And Then He Sang a Lullaby tells the story of two young men, August and Segun, who live parallel lives to one another. While one grows up with love and affection as an only son, while battling violence and bullies; the other is a track star loved by everyone but himself. It’s the author’s debut novel, published in 2023.
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August and Segun’s paths collide in the first place young people search for a fresh start—university. For two gay men at different points in their journey of understanding and navigating their sexuality, building stable relationships comes with its hurdles and challenges some of which may be more overwhelming, especially in a country that wishes you dead.
“But August wanted his life to be his. He did not want to simply be a vessel to carry on the Akasike name and to burden his children too, with this duty to a name.”
The story starts with the birth of August and the death of his mom. For a family that has sacrificed so much for August, he struggles to find a voice and a sense of self while doing his best to be a decent son. He constantly feels like a disappointment to his family and with little freedom to express himself, sometimes wonders what it means to live a life he chose.
On a completely different side of Nigeria, we grow with Segun. Being an effeminate boy means being an easy target for homophobic violence. Taking his mom’s strong sense of justice, he lives his life as an openly queer man despite its many deterrents.
“I don't know if you are bi or confused or conflicted. That's for you to figure out, and not at my expense. I'm a human being, not a vessel you can use to explore your sexuality.”
The love story between these two men starts with skepticism; they tiptoe around each other because somehow they know theirs is a story that ends in tragedy. Regardless, they fall gently in love with each other, clinging to the embers of relief they create for themselves while in each other’s company.
“In that moment, Segun pitied August more than he ever had, more than he thought he could. So surrounded by people who only stayed because they did not know who he really was. He imagined how trapped August must have felt.”
When the anti-gay law is passed, their already tender relationship is further shaken to its core. While Segun understands the outright implications of this new law for queer people, August’s internalized homophobia stops him from understanding until it's a little too late.
August and Segun’s story can best be described as a beautiful tragedy. It explores themes such as homophobia, family obligation, classism, self-acceptance, and misogyny in a way that is authentically Nigerian, raw, and multi-dimensional. I felt a lot of things reading this book and sobbed a bit afterward. It’s just so real and well-written, that you can’t put it down once you start. There’s something about reading a story that feels so close to you as a person that moves your insides.
“...I don’t know when ’ll become at peace with myself but I promise you I’m trying”
And Then He Sang a Lullaby not only shows us that existing as a queer person in Nigeria is an act of rebellion, but documents our stories and reminds us that there is love and tenderness despite the violence that the country presents us.
The author's writing style is quite immersive and descriptive considering the emotions packed into each scene, but when the conversation starts it flows naturally between characters and drives you through a range of emotions. He highlights the effects of homophobia on regular human beings who just want to live their lives and overcome the struggle for self-acceptance.
*TW: violence and depression.
Have you read this book? What did you think about it? Kindly leave a comment.
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