The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin – ★★★★★
"Men are like yam. You cut them how you like."
A mantra, a survival tactic, a wild, outlandish statement — and the very essence of Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, adapted by Rotimi Babatunde, now showing at the Arcola Theatre. A story that stays with you long after you’ve experienced it on page or on stage, it lingers because of its humour, honesty, and brutal insight into the lives of Nigerian women. This play brings all the best parts of Yoruba storytelling to the forefront, allowing its audience to bask in its glory.
Baba Segi (Patrice Naiambana) is a man with many wives and even more children. He takes great pride in them, and even greater pride in knowing he is the epicentre of their world. He wears this status like a gele on his head. The latest addition to his household is the young, educated, and somewhat reserved Bolanle (Dolapo Oni), who ruffles the feathers of her predecessors as the new apple of Baba Segi’s eye. When, after two years of marriage, Bolanle has still not conceived a child, Baba Segi feels compelled to take drastic action — immediately threatening the delicate balance among his three first wives. This triggers a chain of events and a shocking revelation that I’m desperate to spoil, but won’t. Suffice it to say, it’s one of the many reasons you need to buy a ticket to this play.
The cast of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives are flawless in execution. Balancing humour, drama, suspense, and the depth of Yoruba proverbs with ease and flair, there is no single standout. Each performance is exceptional. Each of Baba Segi's wives possesses a distinct kind of femininity and battles their own difficulties.
Kemi Adekoya plays Iya Segi, Baba Segi’s first wife and the self-appointed queen mother of the house. She is unashamedly bold, intelligent, and a force never (ever) to be reckoned with. She channels this into securing her and her family’s position. Christina Oshunniyi is Iya Tope, whose childlike mind is confined to the body of an adult woman — her desires are simple: to braid Segi's hair and play with friends only she can see. Mofe Akande is Iya Femi, scheming and driven, whose refusal to return to a life of cruelty with her aunt and uncle fuels her desperation to keep the wives’ secrets hidden. Rounding out the cast are Tania Nwachukwu, endearing and vibrant as Segi, Baba Segi’s first child, and Diana Yekinni, Ayan De First, Usifu Jalloh, and Ayo-Dele Edwards, who bring to life an array of hilarious and nuanced supporting characters.
The ensemble’s chemistry is electric. Dance and musical numbers energise the audience. Dressed in plain white tees, with the women donning colourful wrappas and the men in sokotos, the cast’s uniformity underscores their cohesion. The use of the talking drum, the oja flute, call-and-response, chorus singing, and dance weaves together multiple strands of Yoruba storytelling.
This is elevated by the play’s performance in the round, with almost no set. The performance space is bare, with sparse props. The Ibadan village the characters inhabit is constructed solely through their voices and bodies. Simisola Majekodunmi’s lighting design hums in shades of red, orange, and yellow, spotlighting the drama, suspense, and playfulness as the story unfolds. There are moments that feel deliciously Nollywood-esque: abrupt transitions, sorrowful songs narrating characters’ misfortunes, and, of course, someone being poisoned with mysterious white powder.
One of the most striking elements of the play is how it explores sexuality. Embracing its vulgarity, sensuality, and mysticism, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives addresses the intricacies and taboos of sexual relations through daring movement and language — touching on sexual health, LGBTQ+ identities, fantasies, infidelity, and female pleasure. Kemi Durosinmi’s choreography shines as the cast embodies these themes in abstract, evocative ways. There is a shamelessness in these moments. We experience the characters’ sexual lives in complete rawness. It is refreshing to see these themes handled so unapologetically on stage.
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives tells the harsh reality faced by many Nigerian women — that their lives are often dictated by men through marriage, politics, culture, and finances. It shows how they must carve out their own freedom in small but powerful ways. The relationships in this story are complex, yet deeply human, and you find yourself empathising even with the most seemingly deranged characters.
With riotous laughter, passion, warmth, and an unforgettable story, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives will be a favourite of mine for a long time.
★★★★★
By Melody Adebisi.
The Secret Live’s of Baba Segi’s Wives is showing at Arcola Theatre until 31 May.
