Indigene

Publisher: Interlink Books

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Perceptive and satirical, Indigene highlights revealing moments in the everyday lives of four introspective professional Nigerian women who grapple with circumstances out of their control.

In the novella, Indigene, a sequel to Atta's debut novel, Everything Good Will Come, Enitan, a law partner in Lagos, takes stock of herself after she turns sixty. In the short stories that follow, "Unsuitable Ties," "Debt" and "Housekeeping," Yemisi, a caterer attending a London dinner party as a guest, assesses the company she keeps; Grace, a consultant for a Big Four accountancy firm, confronts her shopping habit in a New Jersey mall; and Abi, an ER physician staying in an Atlanta hotel, reflects on the peculiarities of working in the American South.

Set in cities where Atta has lived, Indigene leans into social criticism as it explores the dilemmas of these and other characters.

THE REVIEWS

“Enitan was introduced two decades ago and her presence remains as compelling today as it was then. Through her journey, readers are invited to see Nigeria in all its beauty and contradictions. Atta's powerful narrative captures the nation's complexities in a way that feels familiar and insightful. It doesn't merely entertain; it also challenges, with an eloquence that is poignant and profound. Beyond that, Atta's stories often serve as a subtle guide to the art of being Nigerian, offering an intricate portrayal of cultural nuances and everyday strategies.”
– Peju Alatise, visual artist and writer

“A work of brilliance and power. Enitan comes alive yet again, painted with Atta's compassionate brushstrokes, and carries us through a real and very human journey. Atta's prose is nuanced, quietly dazzling, and completely enthralling.”
– Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, journalist and author of Season of Crimson Blossoms

“This beautifully imagined collection turns an astute gaze on Nigeria and its diasporas through arresting snapshots of lives at crossroads. It is unflinching, yet laced with humor, wit and a tenderness that illuminates people and places as only great literature can.”
– Ayobami Adebayo, author of A Spell of Good Thingsgs

AN EXCERPT

Enitan has never taken time to read feminist theory and doesn't know if it addresses the peculiar position of Nigerian women like the founders of the group, but she knows their story well because it is hers. They are raised to believe they can achieve whatever they want to by studying hard. They outperform boys in schools and colleges, here and abroad. They continue to be competitive in their careers until their late twenties, when they are told, if they haven't already learned, that they will have to diminish themselves to get married. They don't want to be equal to men in general; they specifically want to have the same rights as men in their social circles, which is fine. But they're not just better off than most Nigerian men, they're better off than most Nigerian women. So if they truly cared about equality for women, they should be willing to give up some of the advantages they enjoy to women who don't. She doubts their mission statement has such a provision and anything short of that can only inspire a trend.