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Three Reviews | Evidence Egwuono Adjarho

Three Reviews | Evidence Egwuono Adjarho

Three Reviews | Evidence Egwuono Adjarho| Afrocritik Prize for Criticism

Evidence Egwuono Adjarho is the winner of the 2024 Afrocritik Prize for Criticism

Peace Adzo Medie’s His Only Wife and the Exploration of the Messianic Expectation of Women in Society: A Review 

Women are often conditioned by society — whether consciously or unconsciously — to aspire towards marriage, and this is reflected in how they are groomed from a young age. The subject of marriage takes centre stage. In Jamaica Kincaid’s 1978 short story, “Girl”, a mother spells out a list of do’s and don’ts for her daughter, reminding her of her vital role as the messiah in the home. In this context, “messiah” implies her duty to protect her husband from the influence of other women. 

This theme forms the focal point in Peace Adzo Medie’s 2020 debut novel His Only Wife, where the protagonist, Afi Tekple, a young seamstress from Ho, finds herself responsible for rescuing her husband from the allure of another woman. Afi narrates her experience as she enters a match-made marriage with the wealthy Elikem Ganyo, which catapults her from a simple life in Ho to a luxurious one in Accra. Alongside this newfound opulence, she bears the burden of being the sole wife, tasked with shielding her husband from the charms of his concubine, who is mainly referred to as “the woman” in the novel. This responsibility is a reminder that her marital duties extend beyond her husband to the broader community, as she navigates this role without failing her husband, mother, and family, including Aunty, her mother-in-law, Evelyn, the girlfriend of Elikem’s brother, and herself. These women are important to the story because they offer readers a glimpse into different aspects of female struggles and challenges. 

In the world Medie creates, women do not live solely for themselves which is a reflection of patriarchal societies. They transition from girlhood to wifehood and motherhood, with great expectations weighed upon them. What piques my interest about His Only Wife is the protagonist’s unwavering determination to pursue her passion of becoming a fashion designer, despite the onerous role thrust upon her in her marriage. Medie’s treatment of the character of Afi bears a striking resemblance to the portrayal of the protagonist, Adunni in Abi Dare’s 2020 novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice. The female protagonists in both books undergo ugly experiences but show unwavering determination in pursuing their passions, irrespective. Adunni struggles, despite her background, to become learned, and Afi does not give up her dream of becoming an established fashion designer.

While the societal expectation of women is ever-eminent through Afi’s interactions with her mother, Aunty, and her uncle, the novel also presents alternative narratives through Evelyn and Muna, who have liberated themselves from the messianic role and are consequently ostracised. This is especially important in contemporary society because it affirms to readers that emancipation from patriarchy is not an impossibility. Interwoven with the messianic theme in this novel is the concept of matriarchy explored through the Aunty. Aunty is the she-must-be-obeyed figure who commands respect from all; in this society, her word is the law. Her domineering nature makes her sons become mere puppets in the novel. She dictates an arranged marriage for her son with Afi and regiments Afi’s roles to her because the Liberian woman her son loves is beyond her control. Aunty portrays this woman as a wicked enchantress and convinces Afi and her mother to think the same. 

Although His Only Wife addresses African societal issues, it remains engaging to readers. The author sprinkles romance — an element often overlooked in attempts to depict reality into the story — and this improves the taste of the novel to readers. The romantic scenes between Elikem and Afi flow naturally and don’t seem forced, offering readers a glimpse into affection and the intricacies of human emotions.

Ultimately, His Only Wife demonstrates through the experiences of its women that liberation from societal roles is attainable. This novel urges readers to reflect on and challenge these roles imposed on women by society. This book is more than just a piece of fiction; it is a mirror held up to society.

Three Reviews | Evidence Egwuono Adjarho| Afrocritik Prize for Criticism
Evidence Egwuono Adjarho

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The Complexities of Emotions and Relationships in Jerry Chiemeke’s Dreaming of Ways to Understand You 

Human emotions are a kaleidoscope reflecting a vast spectrum of multifaceted and dynamic aspects of the human experience, each unique to an individual. These diversities contribute to the myriad ways individuals relate to their immediate environment. Yet, a great flaw of society is the tendency to oversimplify these complexities, categorising them into binary boxes. Jerry Chiemeke’s collection of short stories, published in 2020, Dreaming of Ways to Understand You, dismantles these limitations, engaging readers on a journey through the labyrinth of the human psyche.

The book comprises fifteen distinct stories, each a window into a different facet of human experience. In “Not For Long”, the first story in the book, love and longing take a surprising turn. An online hookup unfolds unexpectedly and mirrors love and obsession in a different light, questioning the conventional notions of romance. Through suspenseful storytelling, Chiemeke unveils the layers of his unnamed character, leaving readers spellbound by the final revelation.

Loss, in its diverse forms, weaves through the narrative of this book. Such as in “Coming to Terms”, the second story in this book, which defies the expectations of readers by confronting loss and mortality from an unconventional perspective. Following a life-altering accident, the protagonist grapples with an irreparable void, forcing a confrontation with the fragility of existence. In “The Road Gets Thirsty, Too”, disparate lives intersect on a bus journey. The author explores what goes on in the minds of humans in the face of mortality. This perspective offers a dimension of mortality not commonly spoken about. 

The complexities of relationships are laid bare in other stories in the book. “What Am I Supposed to Say to You”, for instance, illustrates the complications that come with romantic relationships. The narrator chronicles his challenging experience with a lady refusing to end the relationship with her abusive boyfriend. Meanwhile, “On Moshalashi Street” delves into the intricacies of grief within a father and son, echoing the profound impacts of loss on familial bonds. This bears a striking similarity to Chimamanda Adichie’s book, Notes on Grief.  Here, Chiemeke shows the varied impacts of grief on the relationship between father and son.  

Chiemeke fearlessly tackles several subjects, such as sexuality and the stigma and stereotypes often associated with such topics. In “Memories Floating in a Glass of Whiskey”, a homosexual man narrates his bitter experiences with finding acceptance in society. “The Blankness I Wouldn’t Let You See” offers a compelling account from the viewpoint of a queer woman, navigating the struggle to conceal her true sexuality and conform to societal expectations. Chiemeke exposes the societal constructs that confine individuals and takes the bold step of offering a raw exploration of identity and self-acceptance. 

Following this is “On Getting Around to Confidently Taking Off My Shirt”, which probes into the journey of a male narrator born with effeminate features. Through his story, readers are immersed in his traumatic experiences such as bullying, which he experiences from other males because of his physique, and his desire to break free from societal expectations, which reaches a point where he no longer feels constrained by others’ perceptions.

The author also explores themes such as the bustling chaos of life in a city like Lagos. From the grim realities of kidnapping, police corruption, and unexpected romance in “Pining for the Hands That Tied Me”, to the rampant paranoia of living in Lagos in “City On Fast Forward”. Similarly, “Ugborikoko” stands out for its raw portrayal of life in Ugborikoko, one of the cities that make up Warri in Delta state. This story is raw in its capture of the normalisation of banality such as unjust killing and extreme violence in this part of Nigeria. 

Chiemeke’s keen observations and deft storytelling compel readers to recognise the complexities of human nature and relationships without attempting to fully explain or understand his characters. By doing this, the author allows the reader to craft meaning for themselves. Crafted with precision and empathy, Dreaming of Ways to Understand You invites readers to reflect on the emotions and relationships that define humans.

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Exploring the Other Accidents in Dami Ajayi’s Affections & Accidents

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Three Reviews | Evidence Egwuono Adjarho| Afrocritik Prize for Criticism

…affection is a shimmering thing catching/ the reflection of a full moon on desperate nights when/ lovers deign to dream of an alternate future.  An excerpt from “A Poem for Raliat” in Interlogue III

Humans everywhere are often claimed to be interconnected in one way or another, which fosters a sense of shared experience among us. This interconnectedness is one of the many things brought to the fore in Dami Ajayi’s highly fascinating book, Affection & Other Affections, a collection of fifty-five poems with varying structures,  each expressing different but interwoven experiences of the poet’s persona and other characters.

At the heart of the collection is the poet persona’s painful experience with a lover. This relationship fallout leads said character through various stages of heartbreak and loneliness as he navigates the complexities of love. The second poem, from which the title of the book is derived, employs the short story writing style and is divided into five parts, each detailing the ups and downs of the relationship. The first sentence in part I, “A perfect beginning”, sets a hopeful tone, but the complications of the relationship emerge in the second part of the poem. The persona details in these five parts, the turn of his relationship across five cities in different continents — Lagos, Berlin, Cologne, India, and London — culminating in the realisation that his lover’s affection is irretrievably lost. 

But the heartbreak becomes a catalyst, forcing the persona on a path of introspection and the readers can see the persona’s psyche. Ajayi reveals the “Other Accidents” in the book, which are largely other aspects that make up human emotions, separate from love and loving.  In “Aubade to My Greying”, the persona reflects on his marital status and the expectations of family and friends, exposing his inner struggles and desires, especially concerning his ageing body. He poignantly expresses this with the lines, “If I were God/ I would do it differently/ Grant those who pray for beards, breasts & buttocks/ their dream bodies.” These lines could also be a surfacing of the persona’s inner thoughts and desires confined by his environment. 

The poet persona’s introspection extends to meditations on life, death, and grief. Poems like “Funeral Dressings”, “A Requiem”, “Birthday Elegy”, “On Grief”, “How to Grieve in Time”, and “Untitled”, explore these themes deeply. In “Birthday Elegy”, he philosophises on the nature of death when he asks, “Is dying for the dead/ as it is for the living?” Much like  Notes on Grief which explores death, and how humans mourn, he asserts that grieving is timeless and varies between individuals, which is captured in the lines, “we cannot teach/ grief how to be brief.” Whether grieving the loss of a lover, friend, or family member, the intense emotions are vividly etched on the pages. We witness him confront grief in its various forms – the raw ache of a lost love, and the quiet contemplation of mortality.

Five interlogues weave throughout Affectations & Other Accidents which offer glimpses into the fractured love story between the persona and his lover. These sections are somewhat akin to interludes in a musical performance, as they seem separate from the poems themselves. However, they play a crucial role in tracing the emotional arc of the persona’s journey. They chart his descent, from denial in the face of heartbreak to a gradual acceptance of his reality.

Ajayi does not shy away from emotions, and his poems reflect this. They grapple with the depths of grief, lament the sting of loss, and explore the concept of love. The book’s structure in itself is fascinating: the poems possess a lyrical quality that makes them flow smoothly, even as they tackle heavy themes. For instance, the use of refrain in “Queens”, the third poem after Interlogue I. This creates a counterpoint, a sense of beauty amidst the pain the book carries.

Affection & Other Accidents is not merely a collection of poems about the poet persona’s heartbreak. It chronicles a myriad of interconnected human experiences, from love and loss to death and grief, and everything in between. These “Other Accidents” form a colourful kaleidoscope, reflecting the complexity and beauty of life and living.

Evidence Egwuono Adjarho is a lover of everything godly. She is an avid reader, astute book reviewer and writer. She is currently an undergraduate and the student librarian of the Department of English, University of Lagos. She is the winner of the Atipo Prize for Book Review and also the Ken Saro-Wiwa Prize for Book Review. Her personal essay is in the Kalahari Review, and her writings are in WSA-Nigeria, Readers Boon, and others. When she is not writing, thinking of writing, reading, or thinking of what to read, she is socialising, watching documentaries and mythological stories, and existing.

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