Nigerian author Ifesinachi Okoli-Okpagu’s new novel is titled The Domestication Of Munachi, and Parrésia Publishers has shared an excerpt from the novel, as well as an audio clip of the author reading the excerpt.
This is part one of the excerpt. You can see part two here.
Find out more about the book and virtual book tour (happening now) here!
Listen to the excerpt:
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Read the excerpt:
Hello, my name is Ifesinachi. Thank you so much for this opportunity of reading from my book, The Domestication of Munachi. I will go straight into the book and read from page 15. Here it goes:
#The first sign of uneasiness Mama Adanna felt on the day her second child was to be given away in marriage was when she heard the loud bickering of young women inside the house. It was normal, she told herself. People always quarrelled on big occasions. When her first daughter Adanna got married, there had even been a fight between the Umuada, who were highly respected as the daughters of every Igbo family, and her own family members. The Umuada had rejected the brand of soft drinks presented to them, insisting that they wanted Malts or they would tear the ceremony apart.
This was different. Young women did not lose themselves and shout at the top of their voices like animals. They knew suitors lounged around, watching, assessing, deciding if one of them would be suitable as a wife, and these men were connected to the influential Odiegwu family, sons who had relocated abroad and had made lots of money to throw around, seeking wives they would fly overseas with.
Abandoning the pot of thick egusi soup on the fire, she marched into the house. Behind her, one of the women called out that they had to finish on time before the in-laws arrived.
She met one of the aso ebi young girls who were supposed to escort Munachi to her husband’s house. Mama Adanna recognised her as one of the choir members in church.
“Nne m, what is the matter?” she asked the upset girl who deftly avoided her gaze.
“I … I … don’t where Munachi is. She is no … nowhere. We can’t find her anywhere,” she replied in Igbo.
Nowhere? Impossible.
“Have you checked the toilets?” Mama Adanna asked weaving her way through the throng of young ladies, to the nearest bathroom.
She threw it open, almost ripping the door off its hinges.
Nothing stared back at her.
“Adanna! Adanna!”
“Ma.”
Adanna appeared, hanging onto her son, who was asleep on her shoulder.
“Where did you say Munachi went? I thought I told you to look after her.”
Adanna hesitated.
“She left, mummy.” Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper. Left? What did the child mean by ‘she left’?
“What do you mean she left?”
Silence.
“Is it not you I am asking before I break your head?” She advanced towards Adanna who drew back.
“I tried to stop her but she left. She said she was going away but she did not tell me where.” Her voice hung in the air like sodden paper about to disintegrate.
Loud groans and exclamations filled the air. Mama Adanna suddenly felt something she had never felt before. The ground below her shifted and she reached for the wall to steady herself.
Her own child was about to disgrace her in the presence of all these people. The Odiegwus would soon be here.
“You idiot. And it did not occur to you to come and get me, ehn?”
Retracing her steps back to the backyard, she called out, “Ifeanyi! Ejike!”
Two young men hurried to her side. They had been pounding fufu and their naked chests dripped and glistened with sweat.
“Biko, you two should get dressed and go round town. See if you will find Munachi anywhere. Check everywhere, even the parks.”
The two exchanged confused glances and looked back at her. “What are you standing there for?” she barked. “Go and find Munachi. She has disappeared.”
#
Thank you very much for this opportunity once again. I do hope that you go out there and get the book, The Domestication of Munachi. This is Ifesinachi Okoli-Okpagu. Thank you.