The British-Nigerian author smashes the patriarchy of the classic folk tale in her new short-story collection.
To Bolu Babalola, romance is elastic.
Or rather, it should be.
Bolu Babalola.Credit: Folaju Oyegbesan; William Morrow
Babalola sought out stories about valor, sacrifice, and other themes she could make her own.
“I wanted to make it sacrifice without a woman sacrificing herself.
It’s more about the power of love,” she say.
In the old tales, Siya was depicted as one such damsel, betrothed to the warrior Maadi.
I wanted to emphasize how those two things sit together."
Babalola sees the universality of love, so incorporating diverse love stories was never a question.
Romance is an elastic genre," she says.
“Siya” is about a woman whose power is something her person loves about her.
“The skin condition is something she goes through and not something that diminishes her,” Babalola says.
Babalola also weaves in her own parables for three entirely original short stories.
“I just wanted to freestyle,” she shares.
After spending time living in the worlds of myths, the original tales allow her to showcase her voice.
One of the originals, “Alagomeji,” is based on the romantic history of her parents.
Traveling to Lagos as a child, Babalola’s parents would show her where they grew up.
Pointing out corner stories and other neighborhood touchstones is something Babalola sees as incredibly precious in adulthood.
“Alagomeji” shows Black and Africa love positively, without focusing on strife and suffering.
Babalola is continuing to tell her own stories with her first novel,Honey and Spice.
Babalola is excited about the tale’s exploration of romantic love and love for community.
The self-proclaimed romcomoisseur has no plans to stop stretching the scope of the stories being told about love.
