The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives

Amazon review (adapted):

This witty and poignant novel follows the household of Baba Segi, a prosperous Nigerian man with four wives. Each wife has her own secrets, and the arrival of the educated and independent Bolanle as the fourth wife disrupts the fragile balance of the family.

Bolanle hopes her marriage will help her overcome a past trauma, but instead she finds herself in the middle of jealousy, scheming, and hidden truths. The three older wives see her as a threat to their positions and comfort. Their rivalry reveals the complexities of love, loyalty, survival, and betrayal in a polygamous marriage.

As the story unfolds, we learn the personal histories of each wife, their struggles, and the surprising truth that shatters Baba Segi’s household. Shoneyin uses humor and satire to explore gender roles, societal expectations, and the power dynamics within marriage and family life in contemporary Nigeria.

The novel is both entertaining and thought-provoking, shedding light on the lives of women bound by tradition but longing for autonomy.