Water Baby: An uplifting coming-of-age story from the author of Bitter Leaf
Chioma Okereke
Apr 2024 ยท Hachette UK
Ebook
416
Pages
About this ebook
'A compelling and powerful novel' CHERIE JONES, author of How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House
'An adventurous and insightful read' ROSANNA AMAKA, author of The Book of Echoes
'A moving story of loss, love, community, and dreams' CHIKA UNIGWE, author of The Middle Daughter
She's the Pearl of Makoko and the world is her oyster.
In Makoko, the floating slum off mainland Lagos, Nigeria, nineteen-year-old Baby yearns for an existence where she can escape the future her father has planned for her.
With opportunities scarce, Baby jumps at the chance to join a newly launched drone-mapping project, aimed at broadening the visibility of her community.
Then a video of her at work goes viral and Baby finds herself with options she could never have imagined - including the possibility of leaving her birthplace to represent Makoko on the world stage.
But will life beyond the lagoon be everything she's dreamed of? Or has everything she wants been in front of her all along?
'A brilliant evocative read. In Okereke's hands, Makoko is a world full of heart and beauty' IRENOSEN OKOJIE, author of Nudibranch
'One of those rare books that takes you somewhere utterly unfamiliar and makes you feel instantly at home. A delight' SIMON TOYNE, author of Sanctus
'An adventurous and insightful read' ROSANNA AMAKA, author of The Book of Echoes
'A moving story of loss, love, community, and dreams' CHIKA UNIGWE, author of The Middle Daughter
She's the Pearl of Makoko and the world is her oyster.
In Makoko, the floating slum off mainland Lagos, Nigeria, nineteen-year-old Baby yearns for an existence where she can escape the future her father has planned for her.
With opportunities scarce, Baby jumps at the chance to join a newly launched drone-mapping project, aimed at broadening the visibility of her community.
Then a video of her at work goes viral and Baby finds herself with options she could never have imagined - including the possibility of leaving her birthplace to represent Makoko on the world stage.
But will life beyond the lagoon be everything she's dreamed of? Or has everything she wants been in front of her all along?
'A brilliant evocative read. In Okereke's hands, Makoko is a world full of heart and beauty' IRENOSEN OKOJIE, author of Nudibranch
'One of those rare books that takes you somewhere utterly unfamiliar and makes you feel instantly at home. A delight' SIMON TOYNE, author of Sanctus
About the author
Born in Nigeria, Chioma Okereke grew up in London, studied law at UCL and has successfully applied those skills to winning domestic squabbles ever since.
Her debut novel, Bitter Leaf, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize - Africa Best First Book, and her short story Trompette De La Mort received First Runner-Up of the inaugural Costa Short Story Award.
As a self-labelled transethnic, she divides her time between the bustle of London, the hustle of Lagos, and the rustle of rural France.
For more information visit chiomaokereke.com or connect with her on https://www.chiomaokereke.com/contact/.
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