Stay With Me, the debut novel by the Nigerian writer Ayòbámi Adébáyò is a journey of womanhood within and beyond the social roles assigned by society, men, other women. But beyond this need of classifying, organising and structuring the literary journey into clear categories and concepts, this book is first and foremost a story.
Yejide, owner of a hairsalon in Nigeria, is under pressure to reproduce, shortly after her wedding with Akin. Not sure it was necessarily her desire, but for sure, other people´s desire to see her having a bany pushed to go as far as travelling to the Mountain of Jaw Dropping Miracles and breastfeed a goat. The urban legend goes that it may lead to end up breastfeading your own babies. And Yejide ends up believing: that the goat is a baby, that she is pregnant for at least 18 months.
Then, there is a baby, who dies, and another baby who dies of a genetical disease. And there is a thirds baby that may have the same disease and may die too. This sequence of the story happens in the second part of the book and it´s gently tragic, as sad as such an encounter can be. As emotionally sad as it was hilarious in the beginning.
Beyond the details and the political, social and religious references, the story thread itself is inviting the reader to navigate alongside the journey. You feel like you really want to stay into the story, even most of the women characters are despicable and bullying and there is nothing to expect from the men. There is a sense of strength of the writing which announces - hopefully - many more unique stories.
Rating: 4 stars
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