By Awkwaeke Emezi
This book is about Vivek Oji more than his death, though that is where we open. The reader looks at his life from multiple points of view: his cousin, one of his best friends, his mother, etc. It seems few understood him completely, but when each of them combine their perspective, we begin to see all of Vivek.
Vivek’s otherwise nude body is left wrapped in colorful fabric on his parents’ doorstep, lifeless, and with no indication of what his final moments entailed. His mother is understandably overcome with grief and relentlessly pursues the mystery of what happened to her son.
In a country where being homosexual is a capital crime and often carries an instant, horrific death, Vivek dares to honor who he truly is. He finds his places among the daughters of the families of his neighbors in Nigeria, dressing like them and applying make up to be beautiful as well. All of this must be kept secret to keep both him and his family safe. But a relationship nevertheless begins with another man, and both admit to being in love.
One of his best friends, his cousin, Juju, finds herself in love with another woman. She and Vivek are able to share their secrets with each other, as both try and navigate this treacherous terrain. Everyone in their family and neighborhood seems to have secrets. There are multiple affairs, infertility, religious zeal, and yet the worst secret that could be discovered in this unjust area of Africa is that of homosexuality.
The reader follows along as Vivek’s death effects the community in a multitude of ways. Most missed, will be the shining, vibrant light he was finally confident enough to display before his tragic end.
Pros & Cons & Potential Spoilers
Pros
- Vivek becomes a beautiful, confident drag queen
- He finds acceptance among his peer group and younger people eventually
- He shares his confidence with others
Cons
- His family doesn’t accept him, even after death
- There are quite a few incestuous relationships
- It can be hard to follow the story through so many narrators and skipping back and forth in time
- His death is senseless and doesn’t solve anything