I just finished reading my first Nigerian and African piece of literature ( outside of my assigned reads in literature class during my secondary school days). It’s an incredible book titled “Butter Honey Pig Bread” by Francesca Ekwuyasi. I just put the book done and took my out my phone, opened my notes app and started writing this review.
I intentionally held off from finishing this book last year so i could ensure my first read in 2026 was a solid read. And that it was. I do not know how best to handle this review so i’ll give a brief overview and then chose one question at the end of the book that really resonate with me and i would love to answer.
Overview
The book follows the lives of twins, Taiye and Kehinde alongside their mother, Kambirinachi ( who i fondly call Kambi). Kambi is an Ogbanje. An Ogbanje in Igbo Mythology is a spiritual entity who is not to be bound in a human body but is its nature to wander both lives. Hence they mostly appear as a kid who keeps on dying at a young age. Often times, parents will give the dead child a mark to confirm if it’s the same child that keeps on dying and coming back in different forms. This is the same for Kambi, her mother has had her many times and she does repeat the cycle of birth and death until she chooses to stay. A choice that will cost her greatly because an Ogbanje should not live in the physical world. This seeming choice to be alive leads her to loosing her father and her husband, at least at she thinks so and her kin remind her that she has no choice but to endure this pain unless she chooses to come back to them. Kambi gets married to Banji and has twins for him, Taiye and Kehinde who were inseparable as kids but a bad thing happened and caused a rift between them. This Bad Thing is conflict explored in the book being that after the death of their father, one of their distant aunty and her husband move in with them. The Uncle, Ernest, attempts to rapes Kehinde one night while Taiye remains in hiding despite Kehinde calling out to her to help. After that night, Taiye and Kehinde drift apart and the uncle ends up coming back night after night to rape Kehinde. Their mother, Kambi is depressed and wrestling with her self loathing for what she is or what she believed she caused which is her husband’s death. The second person who ever truly loved her, after her dad’s demise. Before Kambi realizes it, it’s too late. The Aunt and Uncle leave but the damage is done and the bond is broken.
Which Character prompted the strongest reaction from me and why?
In the beginning pages, i found myself drawn to Taiye. I liked that she seemed to be a free spirit and was openly queer which is difficult to see as a Nigerian. Although being upper middle class does alienate her experience with queerness from that of the average nigerian it was still nice to see. I thought of her as laid back and cool. She seemed to struggle a lot with herself and her self image and that ate her a lot. She’s restless and turns to substance use to quell a part of her that she wrestles with. I liked that she sees an apparition in the form of a biblical figure. For me, it represents redemption in the most unredeemable circumstances. Judging by her queerness, substance use, frequent love partners and sexual active life, she should not be one who God ( as we are thought in Nigeria) would want to communicate with. I’m not saying i believe this but that rather in Nigeria it’s pretty accepted that God hates the Gays. I soon realized what i liked about Taiye was just recklessness and indiscipline. Boundaries should be in place even when one’s enjoying their freedom. She was incredible self aware and caught herself but knowing your blind spots is just the first step on your journey to healing.
Then I was drawn to another character, Timi, whose parents are church leaders and he is gay but can’t come out as that as he’s even in the church choir. This sadly pushes him to depression and he attempts suicide. When he wakes up in the hospital, his mom is right at his side thanking God that he’s awake saying that God has given her a second chance at motherhood and she won’t waste it instead she’ll pray that God rescues him from his homosexuality. And my heart broke at that because a lot of times, Nigerian Parents are close to understanding but still so far from the point. For you and me, it may not be homosexuality that creates the divide between our parents but rather this vacuum that we can’t see but we feel. Relationships with Nigerian Parents are difficult to navigate because they can’t understand how it feels to be us, the kids, but they love us in the best way they can. And respectfully that’s not enough. Hence why when Timi says, he knows his mom loves him but her love is just too much you can tell that it’s not love he’s looking for, it’s acceptance.
Lastly, I was drawn to Kehinde but it took me a lot of time to warm up to her. Whenever i read her POV i always wondered why she seemed so cynical, and quick to anger. I wondered why she chose to leave her twin and her mother at the beginning before i knew what happened. After i did, she carved a soft sport for herself in my heart. She went through so much and i could understand wanting no ties back to her family because remorse and guilt can’t anything. She can’t rewind time back and stop it from happening to her. I wondered why she was so critical of her body and it was because after being raped she thought she was to blame, her figure was enticing maybe that’s why he chose her. But the shame and blame should never be a victim. It’s not hers to carry but it’s easier said than done. I wouldn’t have wished that anything like that happened to any of them, i’m putting the blame on the only people who truly deserve it. Not Kehinde not Taiye but the adults in that house.
Their mother failed them. She tried but she failed them and that’s what so hard about parenting your best is not always enough. I empathize with her and her grief but i can’t help but think it she was more vigilant with her kids this wouldn’t have happened. The excuse of her kids knew her room and could always come find her fell flat. It’s her job to keep them protected with her. The Uncle of course should have suffered nothing short of a slow and painful death which should have started with castration but that wasn’t the case. He leaves the house and that’s the end we hear of him. His wife, their aunt, also leaves with him and i would not want to speak too much on her at this time.
This is where my book review ends. I could talk more about it but i’ll save that for book club.
My favorite Quote
As usual, my favorite quote was from when Toyosi was speaking to Kambi in the kitchen of the new house they were gifted. She told Toyosi who was jealous that; “What is yours is yours, no one can claim it.”
Catch Up
Happy New Year my loves. It’s 2026, how are you feeling?
I’m surprisingly very happy and optimistic about this year. I’m starting a youtube channel and filming the first video tomorrow. if you guys would like to know more, i’ll be happy to share.
I spent my christmas in delta state, it was my first time being to my hometown. let me know if you’d like a blog post on that update.
I graduate university this year and i’m so looking forward to that also. This update feels rushed but hers my proof of life in the new year.
Write_rspace 