Urban Thought Collective

UTC Family,

I’m back, and glad to be. I was so overwhelmed by you all’s incredible feedback and welcoming attitude to my thoughts on this space, that I had to re-think exactly how I would go about structuring my time and energy toward BOOKED. In only a short while, I can feel the positive energy here, and it screams for more information.

More. About. Books. So, that’s exactly what I’m willing to share – quite often. So, let’s have at it together!

Not sure if you guys remember, but I hit on what’s become one of my favorite novels “Everything Good Will Come” by Sefi Atta (who, again, got her MFA from Antioch University in Los Angeles ). I wanna go back to that because I thought it was such a powerful read.

Here, we have a book set in Lagos, Nigeria from 1971 to 1995. The main character, Enitan Taiwo, is 11 years old when the book begins. She’s the daughter of a high-profile attorney and a super religious, church-going, unhappy mother. Enitan becomes BFF’s with her neighbor Sheri Bukare, who has a powerful Muslim father known to everyone as Chief Bukare. But the friendship didn’t happen without strife from Enitan’s parents.

Sheri was just another one of those Bukare children. (There were lots of ‘em since Chief Bukare had two wives living under one roof.) She wore heels, short skirts, lipstick, frolicked and flirted with boys in the village and shook her butt to juju music like it was nobody’s business. Sheri dragged Enitan off to see some boys one day, and got herself into some serious trouble. Since that day, Enitan’s parents sent her off to boarding school in London, England.

Enitan stayed there for some time, getting her law degree along the way. She dated, too. There was the artist, Mike Obi - who her father didn’t think was Nigerian enough, and would never be able to hold his weight as an African man being an artist. Then, there is Niyi.

All of this happens during a time when Nigeria is under military rule, people are being thrown in jail left and right, and losing hope. An outspoken and pregnant Enitan dares to defy the “system” back home by refusing to fix her husband’s dinner or pick up after him (oh, the horror). And the once fast girl Sheri seeks to do nothing more than please her polygamous Muslim husband, and embrace Nigerian traditions.

I liked this book. And I say this because it took me on a journey over the course of 25 years, and then wove in and out of the lives of two very different women – who both happen to be from the same upbringings. I enjoyed seeing an African woman who went against the grain of tradition a bit, and verbally fought against what she truly thought was injustice toward women. She was a firecracker, though, who people viewed as some sort of feminist. I thought she was just strong-willed, if you ask me. But at the same time, I appreciated the woman who tried her best to stay within the confines of what she knew…she made sure to cover her hair with a scarf when she was in the presence of men, she cooked and cleaned for her husband, and she answered to him no matter what. This was a realistic contract that I bought into.

If you picked up the book, I wonder what you guys would think about it. I wonder what you’d think of the ending. But as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on this and any other book-related topic juggling your mind.

Oh…on suggestions, UTC member CeaseNYC wrote this the when I’d asked you guys if there was anything you’d like me to explore:

“I’m not that much of a reader. To answer your question, I’d like to get a list of books that are good starter books for dudes like me who want to get into reading more. Last one I read was Malcolm X like 7 years ago.”

First, thanks again CeaseNYC for getting back so quickly with something. Now, to answer your question, I’d like to suggest that you start off with “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe. He’s also a Nigerian author of this book that deals with the main themes of manhood and character, gender roles, polygamy, family and Nigerian traditions. It’s a pretty easy read, and I think a particularly good one for the brothers out there wanting to get educated on some good African fiction.

Recommendation: I didn’t buy it, but checked it out at the library. I’m not certain how I feel about the ending. But I definitely recommend it.

Enjoy life until next time…

RaNeeka J. Claxton is a journalist and Master of Fine Arts student at University of California, Riverside, with a concentration in Fiction. A native Detroiter, she just began work on her first novel. Claxton is based in Palm Springs, and would love to hear from book fans at raneeka_claxton@yahoo.com.