Book Club
Tomorrow I Become A Woman by Aiwanose Odafen

February Book Selection

Wed, 14.02.2024
7:00 PM - 21:00 Goethe-Institut Johannesburg

About the Book

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
 
When Gozie and Obianuju meet in August 1978, it is nothing short of fate. He is the perfect man: charismatic, handsome, Christian, and – most importantly – Igbo. He reminds her of her beloved Uncle Ikenna, her mother’s brother who disappeared fighting in the Civil War that devastated Nigeria less than a decade before. It is why, when Gozie asks her to marry him within months of meeting, she says yes, despite her lingering and uncertain feelings for Akin – a man her mother would never accept, as his tribe fought on the other side of the war. 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 …

Loosely based on the real stories of real women known to the author, Tomorrow I Become a Woman follows a complex relationship between mother and daughter as they grapple to come to terms with tremendous loss. This powerful debut by Aiwanose Odafen is a sensitive exploration of a woman’s struggle to meet societal and cultural expectations within the confines of a difficult marriage, a tribute to female friendship and a love story that spans two decades and continents against a backdrop of political turmoil and a fast-changing world.

About the Bookclub

Joining is as simple as showing up to the monthly meet-up. You're welcome whether you've read the book or not.

We meet on the second Wednesday of each month and we welcome everybody with open arms. We provide little snacks and juice and you're welcome to bring your wine! There's a back-up generator for those load-shedding days.

Spread the love and invite others; the more the merrier! Let’s grow our conversation circle! We will share our monthly book selection via our mailing list and social media (Facebook and Instagram).