Tomorrow I Become a Woman

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Akin makes her feel heard, understood, intelligent; Gozie makes her heart flutter. For Uju, the daughter her mother never wanted, marriage would mean the attainment of that long elusive state of womanhood, and something else she has desired all her life – her mother’s approval. All will be well; he is the perfect match, the country will soon be democratic again and the economy is growing, or so she thinks … Akintunde Ajayi,’ he said, flashing another charismatic smile as we strolled out of the library, books in hand, and waited for me to introduce myself. If you enjoyed Ogadinma, this book is for you. If you thought the characters in Ogadinma pissed you off, the characters in this book will make you want to beat somebody. Abeg if you are looking for a book that isn't heavily themed on domestic violence avoid this book and look for something light make you no go dey complain give us. What can I do?’ she asked. You can fight , I thought , you can fight for your daughters . But then again, who was I to speak of such things

I enjoyed reading this book even though some of the characters made me upset. I so badly wanted something horrible to happen to Gozie. Did I learn something from reading this? Yes, See ehn no matter how rich your husband is, as a woman you should have something to give you extra income (e get why).

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Indeed, there is an argument that the conversion of groups such as the Igbo to Christianity has adversely affected the traditional cultural values of the Igbo people. The question of what decent dressing entails comes in here, for our forebears revealed quite a fair amount of skin without inciting rape or attracting it. There is also the question of a woman bearing her husband’s surname which, contrary to what many may think today, is not part of Igbo culture and many other indigenous cultures across Africa. He nodded politely when she was done. ‘It’s nice to know that. Hope to see you next Sunday,’ he said, then moved on like we were a kiosk at a colourful carnival. The church was alive that Sunday, the air electric with fate. The atmosphere bubbled with music and people. Smiling women in floor-length skirts and colourful headscarves stood at the entrance distributing flyers, and men in oversized trousers directed us to our seats. When we were far enough from the group, he stopped at a pillar and turned to me. ‘Sister Uju, how are you?’

SHAME is a big thing. It’s a premise all on its own when a woman feels ashamed that her children are seeing her being beaten. Uju tries to show her daughters that despite what they have lived thru as women they can expect more. “It’s never too early to talk about marriage they are women after all.” She’ll keep coming,’ Chinelo jumped in enthusiastically before I could utter a word. ‘She’s our good friend and a really nice girl…’Maybe I made a mistake by letting your father send you to the university. That’s why you like arguing like this; too much book is inside your head,’ she’d lamented one day after interrupting a heated conversation between me and my brothers. ‘Today, it’s politics; tomorrow it’s football. Instead of you to come and join me in the kitchen, you’re shouting up and down the house like a street boy. My grandmother used to say, Only a foolish rat dances with the lizard in the rain. You’re a woman! Your brothers will have wives to cook for them. Akuko abughi nri. After all this book, better make sure you come home with a husband. You better not bring just a certificate home. Adaugo has that young man Uzondu; even Chinelo has somebody.’ I clapped my hands together, my excitement returning. ‘Yes! So, Chinelo and Adaugo invited me to their church about a month ago,’ I began. Ada pulled me forward. ‘Have you met my friend? She’s new to our church. She really enjoyed your ministration too.’

Obianuju Nwaike,’ he said slowly, as though testing my name on his tongue, then raising a bushy brow. ‘Always like what?’ Uju’s marriage was difficult to say the least. Physical, emotional and financial abuse is featured throughout her story and any time she tries to leave her husband, she is firmly reminded of her place as a woman, disappointment she would be without a husband and the shame she would bring to the family. Her mother being the most vocal of all this. Ada rolled her eyes. ‘Answer me now; I need to change my hairstyle. Or can’t you see?’ She patted the large pink rollers in her hair for emphasis.After having three sons, Uju’s mother prayed for a daughter to share womanly experiences with. However, with each action she took: studying and excelling at school, always speaking her mind and so on, Uju soon realizes she isn’t the daughter her mother wanted. In an effort to make her mother happy, she brings home Chigozie, a man who she doesn’t really know that well, and settles into marriage with him. She does this despite having feelings for Akin, who was perfect for her, but unfortunately from a different tribe and thus wouldn’t get her mother’s approval.

Although Uju is enamoured with her Yoruba university tutor, Akin, it is Chigozie, the Igbo charismatic choir singer, that woos her into becoming his wife. Chinelo eyed my sober attire of ankle-length skirt and long-sleeved blouse, with a matching silk scarf. ‘Mother Mary!’ she shouted before bursting into laughter, her fair skin turning red. The brothers- chef's kiss to them, they stood up for their sister even if they just stopped eventually but the times that they did stand up for her. I could not understand how Uju’s mother had that much of a stronghold on her children but that might be because I can be quite defiant where necessary. There was also this endless hunt for a male child that killed one of the characters. Then he said the words I’d imagined but never thought possible. ‘Sister Uju would you be free on Tuesday after mid-week service? I’d like to take you out.’The hymn ended before I was ready for it to, and I followed as the man who’d arrived out of my imagination walked off the stage. A solemn man with large reading glasses slowly climbed up the steps to the stage to take his place and cleared his throat to begin the sermon.