What’s the hype about?
When I first came across this book, I was unsure about what kind of a book it was going to be. Fiction or non fiction? An anthology of many writers, or one sole author? I quickly realised that +234 – An Awkward Guide to Being Nigerian is a collection of the real-life experiences and observations of the author, Atoke Ena. Her writing is devoted to her lived experiences both in and out of Nigeria through the lens of her culture. The book is organised into short chapters covering a myriad of topics from family, to love, to dealing with grief.
For the most part, I enjoyed +234 (can we now refer to it as such?) Reading it through the lens of a Ghanaian British woman, I identified with some of the writer’s musings. Take for example, this: ” It is only natural that you think your body is yours to do with what you wish. Dear Nigerian (read: Ghanaian) woman, it is not. Your body belongs to everybody else”. (You’ll have to pick up the book if you’d like to know what that is all about!)
+234 is fascinating because never have I ever seen a comprehensive body of writing which fully embraces everything it means to be Nigerian – both good and bad. This book is such an important contribution to the halls of fiction and non-fiction Nigerian literature.
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My favourite chapters were a few of the ones in Part One. It covered topics such as the behaviour of Nigerians in the diaspora, the owambe* culture, and the quality and conditions of Nigerian restaurants in the UK and America. For example, Ena writes, “as the host of a party, where there will be Nigerian guests, you have to make provision for over and beyond the number of invited guests”. I think I enjoyed these chapters so much because as a diasporan myself, these are the parts of the culture I have had access to. The rest of the book is largely focused on the lives of Nigerians in Nigeria.
The tone of the book changes as the reader progresses through the book. At times it’s sarcastic and satirical, at times humourous and at other times, solemn. At times, I was impatient with it, and this is no criticism of the writer – I believe the +234 should be used as a reference book rather than read from cover to cover at once. What I love, are the colourful illustrations which punctuate the pages. They really add to the character of the book.
Who should read +234 – An Awkward Guide to Being Nigeran?
Whilst reading, I wondered who the book is actually for? Non-Nigerians? Nigerians living abroad or Nigerians in Nigeria? My answer is everybody. Nigerians who would like to have a bit of introspection, and non-Nigerians with curious minds.
*owambe = lavish and flamboyant parties thrown by Nigerians. Usually, everyone just shows up, invited or not!
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