Gender Reversal in Contemporary Novel: A feminist Study of Lola Shoneyin's The Secret Lives of Baba Segis's Wives

Abstract

Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives explores the complexities of polygamy in a patriarchal Nigerian society, subverts conventional gender norms by presenting female characters who challenge male authority and assert agency within the confines of a traditionally male-dominated household. Therefore, this study investigates the theme of gender reversal in contemporary African fiction through a feminist analysis of Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. It employs feminist literary theory to examine how Shoneyin reconstructs the dynamics of power, sexuality, and identity among women in a polygamous setting. The study foregrounds how the wives, particularly Bolanle, negotiate personal autonomy and resist socio-cultural expectations, thereby destabilizing patriarchal structures from within. Through close textual analysis, the work highlights the novel’s critique of gendered oppression and its advocacy for female empowerment. Therefore, this study positions The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives as a significant contribution to contemporary African feminist literature, where gender roles are not only questioned but actively redefined.