This was a beautiful, and at times heartbreaking book about two young men in Nigeria who meet in college and fall in love amidst increasing homophobia and anti-gay legislation. Author Ani Kayode Somtochukwu is an award winning Nigerian writer and queer rights activist. Notably, this is the first novel released under the imprint of Roxane Gay.
August is a track star whose mother died giving birth to him, and he struggles with the expectations of his sisters and the sadness of his father. He feels his life has to justify the sacrifice of his mother, who knew she shouldn’t have another child but chose to because she wanted a son.
At night when he closed his eyes, August saw his mother’s face, heard her voice, looked into her eyes, felt the heaviness of her sacrifice, and woke plagued with feelings of unworthiness. He was not sure he was strong enough to be what he knew everyone expected, a perfect boy who would take the torch that was the family name and run his own race.
Ani Kayode Somtochukwu, And Then He Sang a Lullaby
August sees his attraction to men as shameful “lapses” until he meets Segun. Segun is a student activist who attends socialist meetings and protests a bill that would make gay marriage illegal. He’s out and has loving parents but he’s also experienced bullying and violence throughout his childhood.
At first everything in their relationship feels right, but Segun worries about caring for someone who is still closeted, while August struggles with the disapproval of his family and friends, and the criminalization of who they are. The growing hatred around them increasingly fractures their love for each other.
I loved the complexity of the issues raised in this story, as well as the raw emotion. For example, Segun understands that August needs to come out when he’s ready, but that also means he’s not sure he can commit to a relationship with him. August is okay with passing as straight, while Segun has never been able to do that. August has financial stability while Segun is more vulnerable and has a greater understanding of social inequities.
August and Segun care for each other but their relationship isn’t perfect and neither are they. Reading this, I was left with so much sadness, thinking about what these two young people could have had together if the world was kinder. I was also left thinking about the things I haven’t had to deal with myself. And while I appreciated reading about Nigeria, the issues raised in this book are similarly relevant in the U.S. I highly recommend it, particularly as we celebrate Pride Month.
Note: I received an advanced review copy of this book from NetGalley and publisher Roxane Gay Books. This book published June 6, 2023.
