Photo via blackandoutspoken
With over 12 books, fan-fiction erotica and (I think) 5 series, Taye's works include the historical romance series, Men of Valor, set in pre-colonial West Africa. When asked by Myne Whitman why she writes historical romance, Kiru Taye explains how she:... wanted to write stories that showcased African heritage and culture positively. There are several misconceptions about African before colonization. One such is that love and romance didn't exist in Africa until the colonials dropped by and taught us. This is totally wrong. Love and romance have always existed in Africa, although expressed in different ways ... So I wanted to write stories that showed Africans falling in love with a historical context while still dealing with other cultural issues that might impact relationships.Taye further stresses on This is Africa how important it is to write about how 'West Africa ... was rich and diverse with kingdoms like Nri, Benin, Oyo, Ashanti, Aro, Nok', and 'redress[ing] the imbalance and showcase our beautiful heritage through [her] historical romances.
A look at some of Kiru Taye's works via her website.
Taye also writes about sex in her work - as she particularly enjoys 'romance novels which include sex scenes', and as she explains in this interview with Adura Ojo, she is:... unapologetic about what [she] read[s] or write[s] and really owe no one any explanation. There are loads of young women (and men) that get into relationships or marriages without fully understanding what healthy and pleasurable sex feels like. I hope to educate and entertain them at the same time. Nigerians have sex. So why is talking or writing about sex a taboo?Plus if you do want to write a sensual, passionate sex scene here's 'lesson number 1' courtesy of Kiru Taye:
Do not be a prick tease ... You either write it fully or you exclude it all together. Don't tease the reader by getting characters frisky and practically through fore-play and then chickening out by slamming the door on the actual consummation.
Kiru Taye is also a founding member of Romance Writers of West Africa and a 2015 Romance Writer of the Year at the Nigerian Writers Award. Although I mentioned earlier she has 5 series, it seems there might be a 6th one soon to be added to her collection - Outcast, a paranormal romance set in Ancient Africa and part one of the Sacred Amulet. What's it about, you ask. Well according to the blurb:
Ugo'ji is an outcast, an untouchable. She lives on the fringe of society as the lowest of the low, a living sacrifice to the gods. The only person she interacts with is her aged grandmother Nne who nurtures her powerful gift of healing. Until the day she meets Ebube, a strange warrior to their lands. He ignites a yearning within her she's unable to ignore.
Ebube is drawn to the young maiden with the emerald green eyes who possesses the body of a goddess and the healing touch of an angel. But he is forbidden from mating with a human and the consequence is the wrath of the gods.
Moreover he is on a mission. If he fails, the gates of hell will be opened and the earth plunged into darkness. He cannot stay and she cannot go with him.
I am actually intrigued. And you can find out more about Kiru Taye, part one of the Sacred Amulet and her other romance series on her website. PS. Here's a teeny excerpt via Kiru Taye's website.
