Lákíríboto, a novel by Ayodele Olofintuade, is a queer coming-of-age story about two young Nigerian women who find themselves at the centre of a family saga. In this novel, Olofintuade delivers a powerful narrative that speaks to the resilience of women in the face of adversity.
Most book reviews do not begin with a description of the book’s cover but allow me to make an exception with Lákíríboto. With its bright red background, white lettering, and pictures of two faces on either side, the moment I saw Lákíríboto in the bookstore, I knew that I would have to read it. This was my introduction to the captivating work of non-binary, Black feminist author, Ayodele Olofintuade. In this novel, Olofintuade weaves a powerful and poignant narrative that explores the complexities of family, tradition, and the struggle for independence in the face of oppressive patriarchal norms.
The author uses the foreword to set the scene for the events of the novel, describing the concept of Lákíríboto and providing a well-informed, brief insight into Yoruba culture. One of the ideas Olofintuade posits in the foreword that resonated with me the most, is that ‘labels are not used for restriction—they are used for individual freedom, because the more aligned each person is with their original purpose on earth, the healthier society is.’ The idea of finding purpose is one that they return to throughout Lákíríboto, and they demonstrate the difficulty that one may have in doing so when their society has differing expectations...
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