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Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother
Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother This is a heart-warming story about the power of a mother's love; truly an ode to women and mothers all over the world. It is a captivating and emotional story that talks about love and loss! Follow baby Yetunde as she narrates her mother's ode to her grandmother. It is the Yoruba praise poetry for a mother known as the Oriki Iya. Yetunde is also thrilled and delighted by the ancient Yoruba tale passed down to her by her mother about Labake, a young maiden who was kidnapped to be forced to marry a warrior chief. Will Iya Labake save her child in time? Is Iya Labake just a simple defenceless mother? Or . . .? This is a short story dedicated to past, present and future mothers, a perfect Mother's day present! This book is mostly in English and all Yoruba words are translated, so everyone can enjoy the book fully.
40 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2016
11 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Segilola Salami
7 books115 followersSegilola Salami is an author, blogger, freelance writer and host of The Segilola Salami Show podcast.
Her daughter shares her love for books and now has a segment on the show where she reads books for early readers, key stage 1. Click here listen to one episode of the show with Segilola Salami's daughter.
According to Segilola Salami:
"As an author myself, I believe that we all need all the support we can get in promoting our work.
That's why on my blog, I accept content by other authors, in the hope that one of my blog followers may be interested in getting a copy of that book. This is all for FREE and my website RSS feed has close to 2 million subscribers.
There are two options available:
1) Please click here to submit an interview featuring a character from your book of fiction.
2) Please click here to submit an excerpt from your fiction or non-fiction book.
If you need to please send me an email via my website contact form
."
Segilola also writes paranormal romance as Elizabeth Salawu
Her daughter shares her love for books and now has a segment on the show where she reads books for early readers, key stage 1. Click here listen to one episode of the show with Segilola Salami's daughter.
According to Segilola Salami:
"As an author myself, I believe that we all need all the support we can get in promoting our work.
That's why on my blog, I accept content by other authors, in the hope that one of my blog followers may be interested in getting a copy of that book. This is all for FREE and my website RSS feed has close to 2 million subscribers.
There are two options available:
1) Please click here to submit an interview featuring a character from your book of fiction.
2) Please click here to submit an excerpt from your fiction or non-fiction book.
If you need to please send me an email via my website contact form
."Segilola also writes paranormal romance as Elizabeth Salawu
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 15, 2018
A beautifully written story of mother-daughter relationship.
The narrator of this book is Yetunde, a small baby who describes about her Mom and the bond they share. Anyone will find her to be overloaded with cuteness.
Truly amazing. Recommended.
The narrator of this book is Yetunde, a small baby who describes about her Mom and the bond they share. Anyone will find her to be overloaded with cuteness.
Truly amazing. Recommended.
October 31, 2017
Yetunde is a precious and precocious nine month old baby who happens to be the narrator of the book. She is living in London with her mother, and as readers we drop in on an intimate moment, when in a fit of loneliness and grief, Yeturnde's mother reflects on life in Nigeria. She is sad at the loss of her own mother, Yetunde's grandmother.
Poetic and heart-wrenching Yetunde's mother recounts stories of life, some of it mystical other parts a picture into the life of a Nigerian woman. In this manner she will be able to keep both traditions and the family history alive.
Her tale relates the rich culture of her homeland. It strengthens the bond of mother to daughter, ingraining the spiritual importance of motherhood, all while reflecting the traditions of the homeland. Some of the story is brutal, some of it sad, but the comfort of the oral traditions bring solace to the soul. The traditions bind them by reminding both mother and daughter of the roots that anchor them to each other as well to the next generation.
Poetic and heart-wrenching Yetunde's mother recounts stories of life, some of it mystical other parts a picture into the life of a Nigerian woman. In this manner she will be able to keep both traditions and the family history alive.
Her tale relates the rich culture of her homeland. It strengthens the bond of mother to daughter, ingraining the spiritual importance of motherhood, all while reflecting the traditions of the homeland. Some of the story is brutal, some of it sad, but the comfort of the oral traditions bring solace to the soul. The traditions bind them by reminding both mother and daughter of the roots that anchor them to each other as well to the next generation.
October 9, 2016
This was a very short story (only 28 pages) I love classic folk tales and stories of mothers and daughters so I was very happy with this book. I loved the blending of languages but at times even with the translations it was a struggle to understand as I needed the translation to understand the line. Still a good short story for mothers and daughters to share.
May 15, 2016
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thankyou Segilola Salami for an oppurtunity to read such a heart warming book!
This book is all about mothers and I have to say, it had me on the brink of tears. For me, this book is about a mother's love towards her child and how it hadn't changed even a little in all the centuries that have passed by. This book had another little story in it about a mother who was willing to do just about anything for her daughter's safety and how Yetunde's mother promises that she'll make sure Yetunde is always safe kind of wanted me to go hug my mother right then and there!
There are a lot of verses in this book that were beeautiful but my favourite has got to be
They say that Hell has no fury like a woman scorned, but what no one dares tell you about is the rage of a mother scorned. Ibinu iya, even the heavens stand still.
This sentence here doesn't even need any further explaination! We all know it is the truth. My next favourite from this book is
“I would’ve liked to have asked Death why he didn't take all the bad people in the world away instead, but I guess no matter how bad anybody is, someone would still be very sad about their passing.”
Because whenever the thought of losing someone close to us bothers us, I am sure all of us had this feeling. We've all wished for someone else to be taken away but this line is precious because no matter how bad someone seems to us, they are someone else's life support and we never stop to think about it.
All in all.. This book, though isn't very long.. Is very deep! It made me want to go hug my mom and my grandmom and say them I love them because no matter how many times I say it, they give me more and more reasons to repeat it!
This book is all about mothers and I have to say, it had me on the brink of tears. For me, this book is about a mother's love towards her child and how it hadn't changed even a little in all the centuries that have passed by. This book had another little story in it about a mother who was willing to do just about anything for her daughter's safety and how Yetunde's mother promises that she'll make sure Yetunde is always safe kind of wanted me to go hug my mother right then and there!
There are a lot of verses in this book that were beeautiful but my favourite has got to be
They say that Hell has no fury like a woman scorned, but what no one dares tell you about is the rage of a mother scorned. Ibinu iya, even the heavens stand still.
This sentence here doesn't even need any further explaination! We all know it is the truth. My next favourite from this book is
“I would’ve liked to have asked Death why he didn't take all the bad people in the world away instead, but I guess no matter how bad anybody is, someone would still be very sad about their passing.”
Because whenever the thought of losing someone close to us bothers us, I am sure all of us had this feeling. We've all wished for someone else to be taken away but this line is precious because no matter how bad someone seems to us, they are someone else's life support and we never stop to think about it.
All in all.. This book, though isn't very long.. Is very deep! It made me want to go hug my mom and my grandmom and say them I love them because no matter how many times I say it, they give me more and more reasons to repeat it!
August 21, 2016
I wanted to be the child in this story. I've known the loss of a grandmother and an aunt who were both wonderful mothers. I have known of friends losing their mother. A good mother teaches a child right from wrong and instills good values. A great mother also gives encouragement, comfort, emotional support, and unconditional love. Those are necessities in life not to be taken lightly. If you have a great mother, let her know it. If you are a great mother, I thank you.
June 5, 2016
I received a free copy of this book, the title grabbed me even if I m not into motherhood stuff but I liked it. It's refreshing when the story is related by the baby explaining his relation with his mommy and how he sees the world. the book is about mother's love for her child. It's short but heart warming book. thanks to Segilola Salami
June 17, 2016
Luckily, I got a free copy of this book from Smashwords! I
wanted to read it from a long time!
A very heart warming book! A
lil book told about a lil baby, Yetunda and her mother! Its all about MOTHERS, Heavenly and Earthly!
The superb narration made my eyes moist!
Very nicely writen!
wanted to read it from a long time!
A very heart warming book! A
lil book told about a lil baby, Yetunda and her mother! Its all about MOTHERS, Heavenly and Earthly!
The superb narration made my eyes moist!
Very nicely writen!
July 16, 2016
You can also find this review in Chapter Adventures.
This is a sweet little story with a lot of heart perfect for young and older readers alike. We have an unusual and delightful nine-month-old narrator and her mother, who teach us in a simple but beautiful way about mothers’ strength, the loss of a loved one, cultural identity, and Yoruba folktale. A perfect read for a quiet morning or afternoon.
First of all, let’s talk about the plot. It’s very straightforward, as we find ourselves thrown in the middle of a normal day in the life of Yetunde in which her mother decides to tell her more about her culture through a Nigerian folktale. My only complaint about the plot is actually about the ending, which teases a new story out of the blue. I am interested in reading the continuation, but I didn’t like such a blunt introduction to it.
My favorite thing about the story were the main characters. Our first narrator is Yetunde. She’s a baby and, as such, she is just discovering the world, but her innocence makes her very wise. I loved hearing the story from her perspective. When I started reading I thought it would be condescending to have a baby as the narrator, as the story would be told too childishly for adult readers, but that’s not what happened at all. We learn to appreciate the story through her eyes because her mother treats her with a lot of respect and love.
Her mother is clever, patient and sweet. She wants Yetunde to learn about her culture, not only because she deems her heritage really important, but also because its connection to her own mother. Although I liked her and loved the tale she told Yetunde, I would have preferred to read the whole story through the baby’s perspective. With such an unusual and successful narrator, changing to the mother was not something I loved.
For such a short story, it touches many important themes and handles them well. The most important one is clearly motherhood. We see through Yetunde’s eyes the admiration and love of a child towards their mother, and then we get to see it again in Yetunde’s mom towards her own mother. The recognition of women and mother’s strength is empowering and endearing, told with a simplicity that helps this story reach a younger audience, but with a lesson that’s deep enough for people of all ages to ponder about.
The story also talks of grief and loss, topics that are hard to discuss but that are treated touchingly and with subtlety. Finally, the last theme I would like to mention is culture and identity. Yetunde’s mother tells her about the Yoruba culture and its deities though a beautiful tale and even a fun little reference to Avatar: The Last Airbender. I loved learning more about the Orishas and there were many beautiful passages that I adored that tell us how much women are valued in the Yoruba culture. Yetunde’s mother talks to her in English and Yoruba, intertwining both cultures through language to help Yetunde grow understanding her identity and which helped me get more immersed in the story.
Overall, this was a sweet and moving little story that I recommend to anyone who just wishes to relax and read on a quiet day, it will brighten it.
This is a sweet little story with a lot of heart perfect for young and older readers alike. We have an unusual and delightful nine-month-old narrator and her mother, who teach us in a simple but beautiful way about mothers’ strength, the loss of a loved one, cultural identity, and Yoruba folktale. A perfect read for a quiet morning or afternoon.
First of all, let’s talk about the plot. It’s very straightforward, as we find ourselves thrown in the middle of a normal day in the life of Yetunde in which her mother decides to tell her more about her culture through a Nigerian folktale. My only complaint about the plot is actually about the ending, which teases a new story out of the blue. I am interested in reading the continuation, but I didn’t like such a blunt introduction to it.
My favorite thing about the story were the main characters. Our first narrator is Yetunde. She’s a baby and, as such, she is just discovering the world, but her innocence makes her very wise. I loved hearing the story from her perspective. When I started reading I thought it would be condescending to have a baby as the narrator, as the story would be told too childishly for adult readers, but that’s not what happened at all. We learn to appreciate the story through her eyes because her mother treats her with a lot of respect and love.
“She just loves it when I give her a kiss, especially when she doesn’t even ask. I don’t do it very often though. I think it makes it even more special and precious when I do.”
Her mother is clever, patient and sweet. She wants Yetunde to learn about her culture, not only because she deems her heritage really important, but also because its connection to her own mother. Although I liked her and loved the tale she told Yetunde, I would have preferred to read the whole story through the baby’s perspective. With such an unusual and successful narrator, changing to the mother was not something I loved.
“I’m simply telling you this so you know about your heritage, Yetunde. Where you come from. I don’t necessarily want for you to become a worshiper when you grow up.”
For such a short story, it touches many important themes and handles them well. The most important one is clearly motherhood. We see through Yetunde’s eyes the admiration and love of a child towards their mother, and then we get to see it again in Yetunde’s mom towards her own mother. The recognition of women and mother’s strength is empowering and endearing, told with a simplicity that helps this story reach a younger audience, but with a lesson that’s deep enough for people of all ages to ponder about.
“No matter how strong a man
He was born by a woman
When you oppress a mother
You oppress your own mother
[…] Woe onto he who makes a mother cry
For her cry is the sound of the war-drum you struck […]”
The story also talks of grief and loss, topics that are hard to discuss but that are treated touchingly and with subtlety. Finally, the last theme I would like to mention is culture and identity. Yetunde’s mother tells her about the Yoruba culture and its deities though a beautiful tale and even a fun little reference to Avatar: The Last Airbender. I loved learning more about the Orishas and there were many beautiful passages that I adored that tell us how much women are valued in the Yoruba culture. Yetunde’s mother talks to her in English and Yoruba, intertwining both cultures through language to help Yetunde grow understanding her identity and which helped me get more immersed in the story.
Overall, this was a sweet and moving little story that I recommend to anyone who just wishes to relax and read on a quiet day, it will brighten it.
May 25, 2016
I have to admit, when I began to read “Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother”, I thought I was reading a short story about a cheetah and her cub. Yes, I judged a book by its cover. So at the first mention of a career and telephone calls with grandad, I had an amusing image in my head. This isn’t a story about cheetahs.
There isn’t a lot of setup to this brief tale. We are dropped into the middle of a moment between a mother, who may be dying, and her child. The mother recites poetry and shares what I’m assuming is a traditional Nigerian folk tale. This folk tale makes up the bulk of the story and is written in both English and Yoruba, a Nigerian language. At times the bilingual nature of the story within the story made it difficult to follow the narrative. A translation is given after every each sentence. Once the folk tale is over, we are given a phonetic reading of the Nigerian alphabet and then a short, confusing skype scene concludes the book.
Despite my issues with the structure and ending, there were many enjoyable bits of wisdom scattered throughout ‘Yetunde”. “Water has no enemy. Anyone who tries to fight with water has doomed himself.” And the author made several insightful comments, like “I would’ve liked to have asked Death why he didn't take all the bad people in the world away instead, but I guess no matter how bad anybody is, someone would still be very sad about their passing.”
The structure here is a bit of a jumble. But all in all, I enjoyed the spirit of this short story. The author’s voice is caring, sympathetic, and eager to share Nigerian culture with its readers. I would recommend this book to those who enjoys learning about other cultures. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
There isn’t a lot of setup to this brief tale. We are dropped into the middle of a moment between a mother, who may be dying, and her child. The mother recites poetry and shares what I’m assuming is a traditional Nigerian folk tale. This folk tale makes up the bulk of the story and is written in both English and Yoruba, a Nigerian language. At times the bilingual nature of the story within the story made it difficult to follow the narrative. A translation is given after every each sentence. Once the folk tale is over, we are given a phonetic reading of the Nigerian alphabet and then a short, confusing skype scene concludes the book.
Despite my issues with the structure and ending, there were many enjoyable bits of wisdom scattered throughout ‘Yetunde”. “Water has no enemy. Anyone who tries to fight with water has doomed himself.” And the author made several insightful comments, like “I would’ve liked to have asked Death why he didn't take all the bad people in the world away instead, but I guess no matter how bad anybody is, someone would still be very sad about their passing.”
The structure here is a bit of a jumble. But all in all, I enjoyed the spirit of this short story. The author’s voice is caring, sympathetic, and eager to share Nigerian culture with its readers. I would recommend this book to those who enjoys learning about other cultures. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
September 24, 2016
***This book was reviewed for the Manhattan and Seattle Book Reviews***
Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother is the second of Salami's Yetunde books. This short, beautiful read is told from the perspective of Yetunde, a mere babe, who’s own ma has passed away. Yetunde narrates for us as her ma engages in a Yoruba tradition of praise poetry, reciting one for her own mother.
Yetunde is so sweet and charming. She is a wee one, and her language reflects it. She doesn't speak in nonsensical baby talk, but does speak with the short 'oh, shiny’ attention of a toddler. She only just learned to walk, after all. Yetunde addresses us, the reader, directly.. She says she speaks Ancient Angelic, but adults call it baby babble. Being Yoruba, Yetunde is learning to understand both English and Yoruba.
As the story progresses, Yetunde’s ma sits with her, speaking of her regrets in not spending as much time as possible with her own ma. She had plans to buy a plot and build her ma a house, to have her close, and so she could be in Yetunde's life. As she talks with Yetunde, she speaks in English, and Yoruba, giving translations. Yetunde's ma is helping her learn to be bilingual. We are also given other tidbits of Yoruba culture and lore.
Segilola’s story is a marvellous one, wrought with love and care. Though primarily in English, it is a beautiful glimpse at a Yoruba cultural tradition. I love the lessons in Yoruba that are woven in. We are taught as Yetunde is taught. I was privileged enough to beta-read this short weeks ago, and was tickled to see it show up at SFBC. I still want to read the predecessor- Yetunde: A Yoruba Girl in London.
Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother is the second of Salami's Yetunde books. This short, beautiful read is told from the perspective of Yetunde, a mere babe, who’s own ma has passed away. Yetunde narrates for us as her ma engages in a Yoruba tradition of praise poetry, reciting one for her own mother.
Yetunde is so sweet and charming. She is a wee one, and her language reflects it. She doesn't speak in nonsensical baby talk, but does speak with the short 'oh, shiny’ attention of a toddler. She only just learned to walk, after all. Yetunde addresses us, the reader, directly.. She says she speaks Ancient Angelic, but adults call it baby babble. Being Yoruba, Yetunde is learning to understand both English and Yoruba.
As the story progresses, Yetunde’s ma sits with her, speaking of her regrets in not spending as much time as possible with her own ma. She had plans to buy a plot and build her ma a house, to have her close, and so she could be in Yetunde's life. As she talks with Yetunde, she speaks in English, and Yoruba, giving translations. Yetunde's ma is helping her learn to be bilingual. We are also given other tidbits of Yoruba culture and lore.
Segilola’s story is a marvellous one, wrought with love and care. Though primarily in English, it is a beautiful glimpse at a Yoruba cultural tradition. I love the lessons in Yoruba that are woven in. We are taught as Yetunde is taught. I was privileged enough to beta-read this short weeks ago, and was tickled to see it show up at SFBC. I still want to read the predecessor- Yetunde: A Yoruba Girl in London.
November 13, 2018
This is the first book I've ever read where the narration is from the perspective of nine month old. While most children of that age still consider their toes fascinating, Yetunde engages in advanced storytelling. It works for this book though. Who better then a baby, for whom their mother is their whole world, to narrate a story about a mom.
This book is an amazing work. Its not just about mom but its about family and heritage. Its about the home she lives in now and the place her family used to call home.
Segilola Salami captures emotions beautifully in this book. The sadness Yetunde's mother feels at the loss of her own mother (Yetunde's grandmother) comes through as genuine. Anyone who has lost a mother will not only relate to what comes across on the pages, but begin to feel their own loss all over in a bittersweet sort of way.
In just 28 pages Salami artfully paints a picture of the near spiritual bond between mother and child as well as family and heritage. Readers who are not stirred by this book probably don't have a heart.
This book is an amazing work. Its not just about mom but its about family and heritage. Its about the home she lives in now and the place her family used to call home.
Segilola Salami captures emotions beautifully in this book. The sadness Yetunde's mother feels at the loss of her own mother (Yetunde's grandmother) comes through as genuine. Anyone who has lost a mother will not only relate to what comes across on the pages, but begin to feel their own loss all over in a bittersweet sort of way.
In just 28 pages Salami artfully paints a picture of the near spiritual bond between mother and child as well as family and heritage. Readers who are not stirred by this book probably don't have a heart.
April 5, 2016
This book is a beautiful little short story, told from the perspective of Yetunde, a baby who lives in London with her mother.
My favourite part about this story was the concept of language. I loved the idea that babies speak in the language of the angels, and though they can't speak English for a while, they can understand what other people say. Also, because Yetunde is being brought up as bilingual (English and Yoruba), she sometimes thinks in Yoruba instead of English (thankfully, all the Yoruba words are followed by an English translation, so you don't have to use translation software to understand the book).
Having said that, I think this book would be better as a sweet, beautifully laid-out little print book, rather than an ebook, especially if it is supposed to be "A perfect mother's day present".
My favourite part about this story was the concept of language. I loved the idea that babies speak in the language of the angels, and though they can't speak English for a while, they can understand what other people say. Also, because Yetunde is being brought up as bilingual (English and Yoruba), she sometimes thinks in Yoruba instead of English (thankfully, all the Yoruba words are followed by an English translation, so you don't have to use translation software to understand the book).
Having said that, I think this book would be better as a sweet, beautifully laid-out little print book, rather than an ebook, especially if it is supposed to be "A perfect mother's day present".
November 17, 2016
A short story, drawing on a rich, Yoruba folkloric tradition, rarely found.
Yetunde's mother is mourning the death of her own mother and she does so by telling little Yetunde an evocative, mystical bedtime story. The story that she tells has ancient roots and, through it, we understand the power of motherhood and the links between the goddess and birth mothers. We understand too, the ongoing links from mother to daughter and that this is a sacred bond. This sacred bond can withstand self-sacrifice and give a mother the ability to face grave dangers to protect her children. A lovely story.
I received a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
Yetunde's mother is mourning the death of her own mother and she does so by telling little Yetunde an evocative, mystical bedtime story. The story that she tells has ancient roots and, through it, we understand the power of motherhood and the links between the goddess and birth mothers. We understand too, the ongoing links from mother to daughter and that this is a sacred bond. This sacred bond can withstand self-sacrifice and give a mother the ability to face grave dangers to protect her children. A lovely story.
I received a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
April 27, 2016
I discovered this book on goodreads and since the book was not too long I decided to give it a try. I’m really glad I did because I found a sweet, little story about a mother’s love that also contained a fascinating story within a story. I’d like to see the author continue this as a series with little Yetunde giving her mother different reasons to delight us, the readers, with more beguiling Yoruba folk-tales! Truly a charming, poignant book.
June 14, 2016
This book was in my 'To be read' list since long time. But, this time I got this book in exchange of an honest review.
I must say another good work by Segilola!!
I loved the story, the concept, & the fact that, how well she is trying to represent her culture.
Mother is the greatest gift to us. This is a valuable books for all young kids as well as adults.
I really liked it.
Good work!!
I must say another good work by Segilola!!
I loved the story, the concept, & the fact that, how well she is trying to represent her culture.
Mother is the greatest gift to us. This is a valuable books for all young kids as well as adults.
I really liked it.
Good work!!
March 20, 2016
Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother is not only a beautiful story about importance of motherhood, women, set in between London and Africa. It’s also a touching reminder of woman’s importance, mixed with small language course of Yoruba. I liked it a lot.
April 24, 2016
What I beautiful cover of the book! I love it! This book was wonderful too. This book to me tells about a mothers love. I think this is wonderful that this author translated this book for me to enjoy. I feel blessed! * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
March 22, 2016
Children’s books help young readers to understand the world, and not just the world that they know. Stories teach them about different lifestyles, cultures, and customs from around the world. Author Segilola Salami has provided young readers with a tale written in both Yoruba and English to expose them to a different culture but also to teach a universal lesson about the love between mothers and children in her new book, Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother.
Yetunde is a young child from African descendants growing up in England. During the course of the story, she listens to her mother tell an African folktale which doubles as a family history. Her mother’s story is very dark, filled with death and sadness about the loss of Yetunde’s grandmother. Yetunde is as understanding a listener as she is a naïve narrator, pulling off both roles despite her young age. She is a very unique character in that she is only nine months old and not able to express herself well verbally. She is still very confused about the world with the added complication of learning both English and her mother’s African language, Yoruba.
African customs and traditions are also highlighted and explained within the story. Salami is very aware of an English-speaking audience’s ignorance towards such customs, even adult readers, and she is careful to explain unique words and practices to the reader. She also throws in more familiar references for an English audience, sidetracking to mention them specifically, such as Avatar: The Last Airbender, connecting the show to the story she is telling to help make it more relevant to the reader.
There is also the fantasy element to the story within the story, featuring a water god who plays an integral part in the parable. This water element represents motherhood, the central theme running through the story and shows how far a mother will go for her child, stating: “water has no enemy. Anyone who tries to fight with water has doomed himself.” The events turn terribly dark at points, trusting the readers of all ages to be able to handle these scary elements, from kidnapping to fantasy violence to personal loss.
Salami holds nothing back in order to tell her tale, showing that mothers cannot protect their children from the world, but they will fight for their safety, and children should arm themselves with knowledge of the world so that they can be aware of danger and use their mothers’ parables as more than a simple bedtime story. I like the idea of keeping children in the loop with the ways of the world, mixing the good with the bad. The world is a scary place, and the better you are at identifying evil, the more likely you will be able to stay away from, or at least ahead of it, another central theme in the book.
This is the third book that Salami has written featuring Yetunde. Without giving too much away, this Yetunde story ends on a cliffhanger, paving the way for future books. As Yetunde learns and develops, she teeters between a traditional African heritage and a modern English lifestyle, and as she begins to be able to express herself verbally in both languages, Yetunde is constantly taking in information from both perspectives, making her well rounded and open to multiple cultures and what they can teach you.
Yetunde is a young child from African descendants growing up in England. During the course of the story, she listens to her mother tell an African folktale which doubles as a family history. Her mother’s story is very dark, filled with death and sadness about the loss of Yetunde’s grandmother. Yetunde is as understanding a listener as she is a naïve narrator, pulling off both roles despite her young age. She is a very unique character in that she is only nine months old and not able to express herself well verbally. She is still very confused about the world with the added complication of learning both English and her mother’s African language, Yoruba.
African customs and traditions are also highlighted and explained within the story. Salami is very aware of an English-speaking audience’s ignorance towards such customs, even adult readers, and she is careful to explain unique words and practices to the reader. She also throws in more familiar references for an English audience, sidetracking to mention them specifically, such as Avatar: The Last Airbender, connecting the show to the story she is telling to help make it more relevant to the reader.
There is also the fantasy element to the story within the story, featuring a water god who plays an integral part in the parable. This water element represents motherhood, the central theme running through the story and shows how far a mother will go for her child, stating: “water has no enemy. Anyone who tries to fight with water has doomed himself.” The events turn terribly dark at points, trusting the readers of all ages to be able to handle these scary elements, from kidnapping to fantasy violence to personal loss.
Salami holds nothing back in order to tell her tale, showing that mothers cannot protect their children from the world, but they will fight for their safety, and children should arm themselves with knowledge of the world so that they can be aware of danger and use their mothers’ parables as more than a simple bedtime story. I like the idea of keeping children in the loop with the ways of the world, mixing the good with the bad. The world is a scary place, and the better you are at identifying evil, the more likely you will be able to stay away from, or at least ahead of it, another central theme in the book.
This is the third book that Salami has written featuring Yetunde. Without giving too much away, this Yetunde story ends on a cliffhanger, paving the way for future books. As Yetunde learns and develops, she teeters between a traditional African heritage and a modern English lifestyle, and as she begins to be able to express herself verbally in both languages, Yetunde is constantly taking in information from both perspectives, making her well rounded and open to multiple cultures and what they can teach you.
September 7, 2016
This review was originally posted on my blog ifyoucanreadthis.wordpress.com.
Yetunde by Segilola Salami is a story about caring and family, that will make you want to hug your mother (figure) and/or your daughters. Unconventionally, Yetunde is told through the eyes of a 9 month old baby, the titular Yetunde. The narrative voice is more complex than that of course, but it presents readers with an interesting new angle from which to explore mother-daughter relationships and Yoruba folktales. Yetunde is also a lovely character, she is fierce, curious and loves freely. With just under 30 pages, this is a short story that also functions as a piece of Yoruba praise poetry, in which Yetunde’s mother tells an ode for her mother who died recently.
We learn a bit about the Yoruba language and the first part of the story translates terms into English so readers should have no trouble following the story. And during the folktale part, sentences are presented in both English and Yoruba. I found this quite accommodating but I think this approach should manage to draw in readers willing to actually learn from context or look up words and those that expect to be catered to. But this is not a story for people who cannot deal with bilingualism, but it will provide those of you who grew up bilingual with points of recognition. Identity, here Yetunde’s Yoruba Nigerian-British identity, is intrinsically linked with language. If you’re interested in Yoruba language, check out the author’s book about learning to count, it’s for children but might help you get started or connect if you’re Yoruba and have children.
The story’s main part consists of Yoruba folktales and through the focus of motherhood, these tales explore the role and importance of women in Yoruba culture. From water benders to Orishas, I especially loved these sheroes who summon deities and save their daughters. These folktales are a tad darker than the charming first section focusing on Yetunde, but they provide depth.
What I enjoyed most about this story was the centrality of women’s close relationships and positive representation of women of color, especially Black women, as loving mothers. Yetunde is about three generations of women: Yetunde, her mother and her grandmother. It’s also about working through your grief and teaching the next generation, about passing on your history and culture.
I found this a lovely story even if I am not a mother, however I am close with mine. You’ll probably enjoy this story if you value close relationships between women and are interested in learning about Yoruba culture. I love that between this story and Nnedi Okorafor’s fiction I am learning more about the different people and culture of Nigeria.
The story shines when it presents Yoruba folktales and depicts the loving relationship between Yetunde and her mother. I found the final section a bit confusing, but overall recommend this story. I’m glad to hear there will be more Yetunde stories and will be following Yetunde’s as well as the author’s development.
Disclaimer: I received an ebook of this work by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Yetunde by Segilola Salami is a story about caring and family, that will make you want to hug your mother (figure) and/or your daughters. Unconventionally, Yetunde is told through the eyes of a 9 month old baby, the titular Yetunde. The narrative voice is more complex than that of course, but it presents readers with an interesting new angle from which to explore mother-daughter relationships and Yoruba folktales. Yetunde is also a lovely character, she is fierce, curious and loves freely. With just under 30 pages, this is a short story that also functions as a piece of Yoruba praise poetry, in which Yetunde’s mother tells an ode for her mother who died recently.
We learn a bit about the Yoruba language and the first part of the story translates terms into English so readers should have no trouble following the story. And during the folktale part, sentences are presented in both English and Yoruba. I found this quite accommodating but I think this approach should manage to draw in readers willing to actually learn from context or look up words and those that expect to be catered to. But this is not a story for people who cannot deal with bilingualism, but it will provide those of you who grew up bilingual with points of recognition. Identity, here Yetunde’s Yoruba Nigerian-British identity, is intrinsically linked with language. If you’re interested in Yoruba language, check out the author’s book about learning to count, it’s for children but might help you get started or connect if you’re Yoruba and have children.
The story’s main part consists of Yoruba folktales and through the focus of motherhood, these tales explore the role and importance of women in Yoruba culture. From water benders to Orishas, I especially loved these sheroes who summon deities and save their daughters. These folktales are a tad darker than the charming first section focusing on Yetunde, but they provide depth.
What I enjoyed most about this story was the centrality of women’s close relationships and positive representation of women of color, especially Black women, as loving mothers. Yetunde is about three generations of women: Yetunde, her mother and her grandmother. It’s also about working through your grief and teaching the next generation, about passing on your history and culture.
I found this a lovely story even if I am not a mother, however I am close with mine. You’ll probably enjoy this story if you value close relationships between women and are interested in learning about Yoruba culture. I love that between this story and Nnedi Okorafor’s fiction I am learning more about the different people and culture of Nigeria.
The story shines when it presents Yoruba folktales and depicts the loving relationship between Yetunde and her mother. I found the final section a bit confusing, but overall recommend this story. I’m glad to hear there will be more Yetunde stories and will be following Yetunde’s as well as the author’s development.
Disclaimer: I received an ebook of this work by the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2017
Here is a book that is immediately captivating for its delight. One expects this is a baby's story about her mother and in honor of her mother. It takes place in London, England, where Mama wants to make sure her baby learns not only English but Yoruba and Yoruba culture.
I love the baby understanding, even before she learns to walk. While improbable, we are charmed into suspending disbelief so we can taste the sweetness of the story. We are learning as Yotunda learns, about the greatness of mothers in the Yoruba culture from Nigeria. Yetunda's mother shares a poem and a traditional story, illustrating the importance of mothers.
But where is the rest of the story? There is none. Instead, just as we expect some drama, we collide with 'To be continued'. There is no ending. There is no cliff hanger.
Rather than a fiction story, this is a small textbook that is incomplete. It is told from the baby's point of view because the baby symbolizes the pupil, open to instruction, devoted to the teacher. Her teacher is wise, blessing her pupil with lessons of love, honor, and understanding.
Since this is an instruction manual, the chapters should be called lessons. There should be more than three, and this little textbook should not end, to be continued. Rather, it can be called volume I, to be followed by other volumes. It should have a glossary of terms.
As it stands now, it's like paying for a feast and getting appetizers. It's like a spoon of honey without the bread. Yes, it is sweet; it is interesting. It could be much more.
I love the baby understanding, even before she learns to walk. While improbable, we are charmed into suspending disbelief so we can taste the sweetness of the story. We are learning as Yotunda learns, about the greatness of mothers in the Yoruba culture from Nigeria. Yetunda's mother shares a poem and a traditional story, illustrating the importance of mothers.
But where is the rest of the story? There is none. Instead, just as we expect some drama, we collide with 'To be continued'. There is no ending. There is no cliff hanger.
Rather than a fiction story, this is a small textbook that is incomplete. It is told from the baby's point of view because the baby symbolizes the pupil, open to instruction, devoted to the teacher. Her teacher is wise, blessing her pupil with lessons of love, honor, and understanding.
Since this is an instruction manual, the chapters should be called lessons. There should be more than three, and this little textbook should not end, to be continued. Rather, it can be called volume I, to be followed by other volumes. It should have a glossary of terms.
As it stands now, it's like paying for a feast and getting appetizers. It's like a spoon of honey without the bread. Yes, it is sweet; it is interesting. It could be much more.
January 4, 2018
Too short and too sweet. That says it all.
Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother is a narration of the natural interaction between a nine-month old baby, Yetunde, and her mother. It doesn't follow an orderly plot, but rather highlights the poignant moments- the sadness, kisses, tears, smiles, hugs and cuddles. It draws the reader into the peculiar world of a baby who understands all around her but cannot speak as yet. What makes it beautiful is the evident love between mother and child and the so many ways love is expressed between two people in the absence of a common language.
Yetunde’s mother misses her own mother. And she tries to tell her child how important a mother is. She teaches her about identity and her African origins. Along the way, the reader gets to appreciate Yoruba words and culture. The poetry is beautiful, though it exalts the mother above the father in a harsh way. “Mother is gold, father is glass”. Ha!
I love the inclusion of folktale – a bedtime story. But the end is so abrupt I am not prepared when it comes, especially when we are just expecting an addition to the characters in the story.
Want a short interesting read about a foreign place and yet something that you can identify with –grab this short read.
Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother is a narration of the natural interaction between a nine-month old baby, Yetunde, and her mother. It doesn't follow an orderly plot, but rather highlights the poignant moments- the sadness, kisses, tears, smiles, hugs and cuddles. It draws the reader into the peculiar world of a baby who understands all around her but cannot speak as yet. What makes it beautiful is the evident love between mother and child and the so many ways love is expressed between two people in the absence of a common language.
Yetunde’s mother misses her own mother. And she tries to tell her child how important a mother is. She teaches her about identity and her African origins. Along the way, the reader gets to appreciate Yoruba words and culture. The poetry is beautiful, though it exalts the mother above the father in a harsh way. “Mother is gold, father is glass”. Ha!
I love the inclusion of folktale – a bedtime story. But the end is so abrupt I am not prepared when it comes, especially when we are just expecting an addition to the characters in the story.
Want a short interesting read about a foreign place and yet something that you can identify with –grab this short read.
June 5, 2016
**I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review**
This is a very short story (about 26 pages) from the point of view of a very young child listening to her mother tell her a story about a Yoruban daughter that is abducted. Though it wasn't something I would personally choose to read on my own, it was a sweet reminder of the mother-daughter connection. I have no children, but I can imagine the passion behind the story and the strength of a mother's love.
This story is more suited to a younger audience...maybe a fable for 3rd-6th grade? It's a moving story...but I think it's geared for children rather than adults. The tale has an interesting part where the Yoruban alphabet is used to teach a child: I found that quite informative.
Once again. Not my genre or type PERSONALLY, but good for younger audiences.
I enjoyed the story. Could also make a great read-aloud picture book.
★★★☆☆. Very nice concept and executed well.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to RaR this book. I recommend to all who enjoy fables and tales from other cultures.
This is a very short story (about 26 pages) from the point of view of a very young child listening to her mother tell her a story about a Yoruban daughter that is abducted. Though it wasn't something I would personally choose to read on my own, it was a sweet reminder of the mother-daughter connection. I have no children, but I can imagine the passion behind the story and the strength of a mother's love.
This story is more suited to a younger audience...maybe a fable for 3rd-6th grade? It's a moving story...but I think it's geared for children rather than adults. The tale has an interesting part where the Yoruban alphabet is used to teach a child: I found that quite informative.
Once again. Not my genre or type PERSONALLY, but good for younger audiences.
I enjoyed the story. Could also make a great read-aloud picture book.
★★★☆☆. Very nice concept and executed well.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to RaR this book. I recommend to all who enjoy fables and tales from other cultures.
October 6, 2017
Yetunde is a wonderful story, beautifully written about a 9-month-old with her mother. The grandmother has passed away, and the mother tries to comfort herself, recognizes she's selfish to mourn the death.
In her sadness, the mother tells the child a story. It is a story within a story where a girl is forced to marry a brute. A goddess hears the mother's anguish and endows her with power, like the Airbender water, to defeat the brute (the said brute had the mother tied up and beaten previously). The moral of the story is the mother will always protect the child, no matter what.
But furthermore, it is a story about belief in the spiritual self.
Your Ori is like…your instincts, your intuition, your guardian angel. It also knows your destiny, and that is why it is looked at as an Oriṣa in its own right. When you know your Ori, you know yourself. When you and your Ori are aligned, you find inner peace and satisfaction.
I love the story has many cultural references (other than the translation from Yoruba to English), the food –for example, Iyan and Ogbono soup.
When the story ends –with the baby asleep-, it keeps you wanting more and the words sing in your head.
In her sadness, the mother tells the child a story. It is a story within a story where a girl is forced to marry a brute. A goddess hears the mother's anguish and endows her with power, like the Airbender water, to defeat the brute (the said brute had the mother tied up and beaten previously). The moral of the story is the mother will always protect the child, no matter what.
But furthermore, it is a story about belief in the spiritual self.
Your Ori is like…your instincts, your intuition, your guardian angel. It also knows your destiny, and that is why it is looked at as an Oriṣa in its own right. When you know your Ori, you know yourself. When you and your Ori are aligned, you find inner peace and satisfaction.
I love the story has many cultural references (other than the translation from Yoruba to English), the food –for example, Iyan and Ogbono soup.
When the story ends –with the baby asleep-, it keeps you wanting more and the words sing in your head.
March 28, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had read the first book featuring Yetunde, a little Yoruba baby living in London, and while I enjoyed the book I enjoyed this one more. I thought this book was both different enough from and similar enough to the first book. I loved that the focus this time around was a bit more on the folktales and a little less on Yetunde's day to day life, but still had a few bits and pieces about her interactions with her mother and their lives together. I particularly really liked the story of Labake and her mother, very interesting story, although also quite dark, as was the overlying theme of the book which was death separating us from loved ones, as well as how a mother's love for their child is so strong that they will fight for their child no matter what. I also like the translation for the Yoruba words being a part of the story rather than all at the end as it helped to keep the flow of the story moving. Overall a nicely written and interesting story narrated by a very unique main character, baby Yetunde.
I had read the first book featuring Yetunde, a little Yoruba baby living in London, and while I enjoyed the book I enjoyed this one more. I thought this book was both different enough from and similar enough to the first book. I loved that the focus this time around was a bit more on the folktales and a little less on Yetunde's day to day life, but still had a few bits and pieces about her interactions with her mother and their lives together. I particularly really liked the story of Labake and her mother, very interesting story, although also quite dark, as was the overlying theme of the book which was death separating us from loved ones, as well as how a mother's love for their child is so strong that they will fight for their child no matter what. I also like the translation for the Yoruba words being a part of the story rather than all at the end as it helped to keep the flow of the story moving. Overall a nicely written and interesting story narrated by a very unique main character, baby Yetunde.
November 5, 2017
3.5 stars
Yetunde is a meditation on the importance, love, and dedication of mothers. It is told from the perspective of Yetunde, an infant seeing her mother as the sort of goddess all young children see their mothers as. It begins with Yetunde listening to her mother and being playful together. The heart of the story is actually a story-within-a-story, the Yoruba tale of Iya Labake. It tells of a mother who lost 9 of her 10 children to death, and the remaining one is taken as an unwilling wife by a warrior from a neighboring tribe. This woe-stricken mother gains powers (reminiscent of an NK Jemisin heroine) to rescue her daughter despite the odds.
Yetunde is a quick, heartwarming read. Despite its brief length (about 30 pages), it seems a bit scattered - there are bits of info that don't seem key to the narrative, and the last chapter throws in the Yoruba alphabet and ends with a cliffhanger. It would actually work better as either a slightly shorter story, or a more fleshed out one with an actual plot.
Yetunde is a meditation on the importance, love, and dedication of mothers. It is told from the perspective of Yetunde, an infant seeing her mother as the sort of goddess all young children see their mothers as. It begins with Yetunde listening to her mother and being playful together. The heart of the story is actually a story-within-a-story, the Yoruba tale of Iya Labake. It tells of a mother who lost 9 of her 10 children to death, and the remaining one is taken as an unwilling wife by a warrior from a neighboring tribe. This woe-stricken mother gains powers (reminiscent of an NK Jemisin heroine) to rescue her daughter despite the odds.
Yetunde is a quick, heartwarming read. Despite its brief length (about 30 pages), it seems a bit scattered - there are bits of info that don't seem key to the narrative, and the last chapter throws in the Yoruba alphabet and ends with a cliffhanger. It would actually work better as either a slightly shorter story, or a more fleshed out one with an actual plot.
April 2, 2016
This little book (only 28 pages) is pure delight. The narrator, who is 9 months old (and obviously precociously intelligent, since she can use words like 'digress' and 'transmission') relates a traditional Yoruba tale told to her by her mother. It's about gratitude, last chances, and the inadvisability of threatening a mother's child.
It's also about Yetunde (the narrator) who is growing up in London, learning Yoruba alongside English as her mother tries to introduce her to her African traditional religion and heritage as well as her English Christian culture. There are words and phrases of Yoruba in the book, always with a translation, and it was interesting trying to figure out the grammar rules of the short sentences.
The writing has that particular lyrical flowing feel of the best traditional fairy tales, where the rhythm carries you along like a river, and the ending makes you want to see what happens in Yetunde's life next.
It's also about Yetunde (the narrator) who is growing up in London, learning Yoruba alongside English as her mother tries to introduce her to her African traditional religion and heritage as well as her English Christian culture. There are words and phrases of Yoruba in the book, always with a translation, and it was interesting trying to figure out the grammar rules of the short sentences.
The writing has that particular lyrical flowing feel of the best traditional fairy tales, where the rhythm carries you along like a river, and the ending makes you want to see what happens in Yetunde's life next.
April 28, 2016
Yetunde (9 months, baby, narrator) tells the ode about her mother; Oriki Iya.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A failry well written African folktale book. It wasn’t always very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. Quite a cultural difference but I think I got the story content so I will rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Smashwords; Segilola Publishing; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A failry well written African folktale book. It wasn’t always very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. Quite a cultural difference but I think I got the story content so I will rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Smashwords; Segilola Publishing; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
August 8, 2016
This is a very sweet book that pulled at my heartstrings more than once. The book itself is very short, using two main chapters to convey the transcendence of maternal love throughout time and culture. It is written from the point of view of a 9-month-old baby who describes the love she has for her mother while her mother tells stories from Yoruba culture in Nigeria. A fascinating look into the legend of a mother who must fight a warrior to save her only daughter. Powerfully and poetically written. It is as if the phrase "do not come between a mother bear and her cub" is adapted to the reality and intensity of human maternal love.
April 26, 2016
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is truly an ode to women and mothers all over. The POV of an infant is very refreshing. Yetunde's devotion to her mother is simply beautiful. If a fictional infant teaches you to be there for your mum like she's been there for you then you know that you've got a gem of a book in your hand. The prose is simple yet the poems were empowering and captivating.
Thanks to the Author I'm now going to read everything Wikipedia has on Yoruba folklore then move onto her next book.
"...A true mother nurtures and protects, and she also corrects naughty behavior."
This book is truly an ode to women and mothers all over. The POV of an infant is very refreshing. Yetunde's devotion to her mother is simply beautiful. If a fictional infant teaches you to be there for your mum like she's been there for you then you know that you've got a gem of a book in your hand. The prose is simple yet the poems were empowering and captivating.
Thanks to the Author I'm now going to read everything Wikipedia has on Yoruba folklore then move onto her next book.
May 7, 2018
I recently found out through Ancestry that I am part Nigerian, so I began looking for books written by Nigerian authors to help myself get in touch with this culture. I am really glad I read this book. It is told through the perspective of a nine month old baby looking up to her mother who is grieving the loss of her own mother and trying to teach her child the importance of mothers at the same time. I also love the old Nigerian folktale she shares with her baby. My only issue is that I felt it was too short. I would love to learn more about this beautiful culture through Salami's unique writing style.
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