Another fine novel by Emecheta, who died in 2017. In this one, Kehinde and her husband Alby are homeowners in London, enjoying their middle class life, when Alby decides to return to Nigeria, where he is convinced that he'll live a life of wealthy leisure due to the oil boom. Kehinde makes two decisions, one regarding her pregnancy and the other to stay in London. She sends their two children back and waits two years before she herself returns to find that she is now the "Senior Wife", as Muslim men are permitted multiple wives.

There's riveting back story on Kehinde's childhood, as one of a set of twins whose birth results in the death of her mother and her twin sister. And Kehinde's sister Ifeyinwa also helps her to once again change the trajectory of her life. ( )

An exceptional novel by a well-known Nigerian woman writer describing a woman’s refusal to be controlled by her husband.

Nigerian Buchi Emecheta has been recognized for her novels since the 1970s when she first began to publish. She was the first African woman I read, and I have continued finding her books moving. When Kinna at Africa Reads included this novel on a syllabus of African Women Writers, I wondered why she chose it rather the others I already knew and admired. Reading Kehinde, I found it even more rich and powerful than her other earlier books.

Kehinde and her husband Albert are from Nigeria. Living in England for almost twenty years, they have created a comfortable life for themselves and their children. But Albert envisions returning to Nigeria. Kehinde has a position in a bank and earns more than he does. She is about to receive another promotion, but becomes accidentally pregnant. Albert forces her to have an abortion so she can earn enough to pay for their return. Then Albert goes back to his Nigerian family alone, leaving Kehinde to sell their house. But Albert’s dream life was not one that Kehinde shared. In returning, he intends to live as a traditional Nigerian patriarch with her as an obedient wife strong and ready to serve him. Memories of herself as a twin and of her childhood guide Kehinde into finding a way to live through her new difficulties.

From the opening descriptions of Kehinde and her family in England, Emecheta captures the subtle patterns that evolve between husband and wife. She skillfully reveals Kehinde’s past, including her identity as a twin whose sibling and mother both died at her birth. Nigerian culture remains central, but at the same time, those from other traditions can easily identify with Kehinde and her problems.

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This short crisply written book packs a wallop. The main character Kehinde is a strong, educated but conflicted woman who is trying to reconcile the role of women in two cultures: the polygamous traditions of her native Nigeria where her extended family still lives, and the European customs and mores of monogamous marriage. She and her husband Albert are both living in England where she has an excellent and well-paying job, a house, two children, and is well respected by everyone except her husband, whose lesser job does not reinforce his conception of his self-importance. Letters from his sisters (who think he is very wealthy) make him believe he can be a larger than life big man in his home town, and he insists on returning to Nigeria.

When Kehinde, who was left behind to sell the house and wait for her husband to find a job and a house in Nigeria, finally arrives, it is to find the second wife, a small house full of relatives, and her "English" ways very much unappreciated. How she deals with the disappointment and disillusionment and how she comes to save herself and her dignity make for a compelling story.

Published several years ago, this book was part of our library's "Opening the Windows" book discussion series we've been doing. Seeing the lives, expectations, opportunities, and traditions of various cultures as they impact the lives of women, has been a truly enriching experience for those of us participating in the group. This book is well-worth the two or three hours it takes to read it. ( )

Nigeriaanse vrouw in Londen keert terug naar Nigeria naar haar man, die inmiddels een tweede vrouw genomen heeft ( )