Name: The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
Rating: 4.027777777777778 (18 reviews)
ISBN: 9780061946370

Lola Shoneyin

Titilola Alexandrah Shoneyin

Baba Segi's fourth wife, the young, quiet and college-educated Bolanle, sends his household into turmoil causing his other three wives to become jealous, resentful and to plot her downfall in this debut novel from the Nigerian-born poet. 50,000 first printing.

A Novel

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives

The book was okay, I think the reviews I’ve read just held to too high a pedestal and it didn’t live up to my expectations. But it was an engaging enough read and the plot twist at the end made it worthwhile.

Nana O

Anjorin Molayo 

i’ll reread this over and over again without getting tired. so brilliant.

altlovesbooks

"Only a foolish woman leans heavily on a man's promises."

I don't know what I expected out of this book, but it was an incredibly compelling read. While polygamy isn't personally my thing, I loved reading how these four women interacted within Baba Segi's household. Turns out the result is lots of drama, lots of jealousy, lots of backstabbing. 

Four women are married to Baba Segi, with Bolanle being the fourth wife. While the book initially starts us off on trying to figure out why Bolanle is unable to bear children, we're switched to the different viewpoints of first wife Iya Segi, second wife Iya Tope, and third wife Iya Femi and a new story emerges. The book changes viewpoints frequently amongst the wives, Baba Segi, and other people within the story's circle, and I liked how each different viewpoint layered something new onto Bolanle's story. While I saw the ending coming, how we got there was a really interesting ride. 

I liked that the author was able to weave in funny moments into this tragic story, particularly surrounding Baba Segi himself. The story as a whole had a soap opera feel, but I enjoyed it immensely. It's not a long book, and the author clearly nailed the pacing in my opinion. Nothing felt slow, extraneous, or extra, everything added a little something more, and I really liked that. 

Fair warning, there's a fair bit of sexism, and some explicit sexual scenes. It didn't bother me much since they added to the story, but if sexism isn't your thing, maybe pass on this one.

Adebimpe Bashorun

Baba Segi's household reminded me of Fuji House of commotion a lot. It was mostly hilarious for me albeit sad in some pages. I really liked how the book was predictable but the writing leading up to the end was amazing. 

It made me thank my parents for educating me and made me grateful for the support system that I have. You should really read it, it warms you yet speaks on different topics that makes you think about how you grew up especially if you are a 90s baby like me.

Oluwapelumi Alo 

Ogochukwu Ihetu

Dipo Apelehin

Coming soon to Netflix When Baba Segi awoke with a bellyache for the sixth day in a row, he knew it was time to do something drastic about his fourth wife's childlessness. To the dismay of her ambitious mother, Bolanle marries into a polygamous family, where she is the fourth wife of a rich, rotund patriarch, Baba Segi. She is a graduate and therefore a great prize, but even graduates must produce children and her husband's persistent bellyache is a sign that things are not as they should be. She only wants to escape to a quiet life, but the others disapprove of the newest, youngest, cleverest addition to the family. Treated with respect by her husband, she is viewed with suspicion by her seniors - who fear she may unlock their well-guarded secret. Through the voices of Baba Segi and his four wives, Lola Shoneyin weaves a vibrant story of love, secrets and a family like every other - happy and unhappy, truthful and not, sometimes kind, sometimes competitive, always bound by blood, and the past.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives A Novel

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