On arriving at her new home, Bolanle meets the first wife Iya Segi and her children Segi and Akin, the second wife Iya Tope and her children Tope and Afolake, and the third wife Iya Femi who has borne Femi and Kole. Bolanle believes at first that she can educate the family to be more courteous and literate and that with loving kindness towards them she can become a valued member of the household. Two years of jealous attacks on her by the oldest and youngest wives make her realise however that this is unlikely. She has also still not become pregnant. Receiving advice from male acquaintances in a bar, Baba Segi takes Bolanle to a hospital for tests, believing that she must be the one who has a fertility problem.

The main characters, the four wives, the husband and his driver all have their own chapters during which the reader discovers their individual stories, their reasons for ending up in Baba Segi's household and the secrets that they are all keeping from Bolanle and from the husband.

When Baba Segi is called to the hospital for tests of his own, the first three wives know that the game will shortly be up. His infertility and the wives’ recourse to other men in order to become pregnant will be revealed, the household in disarray and their material comfort affected. A plot to poison Bolanle misfires and Segi, the first daughter, dies instead. Baba Segi, a loving father, has to deal with this trauma and the news that none of the children in the household were fathered by him. He decides to offer freedom to his wives. The first three opt to stay on under strict new regulations that keep them at home and thus their husband's infertility a secret. Bolanye is the only one who decides to walk free, vowing to overcome her resultant status as a 'damaged' woman with education, training and fortitude.

Adaptations and translations

The book has been adapted for the stage and the play of the same name received a five star review from The Guardian . [6]

Shoneyin has signed a deal with Mo Abudu to make her book into a Netflix series, possibly to be filmed in Nigeria. [14]

The book has been published in translation in several languages including:

Analysis

Through the context and characters in her novel, Shoneyin deals with the many forces of oppression against women and girls that are present in a patriarchal society. These include child abuse, rape, forced marriage, lack of inheritance rights for women and girls, and conflict between co-wives. [13] The wives in the novel have recourse to different strategies to cope with the stress of these oppressions. Their resources include co-wife rank, bonding with co-wives, experiencing joy in children, strength of ego, economic freedom and education. [8] [15]

The women in the novel's polygamous family affected by male infertility need to produce children either by sexual activity outside the marriage or by divorce, otherwise they risk being regarded as barren and useless and being returned in shame to their own families. [13]

The novel's discourse, the utterances and thoughts of the first three wives, provide justification for their adultery and their hostility towards the fourth wife, given the post-modern, Yoruba society and androcentric moral code within which they live, where womanhood is viewed as equating to motherhood. Shoneyin thus balances their powerlessness to some extent although ultimately, after Baba Segin's decision, the first three wives are left in an even more circumscribed situation than before. Shoneyin also admits the stigma attached to public knowledge of a male's infertility indicating that polygamy is not without its problems for either women or men. [16] [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polygyny</span> Mating system in which the male partner may have multiple partners

Polygyny is a form of polygamy entailing the marriage of a man to several women. The term polygyny is from Neoclassical Greek πολυγυνία (polugunía); from Ancient Greek πολύ (polú) 'many', and γυνή (gunḗ) 'woman, wife'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigerian literature</span> Literature of Nigerians

Nigerian literature may be roughly defined as the literary writing by citizens of the nation of Nigeria for Nigerian readers, addressing Nigerian issues. This encompasses writers in a number of languages, including not only English but Igbo, Urhobo, Yoruba, and in the northern part of the county Hausa and Nupe. More broadly, it includes British Nigerians, Nigerian Americans and other members of the African diaspora.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chika Unigwe</span> Nigerian-born Igbo author (born 1974)

Chika Nina Unigwe is a Nigerian-born Igbo author who writes in English and Dutch. In April 2014, she was selected for the Hay Festival's Africa39 list of 39 Sub-Saharan African writers aged under 40 with potential and talent to define future trends in African literature. Previously based in Belgium, she now lives in the United States.

Tanure Ojaide is a Nigerian poet and academic. As a writer, he is noted for his unique stylistic vision and for his intense criticism of imperialism, religion, and other issues. He is regarded as a socio-political and an ecocentric poet. He won the 2018 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa with his collection Songs of Myself: A Quartet (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Nigeria</span> Overview of the status of women in Nigeria

Women in Nigeria are a diverse group of individuals who have a wide range of experiences and backgrounds. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, entrepreneurs, professionals, and activists. Women in Nigeria face numerous challenges, including gender inequality, poverty, and a lack of access to education and healthcare. Despite these challenges, Nigerian women are making strides in all areas of life and are becoming increasingly empowered to take control of their lives and their futures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mo Abudu</span> Nigerian talk show host and actress (born 1964)

Mosunmola Abudu, professionally known as Mo Abudu, is a Nigerian media mogul, philanthropist, and former human resources management consultant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lola Shoneyin</span> Nigerian poet and author (born 1974)

Lola Shoneyin is a Nigerian poet and author who launched her debut novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives, in the UK in May 2010. Shoneyin has forged a reputation as an adventurous, humorous and outspoken poet, having published three volumes of poetry. Her writing delves into themes related to female sexuality and the difficulties of domestic life in Africa. In April 2014 she was named on the Hay Festival's Africa39 list of 39 Sub-Saharan African writers aged under 40 with potential and talent to define trends in African literature. Lola won the PEN Award in America as well as the Ken Saro-Wiwa Award for prose in Nigeria. She was also on the list for the Orange Prize in the UK for her debut novel, The Secret of Baba Segi's Wives, in 2010. She lives in Lagos, Nigeria, where she runs the annual Aké Arts and Book Festival. In 2017, she was named African Literary Person of the Year by Brittle Paper.

Adaobi Tricia Obinne Nwaubani is a Nigerian novelist, humorist, essayist and journalist. Her debut novel, I Do Not Come To You By Chance, won the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (Africa), a Betty Trask First Book award, and was named by The Washington Post as one of the Best Books of 2009. Her debut Young Adult novel, Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree, based on interviews with girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, was published by HarperCollins in September 2018. It won the 2018 Raven Award for Excellence in Arts and Entertainment, was named as one of the American Library Association’s Best Fiction for Young Adults, and is a Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2019 selection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jide Kosoko</span> Nigerian actor (born 1954)

Jide Kosoko is a veteran Nigerian actor, director and producer. He was born into a royal family, hence his traditional title of prince or "omoba" in the Yoruba language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ifeoma Okoye</span> Nigerian novelist

Ifeoma Okoye is a Nigerian novelist. She has been referred to by fans as "the most important female novelist from Nigeria after Flora Nwapa and Buchi Emecheta," according to Oyekan Owomoyela. She was born in Anambra State in Eastern Region, Nigeria. She went to school at St. Monica's College in Ogbunike to receive a teaching certificate in 1959. She then graduated from the University of Nigeria in Nsukka to earn a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in English in 1977. She wrote novels including Behind the Clouds, children's novels and short stories, such as The Village Boy and Eme Goes to School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zainab Balogun</span> British-born Nigerian actress (born 1989)

Zainab Balogun-Nwachukwu is a Nigerian actress, model and television presenter. She began modelling at an early age after being scouted at 16. She has been featured in several international campaigns for different brands. She co-founded The J-ist TV, an online entertainment web-series that highlights African culture and a range of topical issues; the series features interviews involving some of Africa's top personalities.

Bolanle Awe is a Nigerian and Yoruba history professor. She became the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria in Nsukka. She has been called a Nigerian "intellectual hero".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aké Arts and Book Festival</span> Annual literary event in Nigeria

The Aké Arts and Book Festival is a literary and artistic event held annually in Nigeria. It was founded in 2013 by Lola Shoneyin, a Nigerian writer and poet, in Abeokuta. It features new and established writers from across the world, and its primary focus has been to promote, develop, and celebrate the creativity of African writers, poets, and artists. The Aké Arts and Book Festival has been described as the African continent's biggest annual gathering of literary writers, editors, critics, and readers. The festival has an official website and a dedicated magazine, known as the Aké Review.

Oluwafemi Elufowoju Jr. is a British-born, Nigerian-raised performance practitioner working across the creative industries. After Alton Kumalo, founder of Temba Theatre Company, Elufowoju is the second theatre director of African descent to establish a national touring company in the UK. Elufowoju's stage work has been seen across most key flagship production houses in the UK, and has collaborated extensively with notable creatives within the film, television and radio sectors.

Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo is a Nigerian author and educator, whose published work includes novels, poetry, short stories, books for children, essays and journalism. She is the winner of several awards in Nigeria, including the Nigeria Prize for Literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soji Cole</span> Nigerian academic, playwright and author

Soji Cole is a Nigerian academic, playwright and author. He is the 2018 recipient of the Nigeria Prize for Literature. His research areas are on drama therapy, trauma studies and cross-cultural performance research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lola Akande</span> Nigerian academic and author (b. 1965)

Lola Akande is a Nigerian academic and fiction writer. She has published three novels and a collection of short stories including the award winning _What It Takes_ and her latest novel, __The Truth about Sadia_ which is endorsed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

<i>The Secret Lives of Baba Segis Wives</i> (play) Stage play by Rotimi Babatunde

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives is a stage play by Rotimi Babatunde based on a 2010 novel of the same name by Nigerian poet, Lola Shoneyin. It was directed by Femi Elufowoju Jr and showed at the Arcola Theatre in London.

Uche Chika Elumelu is a Nigerian actress.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives may refer to:

References

  1. ↑ "Orange prize for fiction 2011: the longlist - gallery". the Guardian. 2011-03-16. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  2. ↑ "Awards & Award Winners". PEN Oakland. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  3. ↑ "ANA Releases 2011 Literary Prizes Shortlist | NigerianOrientNews". 2012-04-26. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  4. ↑ African Writer Magazine (2012-09-08). "NLNG Prize 2012: Shortlist of 10". AfricanWriter.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  5. ↑ Phillips, Barnaby (2014-09-10). "The top 10 books about Nigeria". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  6. 1 2 Akbar, Arifa (2018-06-14). "The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives review – a swaggering spectacular". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  7. ↑ "Here come the brides". jamaica-gleaner.com. 2010-04-18. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Ndiyah, Florence Y. (2021-07-03). "The Emotional Well-being of African Wives: Perceiving the Generalised Resistance Resources (GRRs) in Stress Management by Co-wives in Lola Shoneyin's Novel The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives". Journal of Literary Studies. 37 (3): 66–82. doi:10.1080/02564718.2021.1959758. S2CID   237473158.
  9. ↑ "Shoneyin talks polygamy, literacy". The East African. 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  10. ↑ Baloyi, Gift T. (2019-10-01). "An African woman's dilemma in The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives: A bosadi perspective on the challenges and pains of infertility". Verbum et Ecclesia. 40 (1): e1–e8. doi: 10.4102/ve.v40i1.1957 . ISSN   1609-9982.
  11. ↑ Shoneyin, Lola. "Shelf Awareness for Tuesday, June 8, 2010". www.shelf-awareness.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  12. 1 2 Olaniyi, Akin (2021), "Towards an Endogenous Interpretation of Polygamy and Gender Relations: A Critique of Lola Shoneyin's the Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives", Pathways to Alternative Epistemologies in Africa, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 165–176, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-60652-7_10, ISBN   978-3-030-60651-0, S2CID   234263026 , retrieved 2023-04-02
  13. 1 2 3 Nguwasen, Martha Chia (March 2022). "A Feminist Reading of Lola Shoneyin's The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives". Impact . 10 (3): 65–80 – via Research Gate.
  14. ↑ "'I go like if dem shoot Baba Segi Netflix series for Ibadan'". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  15. ↑ Abiola, Emmanuel (2018). "Negotiating Patriarchal Structures: Polygamy and Female Agency in The Secret Lives of Baba Segun's Wives". The Ibadan Journal of English Studies . 7: 497–504.
  16. ↑ Amoussou, Franck (2021-01-01). "Deconstructing the Moral Code in Social Life: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Lola Shoneyin's The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives". Conference Publication.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.