Today's Palava in "The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives"

By Olumide Labulo 

Not too long ago, lots and lots of men on social media  began to advocate for DNA tests to ascertain the paternity of the children they claim to be theirs after series of news broke every other day about paternity fraud and the aftermath on both parties. The discussion became so big that many women brazenly opposed the idea, saying many more families would be destroyed should that become a norm.  Haa...PALAVA! As funnily as this sounds, it's a testament to the fact that many people are unfaithful to their partners. Some are even too daring to commit this paternity fraud crime against those they claim to love and keep the secret for years. Haaa...inside life!!!

In September 2024, The Punch newspaper covered the heartbreaking stories of men damaged by paternity fraud and the fragility of family bonds. According to one Olawale in the report, he was married for 16 years and had four kids but shockingky realised one day that none of them was his. This was a reality that sent him to a comma for days. His only crime, like the wife said, was that he couldn't "perform" in bed. So, she became deceptive and resorted to sleeping with other men. Not one oh.

To be honest, this whole charade is looking like a two-can-play game to me right now. You know for many years, men have really prided themselves as "polygamous" in nature, a statement they have used to justify their infidelity. Now that it appears like women are joining in the game, who do you think will suffer more? PALAVA!

Opening with the "Men are like yam, you cut them how you like" quote, we can perceive tinges of feminism in the voice of the speaker in Lola Shoneyin's book, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives. The book tells the tale of infertility and infidelity and how both are perceived in African marriages. This way, the condiment of real life events completely overwhelms your imaginations and the message that infertility and infidelity aren't gender based sinks deep down. 

Action begins in the house of Baba Segi; a rich, middle-aged Nigerian businessman who sells construction materials and prides himself on his four wives and seven children. Events become heated up when he brings in Bolanle, a young university graduate as the fourth wife. After two years of marriage, Bolanle’s inability to conceive creates a two-phased problem first for Baba Segi and the caucus of the three wives: Iya Segi, Iya Tope and Iya Femi. Iya Segi being the first and kingpin calls the shot in the family. She is also the first to discover Baba Segi’s infertility issues and advises the other two to have lovers like she has done. Now that the fourth wife is in the picture, their secrets are threatened. They plan to kill her, they fail and their secret is revealed when Baba Segi himself becomes aware of his infertility status at the hospital he has taken Bolanle for fertility test.

Though, Baba Segi, after the revelation, refuses to send the children and the women away because he still considers them family, this is in sharp contrast with the reality of today in many families. 

So, if you still have the male dominance mentality, thinking women are such fickle creatures like a quote in the story says, they will eventually destroy you with that same slippery nature. Therefore, don't think like the world spins around you only while you're at the centre. Put them in the picture too.

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