The novel begins with the discovery of Vivek’s lifeless body on his mother’s doorstep in southeastern Nigeria. Through alternating timelines, it tracks Vivek’s childhood and his deepening connection to a group of cousins and friends who shield his private identity from his traditionalist parents. Vivek experiences psychological blackouts and physical changes as he rejects the rigid expectations of Nigerian masculinity. His cousin Nnamdi and the daughters of the Nigerwives circle help him inhabit his true self, but their shared secrets face constant threats from societal shifts and family grief.
Readers interested in the intersections of gender nonconformity and West African cultural norms will find a precise account of family dynamics under pressure. This book is for those who value narratives where the search for identity exists alongside the harsh reality of social isolation. It offers a look at how a community defines gender and how those who fall outside those definitions create their own underground networks of care. The reader finishes the book with a clear understanding of the price of authenticity in an environment governed by strict religious and social codes.
- Published
- 2020
- Language
- EN
