Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad
Nigeria

Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad

by Damilare Kuku

Society & Class Fiction 2025

Summary

In this remarkable and darkly humorous short story collection, Damilare Kuku takes us deep into the heart of modern Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, and the lives of a collection of audacious women who cope with romantic difficulties by brilliantly turning the tables on the men who wrong them.

One hardworking married woman calmly threatens sharp-edged revenge on her lazy, hypocritical husband. Another skillfully protects her own business interests by shielding her pastor-husband from allegations of cheating that may or may not be true. A group of wealthy wives deceived by their husbands join forces in a WhatsApp support group called the Virtuous Wives Guild. And a discerning dater fed up with Nigerian men makes a vow to date only oyibos before discovering that white men can act just as badly.

A bestseller in Damilare Kuku’s native Nigeria, Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad is a raunchy, satisfying, and outrageous example of contemporary African fiction steeped in the chaos and allure of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest city. It’s also a love letter to Nigerian women: the women in these stories may be confronted at every turn with liars, scammers, and cheaters in their quests for love, but they always figure out how to come out victorious.

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Country
Nigeria
Africa
About the author
Damilare Kuku
Damilare Kuku

Damilare Kuku is a Nigerian writer, actress, filmmaker, and storyteller known for her witty and insightful portrayals of contemporary Nigerian society. Before becoming an internationally recognised author, she worked as a radio presenter, scriptwriter, film producer, actor, and director. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the arts and has lectured at universities on feminism and visual storytelling. She has also participated in mentorship initiatives organised by the United Nations for young girls in Lagos. Kuku made her literary debut with Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad (2021), a bestselling collection of twelve short stories exploring dating, relationships, gender expectations, and the complexities of modern life in Lagos. Her first novel, Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow (2024), examines beauty standards, family secrets, and the pressures placed on women by society. Through sharp humour, memorable characters, and social observation, Kuku explores the contradictions of contemporary Nigerian life, particularly the experiences of women navigating love, identity, and social expectations.

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Details
Published
2025
Author
Damilare Kuku