Point of View

The novel’s narration is written in the first person and the past tense from Ijeoma’s perspective. Ijeoma is both the protagonist and the narrator, and she narrates the events of the novel in a retrospective manner. The main narrative takes place from the late 1960s to the late 1970s, and Ijeoma is narrating from the year 2014. The narrative and thematic focus of the novel is therefore informed by Ijeoma’s hardships and desires. Ijeoma has witnessed and experienced much cultural oppression motivated by homophobia, and as a homosexual woman, this issue is very personal to her. Thus, within the narrative, the novel’s mission of advocating for LGBT rights can be viewed as motivated by Ijeoma’s own experiences.

The novel functions to bring a sense of humanity, immediacy, and empathy to issues of LGBT rights, especially in the context of Nigeria. Thus...