Published: Febraury 2023

Author: Ayobami Adebayo

Publisher: Knopf

Economic classes are a very huge part of Nigerian society as people are grouped and treated based on their economic strengths. In fact, one’s economic power in Nigeria mostly defines the experiences of that Nigeria you know. Ayobami Adebayo hinges her new book “A Spell of Good Things” on this reality.

Set in Osun State, Nigeria in the early 2000s, “A Spell of Good Things” examines two different stories of two families: one, an economically disadvantaged family grasping at the helms of unfiltered poverty and the other, an upper-middle class family with access to wealthy friends and power in the society.

The story opens with a vivid description of the former’s family’s level of poverty. Eniola, the first child of the family, is sent to get a newspaper on credit from the vendor. However, he is welcomed with a large dollop of spittle on his face from the vendor who has probably lost count of the newspapers he has given Eniola’s father. Ayobami gives readers an inroad into Eniola’s mind, which reveals how the height of stigma the innocent boy suffered as a result of his family’s lack.

On the flip side, Wuraola, a young doctor in her first year of practice and near-perfect daughter of her parents, Otunba and Yeye Makinwa, is the main character in her family’s story. Wura’s career as a budding doctor with bigger aspirations often leaves her tired and her experiences are used to show some of the unfortunate rot in Nigeria’s health sector. Wura’s romantic relationship with Kunle, a family friend and broadcaster whose character appears very unstable, is also revealed in the story. All these have an impact on Wuraola’s actions and inactions in the book.

As the story plots on, readers are exposed to the dynamics of both families and the realities based on their economic situations. Wuraola’s family is experiencing a lot of things at the same time. Professor Coker, Kunle’s father is gunning for a political seat and needs the financial and physical support of his friend, Otunba Makinwa. This relationship goes further as the Makinwas and Cokers turn to prospective in-laws with Kunle and Wuraola’s engagement. There is also Yeye’s 50th birthday, which the story uses as a symbolism of a popular Nigerian “grass to grace” story. Motara, the younger sister of Wuraola represents a different, younger breed of Nigerian who wants to be free from societal and parental expectations and wants her sister to be the same.

Ayobami Adebayo also shares societal realities of many Nigerians living way below the poverty line using Eniola’s family. Emotionally scarred and unbalanced from series of societal-induced failed dreams as a result of being retrenched from his school teacher job, Eniola’s father shows us that the author might be telling us that the common “get up and go, no matter what life throws at you” attitude of many Nigerians is not enough to drive some people. On the other hand, Eniola’s mother’s dedication and commitment, by picking up scrap from the dumpsite and going to an estranged relative to beg for school fees, to feed her family and educate her kids, reveals what many Nigerians have had to do to barely survive.

In a way, Eniola and Wuraola, reflect alike positions in their families: the good-natured, obedient, bearing and ever-pleasing child. Eventually, both characters deviate from their initial traits which bring them somewhat together and change the course of their lives. Eniola gets exposed to a delinquent gang that brings about a tragedy that upsets both families; and Wuraola takes a permanent and necessary stand against her abusive lover.

Summarily, A Spell of Good Things is a way Ayobami Adebayo reveals to the world the average and relatable experiences of many Nigerians, as a result of certain failures by the leaders of the country. Many authors write an award-winning debut and follow it with shoddy seconds, but Adebayo has cemented her name in the books as one of Nigeria’s best contemporary storytellers with this inspirational piece.

Though the story progresses very slowly and leaves many readers trying to piece the story together in the first few chapters, Adebayo allays their confusion with further chapters where readers then understand why the story began that way. Overall, it is an exhilarating and very relatable read.

Esther Olamoyegun is a digital marketer with Meiza Nigeria.

Meiza Nigeria