I decided to read Sefi Atta’s debut novel because it is much vaunted by some of my friends. Most of them read it in high school and had good things to say about it. It even won the Wole Soyinka Award for African Literature, so I was convinced that I was missing out on a good story.
The novel follows the life of Enitan, the protagonist and narrator, as she grows from childhood to adulthood in post-war Nigeria, a patriarchal society that demands that women stay in their place. The book is divided into three unequal parts marked by years: 1971, 1985, and 1995.
We are introduced to Enitan, and we learn that the death of her only brother has caused a rift in her family. Enitan is caught between two parents who turn to different things to cope with the pain of loss. We then see her develop a fascinating friendship with Sheri, the girl next door, who she is forbidden to see. Sheri is a sassy and rebellious girl who likes to defy the rules. Their friendship blossoms, and we learn about both characters’ differences and motivations. The girls are soon forced to separate due to a traumatic event; Enitan is sent to England to study, and Sheri is left in Lagos to deal with the weight of the traumatic event.
The novel skips over a decade, and we are re-introduced to Enitan in 1985, who returns to Lagos to stay with her father and joins his law practice to start her law career. Her parents’ relationship has become sourer, and Enitan is still caught in the middle. This part of the novel plays out against the backdrop of successive military coups and increasing political tension in Nigeria. We start seeing our protagonist’s psychological and moral growth as she deals with personal relationships, the demands on a woman of a patriarchal society, family troubles, and an increasingly despotic military junta. We see Enitan becomes mired in two types of struggles: a political one when her father gets into trouble with the junta, and familial ones with her parents’ deteriorating relationship and her romantic relationships with men. In both cases, we see our protagonist stand up for herself and her family in a society that asks women to act like women and stick to “women-like” activities. These struggles are the central themes of the book.
What I like about this book is that it was told from a feminist lens. We see the female characters fighting bravely for their voices to be heard and their places to be recognised in society. I also like the focus on the need to speak on injustice. If we see injustice and don’t speak about it, it’s only a matter of time before it touches us. But that is all I like about it. There are so many things about the book that left a lot to be desired. The character development was under par. I initially felt connected to the characters, but everything felt flat from the 1985 section. The narration style became dry and did not elicit any emotion from me. I found it hard to relate to and understand the characters. Sheri, Enitan’s childhood friend, was re-introduced, but she lost the rebellious nature she had when she was a girl. The reason for that wasn’t adequately explored. Another issue I have with the book is the inconsistent pacing. In some chapters, time flies quickly, and in some other chapters, the author spends considerable time describing things, many of them unnecessary and does nothing to advance the plot. In short, the book felt disjointed.
I rate most books a 3 out of 5 on Goodreads, and the ones I consider exceptional a 5, but I gave this book a rating of 2. It was a letdown for me. If you have read it, let me know what you think about it.
I think the most beautiful thing about EGWC is that it’s a book very steeped in nostalgia.
It does a lot more documenting of the times (frankly the last time Nigeria was enjoyable for its majority) than being a work of fiction.
So I hear the critique about pacing and the plot but it’s anything but disjointed.
Everything you’ve mentioned, she did later in Swallow Which is why I think Swallow, also set in the "good old 80s" got adapted by Netflix instead.
More drama etc l.
Except it’s books like EGWC, that really go the distance.
Where, books like Swallow may make for a enjoyable reading, EGWC is Nigerian history canon.
The kind of work that makes it into the Library of Congress if we had one.
It's rather interesting that I found this because this book is my current read. I'm in the third part now and the book has become a bit of a drag tbh. It feels flat in some parts but I still like it. Actually, it's Enitan I like a lot and I'm determined to follow her story to the end. I'll probably be back.