I never thought I'd be even the slightest bit impressed by Chick-Lit. As a fan of fantasy, I enjoy a very different type of writing style. I've always enjoyed complex-compound prose, witty writing, tomes and endless series.
However, with Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow, I've gone through several emotions, from disdain to disappointment, bored intrigue and finally, an inner questing.
From a purist's POV, it's certainly not the greatest work of literature out there, but it's the most thought-provoking piece I've read this year.
Still, the book has made enough of an impression on me, enough to write a balanced and honest review like this.
No empty flattery. No snobbish sentiment. Just pure, unbridled literary criticism
Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow is the story of Temilade and her dogged determination to get a Brazilian butt lift in a bid to put an end to all the mockery she endured about her supposedly "flat" bum while growing up.
There are only a few pages devoted to the inevitable hue and cry by her African family at this most unexpected of announcements. Instead, the story focuses on Temi's journey through childhood, with equal focus given to several other POVs and secondary characters in the books.
The author's debut novel, Nearly All the Men In Lagos Are Mad, caused quite a stir when it was first released, no small thanks to its controversial and unorthodox title. Only Bumbum Matters Tomorrow isn't necessarily a marked evolution of Kuku's writing, but boy, does it have significant themes!
From their parents' typically un-African approach to parenting to the high-handedness preached by both aunts, we see Temi and Ladun evolve into some of the most unique characters in African Literature.
We see what happens when children are given a certain extent of freedom by parents growing up, and readers can appreciate the two contrasting styles of discipline and parental guidance.
On the one hand, there is the typical African flog-the-bedevils-out-of-you style of discipline, with the Western patiently indulgent approach on the other. It was quite interesting to read, and there are tons of lessons here for parents and wannabe parents.
What contemporary African Literature read would be complete without an ode to the travails of many women on the continent who are serially cheated on and turned into punching bags by their husbands?
This trend, vigorously written by contemporary female African Literature authors, has been over-flogged, in my opinion. Indeed, it casts quite the unflattering shadow on the African male, and I fear that Western audiences may soon accept this unfortunate stereotyping as the norm when it arguably isn't.
That is not to say that this sad trend is untrue or to belittle its significance in the evolution of African society to date.
Still, one gets tired of reading about it as a male, especially one as soft-hearted, pacifist-natured, and deeply romantic as myself.
But I digress. This will be a topic for another day...
It is not until the final paragraphs of the book that the readers are allowed a glimpse at the author's possible stance on BBLs and body positivity as a whole.
Throughout history, the sons of men have been obsessed with the bodies of the fairer species. This deep interest in female bodies has seemingly reached its peak in recent times, with a reinvigorated wave of feminist movements globally joining forces to fight back against the patriarchy.
Deep in the middle of this ideological (and often physical) battle, the trend of "body positivity" comes to the fore. The idea is that women own their bodies and should, of course, be allowed to do whatever they want with them.
While this is only a reinforcement of what should only be natural and normal, the post-pandemic trend of cosmetic surgeries throws new ethical light into the matter.
In Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow, Damilare Kuku subjectively portrays the cultural shift to BBLs, beckoning audiences to consider cause and consequence.
Damilare Kuku also explores infidelity in relationships, as well as the place of sex and desire in relationships.
As we saw in her debut, the author pens some well-timed, wickedly steamy sex scenes to temper the sober mood that her sad story brings.
Having grown up with an unusually thick skin, I struggled in previous years to understand how many people couldn't shake off negative comments as easily as I could, especially where their bodies were concerned.
However, I've come to understand that the human ego is a fragile thing, and it's important to be deliberately kind with words, as you cannot always know what the other party feels when you make certain comments.
In her story, Damilare Kuku shows that intent may not always match effect, and many women still struggle with the need to be seen, whether by their families or partners.
While intriguing enough, the plot isn't without its imperfections, as there are a few inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the story.
Still, unlike her debut novel, Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow manages to be almost completely unpredictable, making it a quite engrossing read indeed.
I wasn't very impressed by the writing in Nearly All The Men In Lagos Are Mad, and this book didn't show a lot of improvement on that count.
Perhaps this is a function of my preference for Malazan and Abercrombie-style writing or the fact that this is a genre I'm simply not used to reading.
Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow is a must-read for every woman who has ever suffered physical and mental abuse at the hands of men. It raises crucial questions about the place and purpose of cosmetic surgeries in society today.
It's also a grim reminder of the lives of many women worldwide who still depend on the validation of men for self-appreciation.
More significantly, Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow is a subtle call to womanhood to love herself in whatever shape, colour, and form.
The book is available for purchase on Rovingheights, Book Peddler, Amazon and stores near you.
