Bolanle is a university graduate who marries Baba Segi in an attempt to escape her shameful past. The other wives — Iya Segi, the first wife and head of the family; Iya Tope, kind but fearful; Iya Femi, money-hungry and vindictive — despise Bolanle because she is educated. They share a secret that they decide not to disclose to Bolanle, causing the world they’ve come to depend on to unravel around them.
The story starts out from Bolanle’s point of view but soon we also learn more about the other wives – why they’ve married Baba Segi and agreed to live in a polygamous marriage; their part in the secret that threatens to destroy them. Baba Segi even gets his own chapters, causing the reader to go from despising him to feeling sorry for him. The shifting point of view gives the story a feeling of completeness, if the reader didn’t learn each wife’s history and purpose for submitting to Baba Segi the book would have been too one-sided.
The Secret Lives of the Four Wives — retitled from last year’s published title, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives — is out of my usual comfort zone; Nigerian culture and polygamy are two areas I know nothing about. There were several colloquialisms that I didn’t quite understand and other phrases that differed from what we use here, e.g. “the egg of his eye” instead of “the apple.” But despite the subject matter, and maybe because of it, I found myself captivated by Baba Segi and his family. The story also has an air of tragedy about it – the reader knows something big is coming, but isn’t quite sure what. The big secret is revealed slowly but astute readers will pick up on it fairly early in the story, and watching the reveal happen is fascinating.
Fans of the HBO show Big Love, those interested in Nigerian culture or even just a good story will enjoy The Secret Lives of the Four Wives.
Nancy is happy in her monogamous marriage. She writes about her 2 boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.
Kathleen Hart says
I read this book last month as a selection for our local library’s book club. I was pleasantly surprised! Definately not a book I would have picked up on my own, but I’m so glad I did! Facinating,funny, poignant and heart breaking. I completly recommend it!