Disowned

In this fascinating but often harrowing read, five fictional Nigerian women and girls tell their stories of sexual, physical, psychological, mental and verbal abuse in the hands of men and sometimes fellow women. In detailed flashbacks, they describe horrific experiences that have moulded them into the bitter, strong or victorious women that they are today. An extremely interesting but often dark and haunting read, Disowned is a collection of stories of sadistic abuse, violence and an almost institutional sexual cruelty towards young girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa where the society is built on the power of men and timidity of women; women often raised to believe it is their fault when they are abused and molested. Disowned is a collection of five short stories told by five fictional Nigerian women who recount their personal experiences in their own voices. Each character’s personality is revealed in the way she tells her story and the way she lets her experience affect her. The book addresses socio-cultural issues ranging from sexual abuse/child molestation, prostitution, childlessness, widowhood, domestic violence to infidelity faced by the Nigerian woman, openly or secretly. The style is fast-paced, light-hearted, funny yet dark and hunting. The book is intended to be devoid of all forms of literary pretences and yet be a very relatable and easy to read work of prose. The stories are DISOWNED, DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL, NNENNA’S LOSS, BLACKIE’S MISSION and TWO OF A KIND.