Reviewer: Mature Tanko Okoduwa
I first met the author through her short stories published in Teambooktu. I enjoyed the stories, and then, one day, I asked my wife, Amy, to read them too. She was looking for something to read, and she did. We started a conversation about the stories.
I got in touch with the writer via mobile phone, and a conversation ensued. I promised to review the stories. Not too long after our conversation, she reached out to me to announce the arrival of her collection of short stories.
We finally met for the first time during the annual convention of the Lagos State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors, where she autographed two complimentary copies for us. She was as amazing and lively as her stories, full of ideas, wit, and imagination.
That night, when I gave my wife her copy, I saw the delight in her eyes as she held the book. My wife loves stories.
It was not until I was trying to sleep that I heard my wife laughing intermittently.
“Sweetheart,” I called out to her, “why are you laughing?” I raised myself slightly from the bed, though I was still lying down.
“I’m reading Edidiong’s Tale,” she said. “I love the way the writer used a housemaid to tell the story.” She smiled. “And she’s funny and observant,” she added. “It’s a fresh angle to storytelling.”
How to Be a Good Wife is a 103-page collection of short stories written by Amarachukwu Obika-Stevens and published in 2026 by one of Nigeria’s fast-rising publishing houses, Purple Shelves Literary Services. The author is the President and CEO of the publishing firm.
There are seven stories in all in this collection, starting with the aforementioned tale of Edidiong.
In Edidiong’s Tale, the writer depicts an extended-family household where the man’s wife, Grace, who is naturally kind to her husband’s family, is maltreated physically and psychologically by the man’s mother and her two daughters, May and Susu. The story is narrated by Edidiong, who speaks mostly in Nigerian Pidgin English. This makes the story interesting, as the writer understands dialectal characterisation—sociolect.
Edidiong is sympathetic towards her madam because she considers her a good, kind, and generous person. Hear her:
“Kai! Kai! Kaaai! These people wicked o. People wicked o. Since I come this house, the thing went my eye don see, my mouth no fit talk am. I don tell this madam say she dey remind me of Queen Esther for Bible...”
Another interesting aspect of this tale is the dialogue. The writer’s use of interior monologue to reveal Edidiong’s thoughts helps to add aesthetic value to the story. Edidiong has a superb memory that helps her present an interesting tale. She seems to know so much about this family, even things she is not supposed to know. She will eavesdrop on any conversation within the household if need be.
In the story, the writer never mentions the names of Grace’s husband or his mother. Grace herself is mentioned by name only once. This may be a deliberate stylistic choice, or perhaps it reflects the way these characters treat her and the role she occupies in the household. Whatever the reason, the anonymity of these characters is an interesting aspect of the story that deserves attention.
The mother-in-law of Edidiong’s madam even suggests that Edidiong should get pregnant by their son so that he will marry her and she can take care of Madam’s children when Madam is no longer with them.
Her husband even labels her as mad in the presence of Edidong and her madam’s ten-year-old daughter.
Another powerful story in the collection is After the Stories End. In this story, the writer takes the reader down memory lane, helping them reminisce about the good old days through the story of a teenager who discovers a terrific new world through books on her cousin’s shelves. These shelves house an array of romance novels: “Silhouette,” “Harlequin,” “Mills & Boon,” “Desire,” and others.
Then she meets Dotun at one of their church services, and their chemistry is perfect. They begin a sweet relationship that makes her stop buying books and start collecting letters—his letters, which are so well-crafted that she becomes addicted to him like a drug. She yearns for Dotun whenever he is not around, and when they kiss for the first time, she melts from ice to water. Their love is so perfect that one would think they were meant for each other.
Then comes the twist: Dotun disappears, leaving her pregnant. Even their parents, who were once so close, become sworn enemies when they learn of her pregnancy and the identity of the father.
She later reads in the tabloids that Dotun has married another woman in Accra. She is left to raise her daughter with the help of her aunt, who lives in Ibadan. This aunt even supports her through her education as she studies nursing.
This thrilling story ends with her burning cartons of fiction books, and her daughter asks her what fiction is and why she has decided to burn them. She replies that they are made-up stories:
“Always remember this: Fiction is for fools and unserious people. Serious people do not read storybooks.”
There are other stories in this collection, such as Return, Gardener, Love +/- Reason = Madness, How to Snatch a Man from His Wife: A Practical Guide to the Side Chic Codes, and How to Be a Good Wife.
These interesting tales will make your day. As I write this review, my teenage daughter is reading the book. This tells you how captivating, thrilling, breathtaking, invigorating, and entertaining the collection is. I can assure you that the stories will get you thinking, probing, and resetting some of your worldviews. Those who have bought the book can attest to this.
Enjoy! For those who have not read it, I promise you that it will be a source of education and entertainment, as well as a perfect gift to give to someone.
Mature Tanko Okoduwa is a Nigerian poet, playwright, artist, art historian, actor, activist and theoretical scientist.
He listens to music, ranging from Simon & Garfunkel, Amy Winehouse, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Sonya Spence, Ginger Williams, Bob Dylan and others
He is a former National Assistant General Secretary, and General General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Authors, and he obtained BA and MA (Honours) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He writes about identity, parting, oppression, friendship, relationship, sexuality, equality and loss.