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The Bead Collector
Wole Soyinka Prize-winning author of Everything Good Will Come recasts the international espionage tale by bringing the intrigue and politics of family life to the fore.
Lagos, January 1976, six years after the Nigerian Civil War. A new military regime has been in power for six months, but rumours are spreading that a countercoup is imminent. At an art exhibition in the affluent Ikoyi neighbourhood, Remi Lawal, a Nigerian woman who runs her own greeting-card shop, meets Frances Cooke, who introduces herself as an American art dealer, in Nigeria to buy rare beads. They become friends and over the next few weeks confide in each other about their aspirations, loyalties, marriage, motherhood—and Nigeria itself, as hospitable Remi welcomes the enigmatic Frances into her world.
Remi’s husband, Tunde, naturally suspects Frances—like any American in Lagos—of gathering intelligence for the CIA, yet she is unconvinced. Cynical about the country’s unending instability, and alienated by the shallowness of the city’s elite, she willingly shares her views with Frances. But the February 13 assassination of General Muhammed prompts Remi to reconsider one particular conversation with her new acquaintance in a different light. Her discouragement overcome by a reawakened sense of patriotism, she begins to doubt that the bead collector is who she claims to be.
With her signature subtlety and wit, Sefi Atta examines a brief but profound friendship, and one Nigerian mother’s yearning—amid legacies of conflict and uncertainty—to help build her country from home.
Lagos, January 1976, six years after the Nigerian Civil War. A new military regime has been in power for six months, but rumours are spreading that a countercoup is imminent. At an art exhibition in the affluent Ikoyi neighbourhood, Remi Lawal, a Nigerian woman who runs her own greeting-card shop, meets Frances Cooke, who introduces herself as an American art dealer, in Nigeria to buy rare beads. They become friends and over the next few weeks confide in each other about their aspirations, loyalties, marriage, motherhood—and Nigeria itself, as hospitable Remi welcomes the enigmatic Frances into her world.
Remi’s husband, Tunde, naturally suspects Frances—like any American in Lagos—of gathering intelligence for the CIA, yet she is unconvinced. Cynical about the country’s unending instability, and alienated by the shallowness of the city’s elite, she willingly shares her views with Frances. But the February 13 assassination of General Muhammed prompts Remi to reconsider one particular conversation with her new acquaintance in a different light. Her discouragement overcome by a reawakened sense of patriotism, she begins to doubt that the bead collector is who she claims to be.
With her signature subtlety and wit, Sefi Atta examines a brief but profound friendship, and one Nigerian mother’s yearning—amid legacies of conflict and uncertainty—to help build her country from home.
320 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2019
21 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Sefi Atta
24 books185 followersSefi Atta was born 1964 in Lagos, Nigeria. She was educated there, in England and the United States. Her father Abdul-Aziz Atta was the Secretary to Federal Government and Head of the Civil Service until his death in 1972, and she was raised by her mother Iyabo Atta.
A former chartered accountant and CPA, she is a graduate of the creative writing program at Antioch University, Los Angeles. Her short stories have appeared in journals like Los Angeles Review and Mississipi Review and have won prizes from Zoetrope and Red Hen Press. Her radio plays have been broadcast by the BBC. She is the winner of PEN International's 2004/2005 David TK Wong Prize and in 2006, her debut novel Everything Good Will Come was awarded the inaugural Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa.
Her short story collection, Lawless, received the 2009 Noma Award For Publishing in Africa. Lawless is published in the US and UK as News From Home.
She lives in Mississippi with her husband Gboyega Ransome-Kuti, a medical doctor, and their daughter, Temi.
A former chartered accountant and CPA, she is a graduate of the creative writing program at Antioch University, Los Angeles. Her short stories have appeared in journals like Los Angeles Review and Mississipi Review and have won prizes from Zoetrope and Red Hen Press. Her radio plays have been broadcast by the BBC. She is the winner of PEN International's 2004/2005 David TK Wong Prize and in 2006, her debut novel Everything Good Will Come was awarded the inaugural Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa.
Her short story collection, Lawless, received the 2009 Noma Award For Publishing in Africa. Lawless is published in the US and UK as News From Home.
She lives in Mississippi with her husband Gboyega Ransome-Kuti, a medical doctor, and their daughter, Temi.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 21, 2022
Sefi Atta has always been a personal favorite. even more so now. The first time I read 'Everything Good Will Come', many years ago, I didn't exactly understand why people were raving about it because there were no significant plot twists or gripping storylines.In fact, I wasn't sure why Enitan left her husband. Yet, I liked Enitan: she was brilliant, feminist, and aspirational because of her dedication to her principles. And I liked the woman who wrote her. All of these feelings were confirmed by a recent reread. Now, I understand. The narrative appeared more personal, informative, and lovely at this point.
This is a recurring theme in Atta's writing; the climax or anticlimax is not always made clear. Instead, they go into detail. A woman's life comes behind the lens, and the small everyday moments and thoughts get reproduced brilliantly on the pages with Lagos as a 'third' character.
Our protagonist this time is Remi Lawal, an upper-middle-class wife. She is an intelligent, feminist woman who lives in and socializes with the Ikoyi types she thinks she is better than. She wants a balance between what Nigerian culture dictates for women and what she wants for herself. She meets Frances Cooke (the bead collector), and they become friends. Through the pages of her journal, we meet Frances, Remi's conservative husband Tunde, and her other 'high society' "friends" and explore the peculiarities of each relationship.
Set against the background of General Muhammad's last months in office and the eventual coup, Remi is openly political and shares these ideas with her friend innocently, or maybe stubbornly, since everyone else thinks Frances is a spy. Then Remi finds out Frances might have been with Ade Balogun despite her initial haughtiness. Frances might not be who she seems.
I liked Remi Lawal because she has such strong opinions, like nearly all of the other protagonists in the Atta novels and probably Atta herself. The book's steady pace and intimate detailing of the lives of the Ikoyi elite; their affairs, their bastard children, public fights, and opulent parties draw you in and remind you of Atta's proficiency when writing Lagos. You feel connected to Remi from the first page. You read between the lines of her seemingly simple life and see much more.
This is a recurring theme in Atta's writing; the climax or anticlimax is not always made clear. Instead, they go into detail. A woman's life comes behind the lens, and the small everyday moments and thoughts get reproduced brilliantly on the pages with Lagos as a 'third' character.
Our protagonist this time is Remi Lawal, an upper-middle-class wife. She is an intelligent, feminist woman who lives in and socializes with the Ikoyi types she thinks she is better than. She wants a balance between what Nigerian culture dictates for women and what she wants for herself. She meets Frances Cooke (the bead collector), and they become friends. Through the pages of her journal, we meet Frances, Remi's conservative husband Tunde, and her other 'high society' "friends" and explore the peculiarities of each relationship.
Set against the background of General Muhammad's last months in office and the eventual coup, Remi is openly political and shares these ideas with her friend innocently, or maybe stubbornly, since everyone else thinks Frances is a spy. Then Remi finds out Frances might have been with Ade Balogun despite her initial haughtiness. Frances might not be who she seems.
I liked Remi Lawal because she has such strong opinions, like nearly all of the other protagonists in the Atta novels and probably Atta herself. The book's steady pace and intimate detailing of the lives of the Ikoyi elite; their affairs, their bastard children, public fights, and opulent parties draw you in and remind you of Atta's proficiency when writing Lagos. You feel connected to Remi from the first page. You read between the lines of her seemingly simple life and see much more.
March 5, 2020
I really enjoyed the first book I read by Atta (Everything Good Will Come) so I was a bit disappointed that I wasn’t as emotionally attached to The Bead Collector. I appreciated the political backdrop, set in Lagos as the country approaches a countercoup in 1976, and Atta deftly outlines the way Nigerians felt about their own country at this time. But I wasn’t really invested in the story itself. There’s a lot of drama and it’s sort of a mish mash of soap opera and political drama!
My copy was gifted by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
My copy was gifted by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
January 28, 2019
Sefi Atta writes like she’s listened to a lot of Nigerian gist, I love it.
April 3, 2021
Sefi Atta is one of my favourite writers. Her ability to capture bits and pieces of the Lagos humdrum existence and the self-absorption of the rich is unmatched.
February 15, 2021
The real focus of the novel is not The Bead Collector, who remains a shadowy figure, but the city of Lagos; in particular, the upper and upper-middle class. Atta is good at dealing with a fairly large cast of characters and at painting their milieu. Apparently she is also a playwright which makes sense to me; she's very good with dialogue and scenes.
The novel feels subdued and this is how the last novel I read of Atta's felt: A Bit of Difference. Yet I loved the first I'd read of hers, Swallow. It felt so spontaneous, much less scripted, the characters almost bursting with life.
That isn't the case here but you do get a good portrait of life in Lagos at a particular time for a particular social class.
The novel feels subdued and this is how the last novel I read of Atta's felt: A Bit of Difference. Yet I loved the first I'd read of hers, Swallow. It felt so spontaneous, much less scripted, the characters almost bursting with life.
That isn't the case here but you do get a good portrait of life in Lagos at a particular time for a particular social class.
November 1, 2025
really important and informative. kept highlighting and researching further. however, I found the writing style a bit stressful to follow, it took me wayy longer than it should to complete this book. will I read it again? probably not. but it was a good read nevertheless.
May 15, 2021
Remi Lawal’s relationships are very intriguing.
Her life generally gives you some food for thought especially when it comes to being a wife and mother in those times.
I relate to how Remi could be very friendly. Her friendship with Frances Cooke is also an integral part of this story. However, her husband believing that Frances was a spy is something I find very laughable.
This is the first of Sefi Atta’s books I’m reading and I’m really looking forward to reading more.
I like the anecdotal references in the story and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Her life generally gives you some food for thought especially when it comes to being a wife and mother in those times.
I relate to how Remi could be very friendly. Her friendship with Frances Cooke is also an integral part of this story. However, her husband believing that Frances was a spy is something I find very laughable.
This is the first of Sefi Atta’s books I’m reading and I’m really looking forward to reading more.
I like the anecdotal references in the story and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
November 10, 2021
More of a political commentary than it is a novel. 2.5 stars for me. Plot didn't really move or it was hidden under the need to explore political happenings. You need a bit of history lessons? Pick this up.
October 22, 2022
An insight into middle/upper class Lagos life in 1976, but not enough story for me (or character).
December 16, 2023
How many of Seffi Atta's novels have you read?... Ok, let talk about "The Bead Collector"
Set against the backdrop of the political atmosphere of Lagos in the 1970s, a period when Nigeria as a country was under the Verge of military coup that would topple the regime of General Muhammadu in 1976. The novel illuminates the way we Nigerians felt about our country at that time and how Nigeria culture dictates for our women, women like Remi Lawal, the protagonist of the novel.
Remi Lawal is a married Feminist woman who lives in the city of Lagos, precisely Ikoyi, where she struggles to strike balance between her own wants and what Nigeria society and its culture want for her Remi is a very likeable character with a strong opinion and is well politically inclined. Her friendship with Frances Cooke (The Bead Collector) became a thing of jealousy for Tunde, her husband who is suspicious of Frances and thinks Frances might be a spy.
Beyond the tales of Remi and her affairs, the novel cut deep into the fabric of Lagos Ikoyi Elite: their marriage, public affairs, extravagant life and their bastard children reminds us of how those rotten so-called first class first class citizens had polluted our societies with their madness and lackadaisical lifestyle, while they oppressed the middle and lower class citizens.
If there's anything I so much love about Seffi Atta's novel is the way she creates her dialogue and scenes. Well, I can't say this particular book is the best of all her previous published novels, but I can say it was a good read for me.
My rating?🤔... 8/10 and 🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating
Set against the backdrop of the political atmosphere of Lagos in the 1970s, a period when Nigeria as a country was under the Verge of military coup that would topple the regime of General Muhammadu in 1976. The novel illuminates the way we Nigerians felt about our country at that time and how Nigeria culture dictates for our women, women like Remi Lawal, the protagonist of the novel.
Remi Lawal is a married Feminist woman who lives in the city of Lagos, precisely Ikoyi, where she struggles to strike balance between her own wants and what Nigeria society and its culture want for her Remi is a very likeable character with a strong opinion and is well politically inclined. Her friendship with Frances Cooke (The Bead Collector) became a thing of jealousy for Tunde, her husband who is suspicious of Frances and thinks Frances might be a spy.
Beyond the tales of Remi and her affairs, the novel cut deep into the fabric of Lagos Ikoyi Elite: their marriage, public affairs, extravagant life and their bastard children reminds us of how those rotten so-called first class first class citizens had polluted our societies with their madness and lackadaisical lifestyle, while they oppressed the middle and lower class citizens.
If there's anything I so much love about Seffi Atta's novel is the way she creates her dialogue and scenes. Well, I can't say this particular book is the best of all her previous published novels, but I can say it was a good read for me.
My rating?🤔... 8/10 and 🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating
January 22, 2025
An Insightful Read on Modern Nigerian History
A book I found slow in the first few chapters and considered putting aside but thankfully I kept going and found it interesting as I went further into it. I love historical fiction and being passionate about Nigeria, it was an educative insight of Nigeria in the 60s and 70s. Sefi Atta is a wonderful writer and reading this book was worth every second. I had no idea who Murtala Muhammad was, reading this book has given me some knowledge of the man and it now makes sense why the international airport in Lagos, Nigeria is named after him. This is the second book by Sefi Atta that I have read, the other being Everything Good Will Come (a good book too especially if you Iike books by Nigerian authors). It felt a little unreal in some parts because some of the scenes felt like something that would happen more recently and not something that would have happened in the 70s. Perhaps you'd give the author a benefit of doubt in their creative imagination.
A book I found slow in the first few chapters and considered putting aside but thankfully I kept going and found it interesting as I went further into it. I love historical fiction and being passionate about Nigeria, it was an educative insight of Nigeria in the 60s and 70s. Sefi Atta is a wonderful writer and reading this book was worth every second. I had no idea who Murtala Muhammad was, reading this book has given me some knowledge of the man and it now makes sense why the international airport in Lagos, Nigeria is named after him. This is the second book by Sefi Atta that I have read, the other being Everything Good Will Come (a good book too especially if you Iike books by Nigerian authors). It felt a little unreal in some parts because some of the scenes felt like something that would happen more recently and not something that would have happened in the 70s. Perhaps you'd give the author a benefit of doubt in their creative imagination.
April 20, 2020
Nothing really happens in this book besides a coup you hear about in the news and some marriage drama that you're never sure whether you're supposed to care about. Things get preachy and/or essentializing at times, and none of the characters--not even the narrator--is that memorable. Maybe the reading experience would have been different for me had I been familiar with the historical and political background of the novel, and this review may be a misjudgment if the book is actually a masterpiece for the more informed.
May 11, 2021
Sefi writes relatable stories in an untainted local voice. Her research are as pure as her writing, by pure I mean undiluted realistic scenarios that every local could identify or form a bit of a camaraderie with. I honestly thought my grandma came to life to write this book there were so many details on Lagos that only a local would know. Those events describe were tidbits old Lagos shared via word of mouth. It’s obvious she really did grow up in Lagos
October 10, 2022
While this novel is supposed to be on an American who could be a spy, I felt no sense of fear or curiosity that she was one. I enjoyed the life details, from flea medicine for the dog, to music of the era, food, clothing, power cuts. This novel is noteworthy in its critique of foreigners in Nigeria and of the expatriate community in Lagos. Also, it discusses a couple going through divorce, another rare topic in African literature. The woman on woman violence was a highlight .
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December 17, 2025so good so good so good! learned a lot about history. the main character is also quite unstereotypical: a married woman with two kids. a bit upper class, as are the other characters. little cultural and even physical clashes between the locals and expats make a beautiful way to show some of the societal issues/phenomena. in the background the post civil war events are happening, in the end also a coup. really nice to read
December 24, 2025
i love how it tackled historical events and its balance with the reality of upper/upper-middle class lagosians. i did not know the “spy” plot was so serious until the end and am unsure whether that was intentional; but i felt for it to be included, there should’ve had more to it or shouldn’t have been such a deal. either way, it took me a while to finish it- not because of the book itself. it was easily digestible and an enjoyable read. i guess i would’ve just wanted a bit more from it.
August 24, 2024
Hmmmm...I don't know what to say yet...but It is definitely a good read...I like how the characters were very human and intriguing especially the FMC...she wasn't the perfect feminist heroine and I liked having to see life through her lens
February 19, 2026
Sefi Atta wrote this book like she lives in them. I learnt a lot about the coups, General Gowon's and General Muhammad 's regime in her books than I learnt in school. Great piece. Nice capture of the Lagos living too.
March 13, 2020
3.5 stars rounded off
November 15, 2020
Exceedingly boring writing style. Read like my teenage diaries. The star is for the interesting insights into middle class Lagos domestic life.
August 24, 2022
Hm
Not quite sure what to think of this one.
Teetering in between 3 and 4 stars but just felt like there was something missing
Not quite sure what to think of this one.
Teetering in between 3 and 4 stars but just felt like there was something missing
January 3, 2025
Lagos, Nigeria in early 1976: two women meet at an art exhibition launch party - Remi Lawal is a Nigerian socialite and businesswoman, and Frances Cooke is an American who describes herself as a "bead collector", in Lagos to buy West African trade beads. Remi is a bit surprised by this but is happy to chat to someone she sees as a potential customer for her own business selling cards. Her husband, Tunde, suggests that Frances may be a spy for the US government, and Remi is telling her too much.
The Bead Collector is a society novel, reminding me of stories about social elites in England and the US decades earlier. The dramatic political upheavals of this time in Nigeria are offstage, as Remi tells her story by describing a series of social and networking events and conversations, between Remi and family, friends and customers. Remi and her husband are from a privileged background. Like many of their friends and associates, they initially welcomed the new government established by a military coup a few months ago, and the new Head of State, Murtala Mohamed. But the regime's clearout of the civil service is affecting people like them - Tunde has lost his senior government position but has been offered a new one by a private bank. There are well-founded rumours that there may be another coup attempt coming.
This was Sefi Atta's fifth novel and I would love to read some of her other work.
The Bead Collector is a society novel, reminding me of stories about social elites in England and the US decades earlier. The dramatic political upheavals of this time in Nigeria are offstage, as Remi tells her story by describing a series of social and networking events and conversations, between Remi and family, friends and customers. Remi and her husband are from a privileged background. Like many of their friends and associates, they initially welcomed the new government established by a military coup a few months ago, and the new Head of State, Murtala Mohamed. But the regime's clearout of the civil service is affecting people like them - Tunde has lost his senior government position but has been offered a new one by a private bank. There are well-founded rumours that there may be another coup attempt coming.
This was Sefi Atta's fifth novel and I would love to read some of her other work.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews