From Page to Screen: Ebonyi Life Set to Adapt Shoneyin's Debut Novel

 

Lola Shoneyin recently announced the screen adaptation of her debut novel, "The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives", by Ebony Life Studios, with its theatrical release set for this December. 

Published in 2010, the current cast includes:  Odunlade Adekola, Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Aigbe, Bimbo Ademoye, Shaffy Bello, Lateef Adedimeji, Kunle Remi, Bolaji Ogunmola, Bimbo Manuel, Tina Mba, Daniel Effiong, Bukunmi Adeaga Ilori and Constance Olatunde. The movie is to be directed by Daniel Oriahi. 

"The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives" was previously adapted for the stage in 2014 in Abeokuta. It was adapted again by Rotimi Babatunde. Directed by Femi Elufowoju Jr, it starred Patrice Naiambana as Baba Segi, Marcy Dolapo Oni as the fourth wife, Bolanle (the huge threat to the 3 first three wives' comfortable life), and was staged at the  Arcola Theatre, Hackney, London in 2018. 

-Literate trader several years older than her, with 3 wives and 7 children already. Unknown to her, 2 of the wives' hostility and bullying towards her is not due to jealousy, but something else that would ruin them. Set in Ibadan and told from the point of view of several of its characters, the novel explores the themes of polygamy,  female rivalry and solidarity, sexuality, motherhood, and female oppression/empowerment.