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Lákíríboto
A twisty thriller about the fate of a sprawling family in Lagos, Lakiriboto is a queer, feminist revenge thriller like no other, in which murder, betrayal, and witchcraft collide – with explosive results.
Me I be Rita, I’m unforgiving, vengeful, and as petty as fuck.
When her grandmother dies in the night, Moremi’s fate falls to her uncle, the grasping family chief who sends her off to work as a housemaid in Lagos. On arriving there, Moremi finds that the big city is not all she thought it would be. But she’s not alone. After another family death, Kudirat, accused of bringing misfortune to her close family, has also been sent to live as a maid in the same house, scrubbing floors and folding laundry for long-suffering Tola, whose abusive doctor husband refuses to treat. Together, with the help of her queer aunt Morieba, the four women must wrestle back control of their lives as the patriarchal traditions that govern the family push back against their freedoms. When Tola’s condition worsens, someone new emerges, someone with revenge and redemption in mind.
Mixing family saga, mobster pulp, and queer coming-of age, Lakiriboto is a staggeringly original and surprising novel about Nigeria’s queer and feminist communities, the struggles they face, and the lengths they will go to to overcome them.
Me I be Rita, I’m unforgiving, vengeful, and as petty as fuck.
When her grandmother dies in the night, Moremi’s fate falls to her uncle, the grasping family chief who sends her off to work as a housemaid in Lagos. On arriving there, Moremi finds that the big city is not all she thought it would be. But she’s not alone. After another family death, Kudirat, accused of bringing misfortune to her close family, has also been sent to live as a maid in the same house, scrubbing floors and folding laundry for long-suffering Tola, whose abusive doctor husband refuses to treat. Together, with the help of her queer aunt Morieba, the four women must wrestle back control of their lives as the patriarchal traditions that govern the family push back against their freedoms. When Tola’s condition worsens, someone new emerges, someone with revenge and redemption in mind.
Mixing family saga, mobster pulp, and queer coming-of age, Lakiriboto is a staggeringly original and surprising novel about Nigeria’s queer and feminist communities, the struggles they face, and the lengths they will go to to overcome them.
256 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2023
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905 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
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March 7, 2024Novel set in Nigeria, about a world of abusive men and the women (children) they abuse, as wives, servants, or just available sexual outlets. It's pretty brutal to read, and the female and queer defiance is welcome but kind of brutal too.
It's not polished--kind of jumpy--but there's a huge amount of energy and anger and feeling, and we need to know what happens. It namechecks The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives and there is definitely a similar vibe, although this book brings in gods.
However, the Cipher Press ebook edition doesn't work *at all* on my Kobo. All the accented characters come out as weird blocks, and since that's mostly names of all the crucial characters, it made for a near-impossible reading experience. Really poor from the publisher there.
It's not polished--kind of jumpy--but there's a huge amount of energy and anger and feeling, and we need to know what happens. It namechecks The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives and there is definitely a similar vibe, although this book brings in gods.
However, the Cipher Press ebook edition doesn't work *at all* on my Kobo. All the accented characters come out as weird blocks, and since that's mostly names of all the crucial characters, it made for a near-impossible reading experience. Really poor from the publisher there.
June 1, 2024
wow wow wow
- this is an incredible depiction of the female experience from a queer feminist lense and really serves as a reminder of how connection within womanhood can be such a strong tool in dismantling patriarchal expectation
- i loved how fully fleshed out all of the characters were - it can be difficult to provide well developed plot and characterisation, but we truly got a real sense of who each of them were to their very core
- i also devoured this so would definitely recommend if you're looking for a page turning, addictive read - i was fascinated by the backdrop of Lagos and Ibadan and the cultural and social implications the protagonists face
a must read!
- this is an incredible depiction of the female experience from a queer feminist lense and really serves as a reminder of how connection within womanhood can be such a strong tool in dismantling patriarchal expectation
- i loved how fully fleshed out all of the characters were - it can be difficult to provide well developed plot and characterisation, but we truly got a real sense of who each of them were to their very core
- i also devoured this so would definitely recommend if you're looking for a page turning, addictive read - i was fascinated by the backdrop of Lagos and Ibadan and the cultural and social implications the protagonists face
a must read!
October 8, 2023
After having been disappointed in the past by books labeled "feminist" only for having a female main character, this is a hugely satisfying story about women using their wits and companionship to carve out a space for themselves in a patriarchy set to abuse, pity and discard them.
"Lákíríboto is trans, she's intersex. Lákíríboto is wild and will not bow her head in shame. She takes charge of her pleasure and is neurodiverse. Lákíríboto is the perfect descriptor of all women in this story, because they are queer as fuck."
"Lákíríboto is trans, she's intersex. Lákíríboto is wild and will not bow her head in shame. She takes charge of her pleasure and is neurodiverse. Lákíríboto is the perfect descriptor of all women in this story, because they are queer as fuck."
August 12, 2023
LÁKÍRÍBOTO is a word with many meanings. The book’s foreword offers various definitions, one being ‘a person who doesn’t have sex with men’. Google expands on this definition stating that said person’s abstinence is linked to certain physical impairments.
The author, Ọ́lofintúadé, reframes the word Lákíríboto by embracing the aspects that denote freedom and discarding connotations used to shun or ridicule others: ‘Lákíríboto is wild & does not bow her head in shame’. This definition is manifested in the book through characters who resist the expectations imposed on them by their society & culture.
There is Morieba, the embodiment of a ‘rich aunty’: childfree & independent with a heart of gold. Moremi, a reserved yet strong-willed girl whose personality contrasts with confident & vibrant Kudirat. The two girls bond after they are sent to work for Tola, a troubled mother of 3, battling with depression & other mental health issues which are slowly revealed. And finally, Rita who is ‘unforgiving, vengeful & petty’ which is all that can be said without spoilers.
To write a story with 6 equally prominent characters (the 5 aforementioned + the tyrannical head of the family, Olori Ebi) is not an easy feat. I feel like these characters were well developed, although I would have loved for relationships between certain characters were fleshed out further. I also have mixed feelings about the ending.
That aside, the pages of this book practically turn themselves. I’d recommend if you’re looking for something plot driven & fast paced as this is a book that’ll make you forget that you’re reading. It’s set in Nigeria across Lagos & Ibadan, and the sharp writing creates a rich sense of place within Ibadan in particular.
In the same way that Lákíríboto has many meanings, this book is layered & refuses to be restricted to a handful of themes. It’s a story of Nollywood-like family drama & betrayal, coming-of-age, Yoruba spirituality & Ibadan’s underground criminal activities. It’s a story of hope, resilience & unity. It’s dark, unsettling and - as Ọ́lofintúadé describes - ‘queer as f**k.’
4.25 ⭐️
CW: child sexual abuse
The author, Ọ́lofintúadé, reframes the word Lákíríboto by embracing the aspects that denote freedom and discarding connotations used to shun or ridicule others: ‘Lákíríboto is wild & does not bow her head in shame’. This definition is manifested in the book through characters who resist the expectations imposed on them by their society & culture.
There is Morieba, the embodiment of a ‘rich aunty’: childfree & independent with a heart of gold. Moremi, a reserved yet strong-willed girl whose personality contrasts with confident & vibrant Kudirat. The two girls bond after they are sent to work for Tola, a troubled mother of 3, battling with depression & other mental health issues which are slowly revealed. And finally, Rita who is ‘unforgiving, vengeful & petty’ which is all that can be said without spoilers.
To write a story with 6 equally prominent characters (the 5 aforementioned + the tyrannical head of the family, Olori Ebi) is not an easy feat. I feel like these characters were well developed, although I would have loved for relationships between certain characters were fleshed out further. I also have mixed feelings about the ending.
That aside, the pages of this book practically turn themselves. I’d recommend if you’re looking for something plot driven & fast paced as this is a book that’ll make you forget that you’re reading. It’s set in Nigeria across Lagos & Ibadan, and the sharp writing creates a rich sense of place within Ibadan in particular.
In the same way that Lákíríboto has many meanings, this book is layered & refuses to be restricted to a handful of themes. It’s a story of Nollywood-like family drama & betrayal, coming-of-age, Yoruba spirituality & Ibadan’s underground criminal activities. It’s a story of hope, resilience & unity. It’s dark, unsettling and - as Ọ́lofintúadé describes - ‘queer as f**k.’
4.25 ⭐️
CW: child sexual abuse
July 21, 2023
What I appreciated the most is the way strands of story careened seemingly ever in danger of driving off the narrative road at full speed. The final crash, or rather snap, was more than pleasing. Of course I'm going to give a novel that advocates revenge in form of physical violence against cishet patriarchs, exploitatiors, and abusers of all kinds four stars.
September 21, 2019
All Raufu Alagbado wants from life is to lay claim to his sister's estate, unfortunately he has to deal with four pesky women who wouldn't do as they're told.
January 14, 2025
Really enjoyed this one, fantastic character work and super immersive. Not the best writing I’ve ever read and not a life-changing book but I was pretty gripped and I loved the somewhat mystical, queer, and certainly raunchy Nigerian world that was painted. Very different to my normal reading in one sense but also felt intensely familiar, I think it was the feminine rage…
December 6, 2024
sorry but the content of this was way too triggering to enjoy
September 8, 2023
It was a trip really, I mean, I couldn’t stop turning and waiting for the revenge to kick in. To be honest, I enjoy happy endings but everything felt quite convenient. Either way, a fantastic read and clear villains and good women shall I say.
March 10, 2024
Both harrowing and somehow weirdly made me laugh out loud multiple times. Gorgeous book. A lil difficult to follow in places but I don’t care. Am not going to think very hard about my review/rating just 🥇 here u go
Ps I love Rita 4eva IDST
Ps I love Rita 4eva IDST
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July 28, 2024this novel is so. like. slinky, so slimy, so fiery, so raw. beautiful and agonising and sexy and it contains some of the most fascinating and infectious/enjoyable characterisation i've read in ages. so fucking good!!!!!
August 27, 2024
Wonderful and queer but also wild
December 9, 2023
this book was really layered - 5 povs that flowed seamlessly with really effortless writing. I LOVED the genre bending and all the women in this novel who were unbelievably badass. The ending felt slightly incomplete, I definitely wanted more story. Nevertheless an insanely original novel about Nigeria’s queer and feminist communities. Couldn’t put it down.
September 12, 2024
I tried to like this novel and stuck with it till the end. Three problem areas - character development, language, and plot. The plot seemed implausible, just not believable but not because the events themselves can not realistically happen in ibadan/nigeria, but because of the character development and language.
The characters could use more developing, they all just seem thrown into the novel haphazardly. And even though the author painted this story of familial relationship, it was the author telling us that they are related and not the story doing the telling. I felt no attachment to a single character until the very end.
Also the language felt flat, like the author was speaking through all the characters. There was no distinctive language or diction that one could say belonged to each character. I mean, the characters are a range of teenager to middle and old age and educated to uneducated, yet they all used language in similar ways.
And the Yoruba spiritual element and dissociative identity disorder or something in this regard thrown into the plot felt out of place. The queer and sexual diversity part, which the author emphasised in the introduction, also very forgettable.
I just could not help feeling that if the author had written the novel in yorùbá, then maybe the plot and dialogue would have become more plausible and alive.
The characters could use more developing, they all just seem thrown into the novel haphazardly. And even though the author painted this story of familial relationship, it was the author telling us that they are related and not the story doing the telling. I felt no attachment to a single character until the very end.
Also the language felt flat, like the author was speaking through all the characters. There was no distinctive language or diction that one could say belonged to each character. I mean, the characters are a range of teenager to middle and old age and educated to uneducated, yet they all used language in similar ways.
And the Yoruba spiritual element and dissociative identity disorder or something in this regard thrown into the plot felt out of place. The queer and sexual diversity part, which the author emphasised in the introduction, also very forgettable.
I just could not help feeling that if the author had written the novel in yorùbá, then maybe the plot and dialogue would have become more plausible and alive.
October 28, 2023
3.75/5
Lovely read but felt… incomplete
Lovely read but felt… incomplete
March 23, 2024
Story/Plot: 3.5
Main Characters: 4
Side Characters: 2.5
Pacing: 3
Enjoyment: 4
Ending: 3
Overall: 3.3
Comment:
Every time I explained the premise of the book, they said it sounds like a Nollywood movie and I think that’s the best way to describe it.
Twist after twist, I couldn’t really tell where the book was gonna go and that’s my fave thing about thrillers.
I loved the main characters, the Lakiriboto’s, but I wished we spent more time with them.
I hated the villains (as I should), thunder fire them all.
With the side characters I kinda found it hard to keep track of who they were, but that’s down to me and remembering names if I’m honest. Some of the side characters just seemed to appear and I would have appreciated having a little more about them.
I kinda wished the book was longer, each chapter usually spans over years, but reading it, it was hard to tell that it was over a long time, the developments felt quick, specifically the ending.
I did feel like the language at times didn’t seem to fit? I found myself questioning whether certain characters would speak the way they did.
When it comes to thrillers, I always say writers like to wrap the story up in the last 30 pages, and this book followed suit. I would have loved if it was more fleshy, big moments seemed to be a bit glossed over, but I’m happy with the outcome of the story.
Would I read again? Probably not, but I enjoyed the read as my first book of the year. Would recommend for the drama, bc who doesn’t love a bit of drama.
Main Characters: 4
Side Characters: 2.5
Pacing: 3
Enjoyment: 4
Ending: 3
Overall: 3.3
Comment:
Every time I explained the premise of the book, they said it sounds like a Nollywood movie and I think that’s the best way to describe it.
Twist after twist, I couldn’t really tell where the book was gonna go and that’s my fave thing about thrillers.
I loved the main characters, the Lakiriboto’s, but I wished we spent more time with them.
I hated the villains (as I should), thunder fire them all.
With the side characters I kinda found it hard to keep track of who they were, but that’s down to me and remembering names if I’m honest. Some of the side characters just seemed to appear and I would have appreciated having a little more about them.
I kinda wished the book was longer, each chapter usually spans over years, but reading it, it was hard to tell that it was over a long time, the developments felt quick, specifically the ending.
I did feel like the language at times didn’t seem to fit? I found myself questioning whether certain characters would speak the way they did.
When it comes to thrillers, I always say writers like to wrap the story up in the last 30 pages, and this book followed suit. I would have loved if it was more fleshy, big moments seemed to be a bit glossed over, but I’m happy with the outcome of the story.
Would I read again? Probably not, but I enjoyed the read as my first book of the year. Would recommend for the drama, bc who doesn’t love a bit of drama.
October 4, 2023
It was really beautiful to read a modern book with Yoruba infused so well and so prominently. And the way they mingled classic Nollywood style naija family drama, with fantastic symbolism was so good. I really enjoyed the explorations of mental health so we’ll interwoven with explorations of old magic and spirituality. In Nigerian pop culture, relationships with spirits are always something to be fixed by deep Christian prayer. That’s how it ends, God wins and therefore it’s a happy ending. The mad (always) woman is almost written out of her own story. This book challenged that so well.
And Olofintuade encapsulated so many of our shared childhood memories, challenged them, made us laugh with/at them too. The horrible uncle with the elaborate alagba, the mum who prays too much and too loudly, the cool sexy aunt who saves you every time, the light skinned cousin everyone treats different etc. Loved it.
My only wish is that the ending was more concrete for each character.
And Olofintuade encapsulated so many of our shared childhood memories, challenged them, made us laugh with/at them too. The horrible uncle with the elaborate alagba, the mum who prays too much and too loudly, the cool sexy aunt who saves you every time, the light skinned cousin everyone treats different etc. Loved it.
My only wish is that the ending was more concrete for each character.
December 20, 2024
Gorgeous gorgeous story of queer solidarity across the interwoven lives of a group of women in Nigeria.
Despite the relative quickness we move through their lives, every character feels alive and fleshed out and very easy to fall for, and the very brutally honest descriptions of their experiences are detailed and weighted well.
Overall a highly enigmatic and satisfying tale of love and queerness and beautifully sweet revenge with an ending that left me grinning.
Despite the relative quickness we move through their lives, every character feels alive and fleshed out and very easy to fall for, and the very brutally honest descriptions of their experiences are detailed and weighted well.
Overall a highly enigmatic and satisfying tale of love and queerness and beautifully sweet revenge with an ending that left me grinning.
February 5, 2024
This was something completely different for me so I'm glad I read it. I really felt the traps laid by the patriarchy in every direction. But I found the sprawling cast of characters difficult to keep track of. I would have loved the chance to get to know the characters better.
February 18, 2024
The book is great: it has witches, Yoruba mythology, hard-boiled-easy-to-read plot, even BDSM-revenge scene. The author is alive - so just go get it. Not feeling that good to write anything meaningful (as if I ever did).
May 10, 2024
Rebellious, honest, supernatural, queer. Highly recommended! CW/TW sexual abuse, sexual assault, paedophilia, domestic violence, drug use, assault, murder, abusive BDSM, religious abuse/violence, blackmail, mental illness, institutionalization
August 8, 2024
A ripping read. Queer powerful women in Nigeria using their communal efforts to expose and outwit darkest facets of patriarchy. Shredded thru colonial constructs re gender race & religion. Loved the fluent immersion of orisa in the story. A bit of every genre and it worked beautifully.
October 12, 2025
It called itself feminist and COMMITTED to it!
An insane ride. Unflinching. Objectively, needed to take more time with the plot, but who cares! It knew where it wanted to go and then simply went there instead of being self-conscious like most books tackling these topics.
An insane ride. Unflinching. Objectively, needed to take more time with the plot, but who cares! It knew where it wanted to go and then simply went there instead of being self-conscious like most books tackling these topics.
July 17, 2023
"I am Lákíríboto, that woman who haunts your nightmares!"
SO GOOD!!!
SO GOOD!!!
January 4, 2024
Such an interesting book about such a real and infuriating subject matter. What a joy to see Nigerian women reclaim their personhood and autonomy in such big ways.
January 22, 2024
really enjoyed
May 7, 2024
This is a book I still think about every so often. As much as Olori Ebi is a bastard, his character was done so well.
Every family needs a Morieba✨
The the ending was a bit silly for me but still love this book down✨
Every family needs a Morieba✨
The the ending was a bit silly for me but still love this book down✨
September 9, 2024
This is one of those rare books that does an excellent job of putting into words the lived experiences of Nigeria's marginalised population - woman and queer people.
I highly recommend it.
I highly recommend it.
November 19, 2024
‘Lakiriboto’ is now my favourite word. Family saga meets revenge fuel meets Nigerian mythology. Would have loved if it tied up some loose ends, but overall a satisfying read.
July 18, 2025
3.5/4 stars
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