What is more unconventional about a love story than Baba segi and his handful of wives. Good day everyone, I go by Rae the African author enthusiasts (I mean nobody calls me that but we can start from here) anyways, if you can't already tell i love books, especially Nigerian books. It doesn't mean I don't diversify. I do. But once I saw this prompt, The secret lives of Baba segi’s wives by Lola Shoneyin popped up in my head.
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Now, if you haven't already read the book this might be a spoiler for you, so.
SPOILER ALERT
As opposed to the usual romance we see in love stories, gestures, enemies to lovers, suspenseful love, dark romance, friends to lovers and the likes. TSL of Baba segi's wives has something more. Unconventionality. These marriages only happened because of Baba segi's ability to “afford wives” there was no love story, no passionate suspense, nothing. These wives' loyalty to him is due to the amount of money he can provide for them, and how well he can cater for both the wives and the children.
As Baba Segi's wealth increases, so do his wives and children. However, there's trouble in this story upon the arrival of his last wife,Bolanle, the youngest and most educated of them all is married into the family. Due to her educational skills and her marriage into an already polygamous family. She's ostracized from the other wives. They seem as a threat and try to make life unbearable for her.
Bolanle, although not married to Baba segi for love but rather financial security, soon realises that she craves all forms of love. She notices that her idea of love can not be achieved in this household. As so many forces are already against her, her childlessness, the wives and Baba segi's understanding of love.
All through the novel, it's revealed that although wives have different meanings of love. All of them except Bolanle, tried to earn their stay in the house and prove their love to Baba Segi by being unfaithful to him. This is later discovered at the end of the novel and leads to the fall of Baba segi's house. In his wife's mind, they proved their love to their husband by giving him offsprings he didn't desire and had done an abominable act to be loved by their husband.
This book reflects the disadvantages of polygamy, how unconventional love can be, the traditional gender roles and reality as we all know it. Bolanle might have not gotten her love story, but her loyalty and love for Baba Segi brought the truth to light, even. As heartbreaking as it was.
Do have a lovely day chica, I do hope to see your reviews on The secret lives of Baba segi's wives as soon as you read it.
