Books from Nigeria

Wahala follows three Nigerian-British women—Ronke, Simi, and Boo—who have been friends since university and are navigating their thirties in London. Ronke longs for a family of her own, Simi is trying to balance her marriage with her ambitions, and Boo struggles with the demands of motherhood and a life that feels increasingly disconnected from her former self. Their carefully balanced friendship begins to unravel when Isobel, a glamorous woman with Nigerian roots, enters their lives. As Isobel becomes increasingly involved in their relationships, long-buried insecurities, secrets, and rivalries begin to surface. Blending dark humour with suspense, Nikki May’s novel explores the complexities of female friendship, cultural identity, race, class, and the expectations placed on women. Moving between British and Nigerian cultural influences, Wahala examines how the desire to belong—and the fear of being left behind—can make even the closest relationships vulnerable to manipulation and betrayal.