By Olayinka Oyegbile
I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass – Maya Angelou
The Nigerian literary world is the toast of the international community. It is has come to dictate the pace of writing on the continent and set the tone for the world to watch and follow. There is hardly any international literary award or festival that Nigeria has not been featured with pride and uncommon elan.
In the world of fiction, we are there. Name any literary prize, a Nigerian has either won one or has been shortlisted. However, as I have argued before, the women are leading the pack. A read through my piece The Women Are Here is a testament to this. To further push this thought I am focusing on three writers: Lola Akande, Yejide Kilanko and Ayobami Adebayo, whose books were some of the ones I read last year (2024).
Akande
Her voice as a writer of note has been consistent and rising. Akande who teaches in the Department of English at the University of Lagos has written four novels (In Our Place, Macmillan, 2012, What It Takes, Kraft Books, 2016, Where Are You From Kraft Books, 2018 and The Story of Sadia, Tunmise Pages, 2023). What It Takes won the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) Prose Prize in 2017, while collection of short stories Suitors Are Scarce in Lagos (Tunmise Pages, 2020) won the ANA Prize for Short Story in 2022.
In the Story of Sadia, Akande in strong storyline and theme tells the story of the encounter of the lead character with the vicissitudes of urban life, dealing with a dysfunctional relationship and coping with a relationship marred by alcohol, drug addiction and jealousy. In a simple way, Akande is gradually writing her way to prominence in a genre that is already loaded with stars of her hue whose only chance are better than hers not necessarily because of their better craft but because of location and international exposure. There is no doubt that with her consistency and feats at home, she is only bidding her time for a well-deserved international recognition.
Kilanko
Who resides in Canada is not new to wining laurels both at home and in Canada where she resides. An author of two novels – Daughters Who Walk This Path Farafina, 2012). It was in 2016 shortlisted for the Nigeria Literature Prize and for the inaugural Etisalat Prize. It has been listed as a Canadian bestseller. Her second novel A Good Name (Narrative Landscape 2021) with a third one awaiting publication. She is also author of a novella Chasing Butterflies (2015) and two children’s books There is an Elephant in My Wardrobe (2019), Juba and the Fireball (2020).
In A good Name, Kilanko who is Yoruba tells the story of Esiafa and Zina who are Igbo. In telling a common story of failed arranged marriages which is very common among many Nigerians in the diaspora, she deplores her dexterity of language and ability to weave plots into a suspenseful tapestry that makes the reader wants to find out what happens next.
In this book Kilanko demonstrates in a very powerful way that no storyline is too complex for an experienced and accomplished writer to handle, difference in culture notwithstanding. The fact that she sets the story in a culture different from hers is a plus. She has through her elegant language and ability to weave themes together written a book that is bound to be read and enjoyed by all.
Adebayo
She wrote herself into the consciousness of the literary world with her debut novel Stay With Me (Ouida Books, 2017), which won the now rest 9mobile Prize for Literature and was shortlisted for the Baileys Prize for Women’s Fiction, Wellcome Book Prize and the Kwani?Manuscript Prize. It did not stop there the French translation was awarded the Prix Les Afriques. With just two novels that have both won international laurels, she has planted herself firmly on the international literary firmament. Her two books have earned her long list honours on the prestigious Booker Prize. Stay With Me got a long list in 2023, while her latest A Spell of Good Things was also long listed in 2024. It did not stop there, being a two-time Booker nominee, she has been named as one of the judges of the prize for 2025.
In A Spell of Good Things, Adebayo has taken her story of love and intrigues more than a notch higher. Against the background of politics of laying off teachers and partisan politics and tales of corruption and obsession with wealth and the idea of getting married into a ‘prestigious’ family line, she weaves the story of Eniola, Wuraola, Kunle and their various dysfunctional families in a challenged society into a labyrinth of intrigues and twists which depicts the typical Nigerian society and its facade.
Akande, Kilanko and Adebayo really made last year a very interesting one and as we go ahead in the years ahead, one hopes their literary stars will continue to shine as the women are already here dictating the pace, while waiting (after a 10-year hiatus) for Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie’s new offer Dream Count!
