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Coconut: A Black Girl, a White Foster Family, and the Search for Belonging and Identity
This inspiring memoir tells the story of one woman’s self discovery while surviving poverty, loss, loneliness, maltreatment, and fighting to get an education.
A generation of Nigerian children were born in Britain in the fifties and sixties, privately fostered by white families, then taken to Nigeria by their parents.
Coconut is the story of one of those children.
1963, North London. Nan fosters one-year-old Florence Ọlájídé and calls her Ann. Florence adores her foster mother more than anything but Nan, and the children around her, all have white skin and she can’t help but feel different. Then, four years later, after a weekend visit to her birth parents, Florence never returns to Nan. Two months after, sandwiched between her mother and father plus her three siblings, six-year-old Florence steps off a ship in Lagos to the fierce heat of the African sun.
Swapping the lovely, comfortable bed in her room at Nan’s for a mat on the floor of the living room in her new home, Florence finds herself struggling to adjust. She wants to embrace her cultural heritage but doesn’t speak Yoruba and knows nothing of the customs. Clashes with her grandmother, Mama, the matriarch of the family, result in frequent beatings. Torn between her early childhood experiences and the expectations of her African culture, she begins to question who she is. Nigerian, British, both?
A generation of Nigerian children were born in Britain in the fifties and sixties, privately fostered by white families, then taken to Nigeria by their parents.
Coconut is the story of one of those children.
1963, North London. Nan fosters one-year-old Florence Ọlájídé and calls her Ann. Florence adores her foster mother more than anything but Nan, and the children around her, all have white skin and she can’t help but feel different. Then, four years later, after a weekend visit to her birth parents, Florence never returns to Nan. Two months after, sandwiched between her mother and father plus her three siblings, six-year-old Florence steps off a ship in Lagos to the fierce heat of the African sun.
Swapping the lovely, comfortable bed in her room at Nan’s for a mat on the floor of the living room in her new home, Florence finds herself struggling to adjust. She wants to embrace her cultural heritage but doesn’t speak Yoruba and knows nothing of the customs. Clashes with her grandmother, Mama, the matriarch of the family, result in frequent beatings. Torn between her early childhood experiences and the expectations of her African culture, she begins to question who she is. Nigerian, British, both?
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 13, 2021
368 people are currently reading
790 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 20, 2021
4.5⭐
Coconut is a memoir on family upbringing, individual identity, family values and a bit of child abuse (to be honest the way Funmi's grandma treated her was already bordering on child abuse)
Coconut is a recount of Funmi's experiences from childhood into adulthood and how she grew into herself, speaking up for herself and making it all in a country where although she is a citizen still profiled her based on the color of her skin.
Full review on my blog:
https://thatbookishigbogirl.wordpress...
Coconut is a memoir on family upbringing, individual identity, family values and a bit of child abuse (to be honest the way Funmi's grandma treated her was already bordering on child abuse)
Coconut is a recount of Funmi's experiences from childhood into adulthood and how she grew into herself, speaking up for herself and making it all in a country where although she is a citizen still profiled her based on the color of her skin.
Full review on my blog:
https://thatbookishigbogirl.wordpress...
June 30, 2021
A gorgeous memoir of a fascinating element of 60s British history. Coconut follows the life of Florence, born in England to Nigerian parents and fostered by a white family until her parents moved their family to Nigeria. Coconut speaks beautifully and honestly about having a foot in two different cultures and the difficulty of fully immersing oneself in either (and the guilt associated with the desire to be one and not the other).
July 18, 2021
Coconut is a story that begins in 1960s London. Like many people of colour from far flung places in the Commonwealth, Florence's parents leave their home in Nigeria to study and find work in London, and their children are born here as a result. Also in common with many of their compatriots, their need for childcare is fulfilled by privately fostering out their child to a white family, with occasional visits home to their parents.
Despite the birth of younger siblings who remain with their parents, Florence continues in the care of her foster family for four years and comes to love them dearly, especially her kindly foster mother 'Nan' who calls Florence 'Ann' - a name she only learns later is not her real one. Surrounded by white faces, Florence gradually comes to understand that there is something different about her and often wonders why there are so few black faces around her.
After one weekend visit home to her parents and younger siblings, Florence is upset to learn that she will not be returning to stay with her lovely 'Nan'. Instead, frustrated at being unable to find jobs that recognise their skills and educational achievements, Florence's parents decide to return to live in Nigeria - a country she and her brothers and sisters have never visited.
At the age of six, Florence steps off a boat into the heat and chaos of Lagos - her new home. She struggles to understand almost every aspect of her new life, and although desperate to learn about her cultural heritage and amazed to behold the sea of black faces that live here, she does not even speak Yoruba and her British ways get her into endless trouble. The family matriarch Mama, her father's mother, holds sway in this tiny cramped apartment, and she is a great believer in the 'spare the rod, spoil the child' method of childrearing, subjecting Florence to regular beatings in her determination to imbue the Yoruba ways into her granddaughter - a traumatic pattern of behaviour that continues in the years to come.
As Florence grows, falls in love, marries and has children of her own, we are at her side as she fights to get an education and earn the freedom to aspire to something more that the expectation that she will become an obedient and tractable young woman formed for marriage and childbearing. Where do her roots lie and how much of her is British and how much Nigerian?
It's only when she and her husband make the hard decision to uproot their family and make a life in Britain, fighting to carve out a place for themselves in a country that is not always accepting of those who are different, that Florence comes to understand how she can combine elements of both her cultural identities and make peace with who she really is.
Coconut is an incredible memoir of a black woman struggling to find out where she belongs, and how the myriad jigsaw pieces of her cultural identity come together to form a coherent picture. What makes this so unusual is that Florence happily grew up thinking of herself as completely British until having to adjust the huge culture shock of being uprooted at the age of six to live in Nigeria, and being required to negotiate completely different societal norms and family customs, without the least idea of how to go about doing so, especially since she did not even have the benefit of speaking the same language.
There was so much I did not know about the Yoruba way, from family relationships, the education system, and the wider culture, and Florence vividly describes them in all an engaging and informative way, sprinkling her narrative with anecdotes about many facets of her life in Nigeria, including some pivotal moments in the country's history. I found it all fascinating and deeply touching, despite the many examples of injustice, sexual discrimination and violence that recur, because amidst the tough moments Florence also conveys so much humour, and genuine affection for family, friends and many aspects of her new found life at the same time - even down to the simplest of pleasures.
When Florence's story moves on to the time she returns to settle in Britain with her family, we are on more familiar territory in terms of the struggles facing a black family fighting for the same opportunities offered freely to their white neighbours. Here Florence describes instances of being forced to live to sinkhole estates where crime is rife, and having to settle for low paid domestic work because education and skills count for less if your face does not fit. But our Florence is nothing if not determined, as we are well aware - I celebrated every triumph at her side as she overcame many obstacles and settled into life as a valued teacher in an inner city school, learned to adjust to life as a British mother, and then reaped the rewards of her labours to achieve her dreams, and help her own children become happy and well-adjusted.
The most heart-warming and uplifting thing about this memoir for me is the way Florence has become more comfortable with expressing the parts of herself that stem from both her British and Nigerian sides, learning that she does not have to diminish her Yoruba heritage to live and thrive in Britain. I love that she has been able to use her experience of living in both countries to help so many young people and their parents to fulfil their potential and live happy and full lives too.
Coconut is one of the most rewarding memoirs I have read, and listening to the audio book version, narrated splendidly by Adjoa Andom, has been a wonderful experience. Tracing Florence's highs and lows, her loves and losses, and the lessons she has learned as she has matured, has really allowed me to have an incredible insight into her life - and it has an inspiring message for anyone struggling with a sense of belonging, or wondering how to rationalise different sides of their own cultural identity.
Despite the birth of younger siblings who remain with their parents, Florence continues in the care of her foster family for four years and comes to love them dearly, especially her kindly foster mother 'Nan' who calls Florence 'Ann' - a name she only learns later is not her real one. Surrounded by white faces, Florence gradually comes to understand that there is something different about her and often wonders why there are so few black faces around her.
After one weekend visit home to her parents and younger siblings, Florence is upset to learn that she will not be returning to stay with her lovely 'Nan'. Instead, frustrated at being unable to find jobs that recognise their skills and educational achievements, Florence's parents decide to return to live in Nigeria - a country she and her brothers and sisters have never visited.
At the age of six, Florence steps off a boat into the heat and chaos of Lagos - her new home. She struggles to understand almost every aspect of her new life, and although desperate to learn about her cultural heritage and amazed to behold the sea of black faces that live here, she does not even speak Yoruba and her British ways get her into endless trouble. The family matriarch Mama, her father's mother, holds sway in this tiny cramped apartment, and she is a great believer in the 'spare the rod, spoil the child' method of childrearing, subjecting Florence to regular beatings in her determination to imbue the Yoruba ways into her granddaughter - a traumatic pattern of behaviour that continues in the years to come.
As Florence grows, falls in love, marries and has children of her own, we are at her side as she fights to get an education and earn the freedom to aspire to something more that the expectation that she will become an obedient and tractable young woman formed for marriage and childbearing. Where do her roots lie and how much of her is British and how much Nigerian?
It's only when she and her husband make the hard decision to uproot their family and make a life in Britain, fighting to carve out a place for themselves in a country that is not always accepting of those who are different, that Florence comes to understand how she can combine elements of both her cultural identities and make peace with who she really is.
Coconut is an incredible memoir of a black woman struggling to find out where she belongs, and how the myriad jigsaw pieces of her cultural identity come together to form a coherent picture. What makes this so unusual is that Florence happily grew up thinking of herself as completely British until having to adjust the huge culture shock of being uprooted at the age of six to live in Nigeria, and being required to negotiate completely different societal norms and family customs, without the least idea of how to go about doing so, especially since she did not even have the benefit of speaking the same language.
There was so much I did not know about the Yoruba way, from family relationships, the education system, and the wider culture, and Florence vividly describes them in all an engaging and informative way, sprinkling her narrative with anecdotes about many facets of her life in Nigeria, including some pivotal moments in the country's history. I found it all fascinating and deeply touching, despite the many examples of injustice, sexual discrimination and violence that recur, because amidst the tough moments Florence also conveys so much humour, and genuine affection for family, friends and many aspects of her new found life at the same time - even down to the simplest of pleasures.
When Florence's story moves on to the time she returns to settle in Britain with her family, we are on more familiar territory in terms of the struggles facing a black family fighting for the same opportunities offered freely to their white neighbours. Here Florence describes instances of being forced to live to sinkhole estates where crime is rife, and having to settle for low paid domestic work because education and skills count for less if your face does not fit. But our Florence is nothing if not determined, as we are well aware - I celebrated every triumph at her side as she overcame many obstacles and settled into life as a valued teacher in an inner city school, learned to adjust to life as a British mother, and then reaped the rewards of her labours to achieve her dreams, and help her own children become happy and well-adjusted.
The most heart-warming and uplifting thing about this memoir for me is the way Florence has become more comfortable with expressing the parts of herself that stem from both her British and Nigerian sides, learning that she does not have to diminish her Yoruba heritage to live and thrive in Britain. I love that she has been able to use her experience of living in both countries to help so many young people and their parents to fulfil their potential and live happy and full lives too.
Coconut is one of the most rewarding memoirs I have read, and listening to the audio book version, narrated splendidly by Adjoa Andom, has been a wonderful experience. Tracing Florence's highs and lows, her loves and losses, and the lessons she has learned as she has matured, has really allowed me to have an incredible insight into her life - and it has an inspiring message for anyone struggling with a sense of belonging, or wondering how to rationalise different sides of their own cultural identity.
January 3, 2022
This was received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Born in London of Nigerian parents, Florence Olajide spent the first years of her life with white family. This odd arrangement made it possible for her parents to work and finish their educations. At six she moved from a life with a family that wasn't her own to live in Lagos with her parents and extended family. To say that she experienced culture shock is an understatement.
The differences between her life in London and her life in Lagos were vast. It wasn't as obvious as running water versus going to the well, indoor plumbing versus communal plumbing. She went from life with a nuclear family, albeit a foster one during most of her life in London, to a life with a sometimes hostile, always mysterious extended family.
A writer who is unknown or someone who is writing a biography of someone not well-known needs to grab the reader by the throat from the beginning. The best example that I can think of is how Lauren Hillenbrand made everyone want to know about Louie Zamperini in the first few pages of the great Unbroken. If you are an unknown, but you believe your story merits sharing, you need write so that the reader wants to take accompany you down memory lane. I am fascinated by stories of culture clashes, immigrants and identity, so I had high hopes for Coconut, but was disappointed.
If the intention was to capture a child's voice, then Olajide did that; the writing was simple and straightforward. I sometimes thought that I was reading a YA memoir because her story moved from experience to experience, and seemed to lack adult reflection. Only lackluster writing keeps Coconut from being a memorable memoir of a childhood in a place rarely seen in print.
Born in London of Nigerian parents, Florence Olajide spent the first years of her life with white family. This odd arrangement made it possible for her parents to work and finish their educations. At six she moved from a life with a family that wasn't her own to live in Lagos with her parents and extended family. To say that she experienced culture shock is an understatement.
The differences between her life in London and her life in Lagos were vast. It wasn't as obvious as running water versus going to the well, indoor plumbing versus communal plumbing. She went from life with a nuclear family, albeit a foster one during most of her life in London, to a life with a sometimes hostile, always mysterious extended family.
A writer who is unknown or someone who is writing a biography of someone not well-known needs to grab the reader by the throat from the beginning. The best example that I can think of is how Lauren Hillenbrand made everyone want to know about Louie Zamperini in the first few pages of the great Unbroken. If you are an unknown, but you believe your story merits sharing, you need write so that the reader wants to take accompany you down memory lane. I am fascinated by stories of culture clashes, immigrants and identity, so I had high hopes for Coconut, but was disappointed.
If the intention was to capture a child's voice, then Olajide did that; the writing was simple and straightforward. I sometimes thought that I was reading a YA memoir because her story moved from experience to experience, and seemed to lack adult reflection. Only lackluster writing keeps Coconut from being a memorable memoir of a childhood in a place rarely seen in print.
May 9, 2024
Coconut by Florence Olájídé
‘Who was I, really? Nigerian, British, both? The difficult years had hardened me in many ways, but beneath the brusque, uncaring facade I presented to the world, I cared about life and the people important to me. The image of a coconut floated through my head, with its tough, brown outer shell and its fleshy, white, inner core. It was known as the tree of life, every part useful. Surely that was the key? I didn’t need to be one or the other. I could be both and happy. But which of the two countries would let me?
‘Years later, I heard that ‘coconut’ was a racial slur used to describe Black people who denied their Black heritage in favour of a white one, but what did I care? I had chosen my own interpretation’
Coconut is the story of a girl born in London to Nigerian parents, who is fostered by a white family for a few years before moving to Nigeria with her family when she is six. She then spends the next few decades trying to figure out who she is, and which influences she wants to carry forward into her adult life.
This book caught my eye when it was first published a couple of years ago and the other evening I decided I must read it immediately, and was reaching for it every chance I got since.
A fascinating story, well told, which touches on transracial fostering, Nigerian and Yoruba traditions, social faux pas, education, racism, family, friendships, and determination.
It can sometimes be difficult to review or rate a memoir as it is one person’s experience, but Coconut is so well rounded and perfectly paced; I never lost interest and became so invested in the story.
I also enjoyed the smattering of Nigerian political history, which tied in nicely with our Tired Mammy Book club May book, Africa is Not A Country by Dipo Faloyin.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, particularly if you are interested in: memoirs, stories about fostering, and / or Nigerian culture. Also, if you read / enjoyed My Name is Why by Lemn Sisay or Raceless by Georgina Lawton.
‘Who was I, really? Nigerian, British, both? The difficult years had hardened me in many ways, but beneath the brusque, uncaring facade I presented to the world, I cared about life and the people important to me. The image of a coconut floated through my head, with its tough, brown outer shell and its fleshy, white, inner core. It was known as the tree of life, every part useful. Surely that was the key? I didn’t need to be one or the other. I could be both and happy. But which of the two countries would let me?
‘Years later, I heard that ‘coconut’ was a racial slur used to describe Black people who denied their Black heritage in favour of a white one, but what did I care? I had chosen my own interpretation’
Coconut is the story of a girl born in London to Nigerian parents, who is fostered by a white family for a few years before moving to Nigeria with her family when she is six. She then spends the next few decades trying to figure out who she is, and which influences she wants to carry forward into her adult life.
This book caught my eye when it was first published a couple of years ago and the other evening I decided I must read it immediately, and was reaching for it every chance I got since.
A fascinating story, well told, which touches on transracial fostering, Nigerian and Yoruba traditions, social faux pas, education, racism, family, friendships, and determination.
It can sometimes be difficult to review or rate a memoir as it is one person’s experience, but Coconut is so well rounded and perfectly paced; I never lost interest and became so invested in the story.
I also enjoyed the smattering of Nigerian political history, which tied in nicely with our Tired Mammy Book club May book, Africa is Not A Country by Dipo Faloyin.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, particularly if you are interested in: memoirs, stories about fostering, and / or Nigerian culture. Also, if you read / enjoyed My Name is Why by Lemn Sisay or Raceless by Georgina Lawton.
December 14, 2023
The author shows the challenges of navigating two cultures and societies with different values: kinship and community in Nigeria compared with individualism and self-expression in the UK. She returns to Nigeria at the age of six after being raised in the UK by a white British foster mother and faces a stark culture shock. The painful experience of the child and the teenager are rendered in exceptionally palpable detail. Always she will find herself torn between the two, yet part of both.
This memoir is a wonderful family story and cultural history, as well as an inside glimpse into how racism in the UK evolved from the 60s to the 90s and beyond.
I live in the UK, and this was a great book to read while traveling in Africa.
This memoir is a wonderful family story and cultural history, as well as an inside glimpse into how racism in the UK evolved from the 60s to the 90s and beyond.
I live in the UK, and this was a great book to read while traveling in Africa.
November 10, 2023
“The image of a coconut floated through my head, with its tough, brown outer shell and its flesh, white, inner core. It was known as the tree of life, every part useful.”
“Later I discovered that coconut was a racial slur used to describe Black people who denied their Black heritage in favour of a white one, but what do I care? I had chosen my own interpretation.”
This book can be different things to different people. First and foremost, it’s the author’s memoir. For me, a Nigerian living in England, it’s nostalgic. For those unfamiliar with Nigerian (in particular Yoruba) culture, it’s educative. For those struggling with their identity and belonging, it is instructive.
To everyone, it’s a well written memoir that reads like easily accessible fiction.
January 15, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. What a strong woman and she can write really well
May 28, 2022
Beautiful, refreshingly not cynical, and perfect educational and interesting read.
May 20, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had a hard time getting into this book at the beginning but it definitely got more interesting. The author has been through an atypical situation of being born and partly raised in London with a foster family and then moving to Nigeria with her birth parents at a young age. The culture shock must have been really shocking but she adapted well. On her return to London as an adult, she pretty much had to go through another culture shock since she was experiencing London from an adult point of view and things were not as she remembered them as a child. She really juggles her Nigerian culture and her British culture to see what fits best for her and her family. Ultimately she does well and seems to have a successful career.
I had a hard time getting into this book at the beginning but it definitely got more interesting. The author has been through an atypical situation of being born and partly raised in London with a foster family and then moving to Nigeria with her birth parents at a young age. The culture shock must have been really shocking but she adapted well. On her return to London as an adult, she pretty much had to go through another culture shock since she was experiencing London from an adult point of view and things were not as she remembered them as a child. She really juggles her Nigerian culture and her British culture to see what fits best for her and her family. Ultimately she does well and seems to have a successful career.
June 17, 2023
the woman who wrote this memoir "Florence Olajide" writes of being born in London and spending the first six years of her life in a foster home. She was a black child and the foster parents were white. At six her parents were able to take care of her and took her to their home country Nigeria. At six it was a culture clash to go to a country she did not know. She did not speak the language at first and she had to get used to the customs in Nigeria. she writes of her childhood there spending some years in a boarding school.she eventually got her teaching certificate and came back to England to live and get a job as a teacher. This is like 20 years since she lived in England now she has new obstacles to live in a country she was born in. a good memoir. found it interesting.
July 13, 2021
A very moving story of a young Nigerian girl being torn between two cultures. Initially, brought up by a white lady in the UK, this little girl is given a rude shock when her parents take her back with them to Nigeria.
There, exposed to a totally different culture, she feels like an alien and must get used to the hardships of life in Nigeria. She finds it really hard to adapt and to make matters worse is abused by her grandmother.
In all it's a story of courage and survival and trying to establish an individual identity while being caught between two diverse cultures.
I liked the simple, matter of fact style of writing which made the story much more believable and moving!
There, exposed to a totally different culture, she feels like an alien and must get used to the hardships of life in Nigeria. She finds it really hard to adapt and to make matters worse is abused by her grandmother.
In all it's a story of courage and survival and trying to establish an individual identity while being caught between two diverse cultures.
I liked the simple, matter of fact style of writing which made the story much more believable and moving!
November 20, 2025
Maybe I went into this book expecting too much and my rating shows that bias. The story takes place between London and Nigeria - mainly in Lagos - and explores Florence’s after returning to Nigeria from London as a child being raising in a foster family. My dad had a similar experience and I got into this book hoping gain some new cognisance of his experiences but it left me wanting more. Parts of the book were great showing the difficulties navigating each culture and how that affected her. However, I felt like parts of the experience were diluted to cater to audiences that may not understand Nigerian culture. The constant in text explanations of certain terms and words detracted from the immersion and I felt like they were oversimplifications. It could have done with a glossary which some readers may have not liked but would have allowed those lost words to be used to fully flesh out the stories and experiences. It was a well written book but I feel like there could have been so much more and Florence didn’t have the full opportunity to say everything she could’ve.
October 11, 2023
I have traveled with my husband to 2 overseas duty stations & only wish there had been more, since I loved immersing myself as much as possible in the culture, history, language, and issues of the people wherever we were. In fact, I loved it so much, we never flew home during our stays overseas, preferring to spend our resources enjoying where we were. Of course, we knew the cultures we entered would be different from ours, and so, it wasn't shock for us, it was discovery, and eventually, we had to come back to America, and we knew America...except when we didn't. After 2 back to back overseas tours, America had changed drastically. Nothing we saw in the videos we watched prepared us for the reality. Some things that freaked me out baffled others. Other military families who had moved all over the US but not overseas didn't understand. Missionaries home on furlough were as baffled as we were, if not more so.
And yet, for all that, we had never had trouble based on skin color, nor had we been led to expect to be paid so much less than the prevailing wage, nor offered a wage below the market value of our work because the hirer knew they could get away with it. Reading this made me angry that, to this day, people who come here legitimately may still be being lied to and given lower wages. Those who come with no paperwork, who are not lawfully in the country, will be paid under the table at the lowest possible wage under threat of deportation. But those who come with the correct paperwork should be paid fair market wage for their labor and not be taken advantage of. The author.is right. What legal immigrants - or citizens returning home after extended time with families overseas - need is someone who can tell them the customs, and how to assert themselves to receive what is their due. There are those who come and need no instruction; they are bold enough to speak up on their own, they do their research, they have a clear minded goal, and soon, they are on their way to a prosperous life. But as any student of human nature knows, those are not very common. I also believe the Internet can be a huge help in research; no longer must someone go into a library and lug books back and forth from the stacks to a table or study desk, though they can sign up to use the computers most libraries have now if their mobile isn't powerful enough.
Still, person to person contact is always better. I hope many people will read this book, and that those who are recent emigres will learn to do research and be bold, and that others will reach out and welcome them to their new culture while learning about their new friend's culture as well.
And yet, for all that, we had never had trouble based on skin color, nor had we been led to expect to be paid so much less than the prevailing wage, nor offered a wage below the market value of our work because the hirer knew they could get away with it. Reading this made me angry that, to this day, people who come here legitimately may still be being lied to and given lower wages. Those who come with no paperwork, who are not lawfully in the country, will be paid under the table at the lowest possible wage under threat of deportation. But those who come with the correct paperwork should be paid fair market wage for their labor and not be taken advantage of. The author.is right. What legal immigrants - or citizens returning home after extended time with families overseas - need is someone who can tell them the customs, and how to assert themselves to receive what is their due. There are those who come and need no instruction; they are bold enough to speak up on their own, they do their research, they have a clear minded goal, and soon, they are on their way to a prosperous life. But as any student of human nature knows, those are not very common. I also believe the Internet can be a huge help in research; no longer must someone go into a library and lug books back and forth from the stacks to a table or study desk, though they can sign up to use the computers most libraries have now if their mobile isn't powerful enough.
Still, person to person contact is always better. I hope many people will read this book, and that those who are recent emigres will learn to do research and be bold, and that others will reach out and welcome them to their new culture while learning about their new friend's culture as well.
April 12, 2021
When author Florence Ọlájídé was a young child living with a white foster family in England, her foster mother Nan called her Ann. Her parents, who were students studying in London, called her Funmi. When her family moved back to Nigeria when she was six, her paternal grandmother called her Keji. A lot of names for a little girl to keep track of, but the author was fortunately very bright, resilient and learned quickly how to adapt.
She had been in a foster family because her parents, like many African students who studied during the day and worked at night, could not afford live-in child care. What they could afford, however, was paying “private” foster families to care for their children. Even though, Ms. Ọlájídé's parents had three more children while in England, she stayed with the foster family, until the weekend she was visiting her parents and was told she would not be going back to her beloved Nan. They would soon all be moving back to Nigeria, a place the author had never been. She did not want to go.
Life in Lagos, Nigeria in the Yoruba culture was definitely shockingly unlike life in London, England. One could only think it was good the author wasn’t a preteen or teen when her family returned, because an older child probably would have had much more trouble adjusting. Extended families were tight, often lived together, and were always in each other’s business. In addition, there was so often suspicion and downright hostility between females in the Yoruba culture, possibly because men could have more than one wife, although the author’s father did not. Fortunately, Ms. Ọlájídé did have female friends; but her paternal grandmother was highly abusive with a cane; her mother would falsely accuse her of things; and when she later had problems with her own daughter, she appeared to have little problem thinking of her possibly living with another family.
England was always in the back of the author’s mind while growing up, getting educated and getting married. She wanted to return there one day and live, and eventually she did with her husband and children, where she became a highly successful educator. Most of the book is about life in Africa, however, and it’s a wonderful, immersive way to learn about the Yoruba culture, and to see how a child who had straddled two cultures adapted to very conflicting lifestyles. Plus, to see how an adult dealt with the differences of child rearing and educating in two very different countries. Highly recommended to both adults and teenagers.
(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the author or publisher.)
She had been in a foster family because her parents, like many African students who studied during the day and worked at night, could not afford live-in child care. What they could afford, however, was paying “private” foster families to care for their children. Even though, Ms. Ọlájídé's parents had three more children while in England, she stayed with the foster family, until the weekend she was visiting her parents and was told she would not be going back to her beloved Nan. They would soon all be moving back to Nigeria, a place the author had never been. She did not want to go.
Life in Lagos, Nigeria in the Yoruba culture was definitely shockingly unlike life in London, England. One could only think it was good the author wasn’t a preteen or teen when her family returned, because an older child probably would have had much more trouble adjusting. Extended families were tight, often lived together, and were always in each other’s business. In addition, there was so often suspicion and downright hostility between females in the Yoruba culture, possibly because men could have more than one wife, although the author’s father did not. Fortunately, Ms. Ọlájídé did have female friends; but her paternal grandmother was highly abusive with a cane; her mother would falsely accuse her of things; and when she later had problems with her own daughter, she appeared to have little problem thinking of her possibly living with another family.
England was always in the back of the author’s mind while growing up, getting educated and getting married. She wanted to return there one day and live, and eventually she did with her husband and children, where she became a highly successful educator. Most of the book is about life in Africa, however, and it’s a wonderful, immersive way to learn about the Yoruba culture, and to see how a child who had straddled two cultures adapted to very conflicting lifestyles. Plus, to see how an adult dealt with the differences of child rearing and educating in two very different countries. Highly recommended to both adults and teenagers.
(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the author or publisher.)
July 16, 2021
Who was I, really? Nigerian, British, both?’
‘Surely that was the key? I didn’t need to be one or the other. I could be both and happy. But which of the two countries would let me?’
Coconut by Florence Olájídé
Born in England and raised in Africa, Florence struggles with her identity. The differences between the two cultures force her to examine who she is, what she values and where she wants to be. In this thought-provoking memoir, Florence Olájídé shares her story and the families who shaped who she is today. This memoir examines values, culture and resilience.
When I first started Coconut, I was struck by the voice. It was like Florence, at six years old, was sitting in front of me telling me her story. As I read about Florence struggling with her new life, I admired her steadfast resilience as she adjusted, developed and grew while desperately holding on to herself.
As I read, the Florence sitting in front of me was a young woman trying to maintain her true self while still struggling with the norms of a culture she could barely tolerate.
As I read further, Florence changed, almost before my very eyes, into a mother of three, settling down with her family in a country that was both familiar and different. She tells me the story of juggling a full-time career and readjusting to a culture that her family wanted her to forget. This story, these transitions forced Florence to contemplate her values and the parts of each culture she wanted to keep and the parts she wanted to let go.
I highly recommend this memoir. Florence tells her story brilliantly. She is fair to those that were not always fair to her, she was open enough to get personal when it mattered most and she presented both cultures historically and factually. Her writing is interesting, her story engaging and her contemplations are insightful. I gave this book 5/5 stars.
Sidenote: There were a few incidents in Florence’s story that made me uncomfortable. However, upon reflection, I realised that they were important to Florence’s story as those uncomfortable events were the moments that showed how truly resilient she needed to be.
‘Surely that was the key? I didn’t need to be one or the other. I could be both and happy. But which of the two countries would let me?’
Coconut by Florence Olájídé
Born in England and raised in Africa, Florence struggles with her identity. The differences between the two cultures force her to examine who she is, what she values and where she wants to be. In this thought-provoking memoir, Florence Olájídé shares her story and the families who shaped who she is today. This memoir examines values, culture and resilience.
When I first started Coconut, I was struck by the voice. It was like Florence, at six years old, was sitting in front of me telling me her story. As I read about Florence struggling with her new life, I admired her steadfast resilience as she adjusted, developed and grew while desperately holding on to herself.
As I read, the Florence sitting in front of me was a young woman trying to maintain her true self while still struggling with the norms of a culture she could barely tolerate.
As I read further, Florence changed, almost before my very eyes, into a mother of three, settling down with her family in a country that was both familiar and different. She tells me the story of juggling a full-time career and readjusting to a culture that her family wanted her to forget. This story, these transitions forced Florence to contemplate her values and the parts of each culture she wanted to keep and the parts she wanted to let go.
I highly recommend this memoir. Florence tells her story brilliantly. She is fair to those that were not always fair to her, she was open enough to get personal when it mattered most and she presented both cultures historically and factually. Her writing is interesting, her story engaging and her contemplations are insightful. I gave this book 5/5 stars.
Sidenote: There were a few incidents in Florence’s story that made me uncomfortable. However, upon reflection, I realised that they were important to Florence’s story as those uncomfortable events were the moments that showed how truly resilient she needed to be.
May 30, 2021
Coconut is a thoughtful account of the life-changing events that encompass Florence Ọlájídé’s childhood. Her journey from childhood to adulthood is a mish mash of British & Nigerian cultures, which later proves to be an integral experience that moulds her ideologies and beliefs in her adulthood. Her recollection begins with her fond memories of Nan & Pop who were her foster parents in London, when her parents were struggling to make ends meet in a foriegn land. Soon her family’s financial situation becomes challenging in London and Ọlájídé’s parents decide to relocate to Nigeria to live & prosper in a land of their own. With this decision, Ọlájídé is displaced from her Nan and her British upbringing to the vast and contrasting culture in a land where everybody looks like her but is completely unfamiliar to her understanding of life as a child. From here, she describes the various situations that exposed her to the Nigerian collectivistic culture, which had its own pros and cons when compared to the British individualistic way of life.
As a reader, I enjoyed this book and was fairly intrigued by her early life in Nigeria. However, I wouldn’t characterise this as a memoir, but more as a simple event to event recollection of her past. I personally thought that the parts of the book in which she described her childhood days in Nigeria were the most interesting. While I loved the overall message of this book, I would have loved to read a bit more about how as an adult she tries to decipher and reflect on the past experiences described in the book. I also thought the editing could have made the read cohesive and compact. It was maybe 100 pages too long.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Ọlájídé’s personal story and how she strived to achieve the status and position that she holds now. Great job Thread publication for getting real & simple stories out there and Netgalley for giving me an opportunity to read it.
As a reader, I enjoyed this book and was fairly intrigued by her early life in Nigeria. However, I wouldn’t characterise this as a memoir, but more as a simple event to event recollection of her past. I personally thought that the parts of the book in which she described her childhood days in Nigeria were the most interesting. While I loved the overall message of this book, I would have loved to read a bit more about how as an adult she tries to decipher and reflect on the past experiences described in the book. I also thought the editing could have made the read cohesive and compact. It was maybe 100 pages too long.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Ọlájídé’s personal story and how she strived to achieve the status and position that she holds now. Great job Thread publication for getting real & simple stories out there and Netgalley for giving me an opportunity to read it.
October 21, 2021
When a good storyteller writes a memoir, magic happens! I latched onto this book switching between kindle and audible because I was so engrossed. Coconut is a memoir about a Nigerian woman’s life, Funmi (She goes by the name Florence Olajide), born in England and then raised in Nigeria from when she was six. Funmi’s story spans a time period from about age 4 up to adulthood. Prior to moving to Nigeria, Funmi had been fostered by a white family while her parents worked to make ends meet. Funmi’s world changed when all of a sudden, her father made the decision to move the whole family back to Lagos Nigeria. Funmi experienced and lived through a culture shock and struggled to fit into her new environment. Growing up in Lagos was not a walk in the park but it was filled with so many memories of living in a large extended family, somewhere between low and middle income. Funmi was a go-getter, outspoken, inquisitive and she always nursed this dream of returning to England. She continued her primary education in Lagos and went on to graduate from university and start a family of her own.
Describing the struggle to find her identity, Funmi described herself as a coconut, tough on the outside, fleshy and white on the inside, doing her best to meet culture expectations yet staying true to herself.
There is tragedy, loss, poverty and a lot of grit. I found her story really inspiring.
I was grateful for the bits of Nigerian history I gathered from this book, from the 60s up to the 80s. Funmi loves history herself and you could tell, from the way she brilliantly let us into those times. The family dynamics were very interesting to read about, not new for a lot of Nigerians. I am really glad this book made it into the world, such a unique yet familiar voice. There’s something about reliving childhood memories through the pages of a book. 10/10 recommend!
Describing the struggle to find her identity, Funmi described herself as a coconut, tough on the outside, fleshy and white on the inside, doing her best to meet culture expectations yet staying true to herself.
There is tragedy, loss, poverty and a lot of grit. I found her story really inspiring.
I was grateful for the bits of Nigerian history I gathered from this book, from the 60s up to the 80s. Funmi loves history herself and you could tell, from the way she brilliantly let us into those times. The family dynamics were very interesting to read about, not new for a lot of Nigerians. I am really glad this book made it into the world, such a unique yet familiar voice. There’s something about reliving childhood memories through the pages of a book. 10/10 recommend!
October 31, 2022
A very well written account of a little girl born in Britain to Nigerian parents who then arranged for her to be privately fostered by “Nan” an older, white lady who really loved her. This was quite common at the time and I have read another similar story and also seen TV programmes about it. I have a friend from Tanzania and she tells me that Africans think about their children differently to us and while it seems alien to us to get our children fostered to them it is quite usual. She also says that if she wanted a baby but was unable to have one then a family member would just give her one of theirs.
A few points. On Page 36 the author says “Golly! How many people were injured in this accident?” I thought that was an unfortunate choice of words.
All the way through the book it was clear how very much she loved Nan and I was so disappointed near the end when she said that she didn’t contact her for a couple of years when she returned back to England with her husband and children. She made contact and then didn’t bother contacting her for another few years. Nan had died by that time so I was surprised that the book was not dedicated to her or at least mention her in the Acknowledgements.
I have to say Florence does seem to have a chip on her shoulder about people asking her where she is from. I honestly can’t see anything wrong with that. It shows that people are interested in you. As a young girl I worked in various places throughout the UK and was always asked where I came from as my accent was different. I wasn’t offended in the least. Someone asked me what part of Australia I was from …. Apparently my East Anglian accent sounded Australian!
Having said all that I would recommend this book and I did enjoy it.
A few points. On Page 36 the author says “Golly! How many people were injured in this accident?” I thought that was an unfortunate choice of words.
All the way through the book it was clear how very much she loved Nan and I was so disappointed near the end when she said that she didn’t contact her for a couple of years when she returned back to England with her husband and children. She made contact and then didn’t bother contacting her for another few years. Nan had died by that time so I was surprised that the book was not dedicated to her or at least mention her in the Acknowledgements.
I have to say Florence does seem to have a chip on her shoulder about people asking her where she is from. I honestly can’t see anything wrong with that. It shows that people are interested in you. As a young girl I worked in various places throughout the UK and was always asked where I came from as my accent was different. I wasn’t offended in the least. Someone asked me what part of Australia I was from …. Apparently my East Anglian accent sounded Australian!
Having said all that I would recommend this book and I did enjoy it.
January 31, 2024
WOW I really enjoyed Coconut a historical biography/memoir by Florence Olajide.
Florence was born in London to Nigerian parents who struggle to find work,thus leaving Florence with Nan, a white foster carer who is like a second Mother to Florence. Florence wonders why there are not a lot of children and adults who do not have the same skin colour as she has.
Florence's parents and her siblings return to Nigeria to seek employment but they are moving to a country where there is political unrest. Florence is at a loss at the upheaval of leaving Nan behind as she had bonded with her and will miss her so much. This was the 1960's and racism was another factor Florence and her parents had to endure.
Coconut was a term used to describe black people who rejected their black heritage for a white one.
Florence age six years old faces a huge cultural shock in her parent's home town Yoruba. Children are treated like back in the Victorian era, were children were seen but not heard. And they believed in spare the rod and spoil the child concept.
The Yoruba community believed in a strict set of values and if they were not adhered to by certain members it would bring shame on the whole community.
Life for Florence was very hard but she strived to be the best in school in order to achieve a good education and be able to return to her beloved Nan in London.
Toward the end of Florence's story, I loved how Labi Siffre's song, 'Something Inside So Strong' sums up Florence and her family's lives but for all people of colour who have had a rocky road.
Florence was born in London to Nigerian parents who struggle to find work,thus leaving Florence with Nan, a white foster carer who is like a second Mother to Florence. Florence wonders why there are not a lot of children and adults who do not have the same skin colour as she has.
Florence's parents and her siblings return to Nigeria to seek employment but they are moving to a country where there is political unrest. Florence is at a loss at the upheaval of leaving Nan behind as she had bonded with her and will miss her so much. This was the 1960's and racism was another factor Florence and her parents had to endure.
Coconut was a term used to describe black people who rejected their black heritage for a white one.
Florence age six years old faces a huge cultural shock in her parent's home town Yoruba. Children are treated like back in the Victorian era, were children were seen but not heard. And they believed in spare the rod and spoil the child concept.
The Yoruba community believed in a strict set of values and if they were not adhered to by certain members it would bring shame on the whole community.
Life for Florence was very hard but she strived to be the best in school in order to achieve a good education and be able to return to her beloved Nan in London.
Toward the end of Florence's story, I loved how Labi Siffre's song, 'Something Inside So Strong' sums up Florence and her family's lives but for all people of colour who have had a rocky road.
August 11, 2022
I don't know this person at all but I picked up this memoir because it came up when I was browsing and it looked interesting enough. This book is about Florence who spent her early life in England, moved to Nigeria for the rest of her childhood and early adult life, and then back to England with her husband. This was such a fascinating memoir because not only did you get the contrast of both England and Nigeria, but you also got her unique personality where she couldn't help but stand up for herself. The focus is on Olajide's life itself so while there are politics and civil war going on in the background, it is partly from the point of view of a child who is being protected by her parents and then afterwards, it is from the point of view of someone just trying to carry on with their life and isn't involved with politics at all.
This was very well-written with a nice linear way of laying things out and I enjoyed Olajide's forthright nature as she ended up looking back on her mistakes and successes, as well as the differences between Nigerian and English culture and the pros and cons living in each country. I especially enjoyed the part of her coming back to England as an adult and not having the rose-tinted glasses of a childhood surrounded by love still in place. I was glad we were able to follow her in her life and career, as well as seeing her with her own children and how that led her to the life she was in.
Would definitely recommend as a memoir and a book, could not put it down. 5 stars!
This was very well-written with a nice linear way of laying things out and I enjoyed Olajide's forthright nature as she ended up looking back on her mistakes and successes, as well as the differences between Nigerian and English culture and the pros and cons living in each country. I especially enjoyed the part of her coming back to England as an adult and not having the rose-tinted glasses of a childhood surrounded by love still in place. I was glad we were able to follow her in her life and career, as well as seeing her with her own children and how that led her to the life she was in.
Would definitely recommend as a memoir and a book, could not put it down. 5 stars!
August 14, 2023
I’m not one for memoirs, biographies- anything like that. I’m a fiction gal through and through, that was until I saw this on kindle deals and clicked on it. Sold.
SO good. I love learning about different cultures and lives. It was hard to remind myself through this that it wasn’t fiction and it was actually someone’s reality. Trauma, abuse, family, tradition, hardships..
Florence, born to Nigerian parents in London was raised by a white woman called Nan for a part of her childhood (fostered by her so her parents could work and provide a better life for their family) - suddenly she was taken from all she had known and landed in Nigeria. Life was about to change.
The book follows her life in Nigeria and her struggles to acclimatise to this new way of life, her missing Nan and London and her plan to get back there when she’s old enough. Through school, home life, boyfriends. The birth of her kids and her eventual return to the land of her birth.
Where does she fit in? Has life made her a coconut? (Dark outer, light inside).
I’m not ashamed to say I cried. Florence is honestly a badass - a true role model. I’m glad she made peace within herself and who she is. Everyone deserves to do life as their authentic self.
SO good. I love learning about different cultures and lives. It was hard to remind myself through this that it wasn’t fiction and it was actually someone’s reality. Trauma, abuse, family, tradition, hardships..
Florence, born to Nigerian parents in London was raised by a white woman called Nan for a part of her childhood (fostered by her so her parents could work and provide a better life for their family) - suddenly she was taken from all she had known and landed in Nigeria. Life was about to change.
The book follows her life in Nigeria and her struggles to acclimatise to this new way of life, her missing Nan and London and her plan to get back there when she’s old enough. Through school, home life, boyfriends. The birth of her kids and her eventual return to the land of her birth.
Where does she fit in? Has life made her a coconut? (Dark outer, light inside).
I’m not ashamed to say I cried. Florence is honestly a badass - a true role model. I’m glad she made peace within herself and who she is. Everyone deserves to do life as their authentic self.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2021
In 60's London Florence is living with her foster family. She adores her foster mother Nan & her family, visiting her Nigerian parents whenever they aren't working. All of the children around her are white, she doesn't understand why she is treated differently because of her dark skin.
4 years later her parents collect her from Nan's & return to Nigeria with her 3 younger siblings. Exchanging her comfortable bed & life in England for a floor mat & a culture that she has no experience of. As much as Florence wants to embrace her culture she has a lot to learn. She doesn't speak Yoruba or understand any of the cultural differences leading to frequent beatings from her paternal grandmother.
Where does she belong? England? Nigeria? Neither? Both?
Florence's story is an uplifting tale of surviving hardship & poverty, & one woman's determination to overcome the cultural barriers that are put in place to keep her in her expected role.
I really enjoyed this audiobook & was drawn in from the off. Florence's story is truly inspiring & a real opportunity to look inside a different culture.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.
4 years later her parents collect her from Nan's & return to Nigeria with her 3 younger siblings. Exchanging her comfortable bed & life in England for a floor mat & a culture that she has no experience of. As much as Florence wants to embrace her culture she has a lot to learn. She doesn't speak Yoruba or understand any of the cultural differences leading to frequent beatings from her paternal grandmother.
Where does she belong? England? Nigeria? Neither? Both?
Florence's story is an uplifting tale of surviving hardship & poverty, & one woman's determination to overcome the cultural barriers that are put in place to keep her in her expected role.
I really enjoyed this audiobook & was drawn in from the off. Florence's story is truly inspiring & a real opportunity to look inside a different culture.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.
July 13, 2021
I'd give this book a solid 4.5 stars! When I first came across this memoir the cover stopped me in my tracks. Then I saw the synopsis and knew I had to read it!
This debut memoir tells the story of a girl who was born in London during the early 1960s. But, at the age of 6, her birth parents decided to move the entire family to Lagos, Nigeria. For the first 6 years of her life, she was fostered by a white woman named Nan and her family. It was common during this time for Nigerian children to be fostered while their parents worked.
Moving to a new country was a divergence from the life she had known -- new language, new customs and a new way of life. This is her story of self-discovery and how her two worlds shaped her. I thought the way the author told her story was rich, humorous (at times) and honest. Adjoa Andoh (most recently known for her role as Lady Danbury on Bridgerton) lent her voice to the narration of this memoir and it is fantastic!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this book!
This debut memoir tells the story of a girl who was born in London during the early 1960s. But, at the age of 6, her birth parents decided to move the entire family to Lagos, Nigeria. For the first 6 years of her life, she was fostered by a white woman named Nan and her family. It was common during this time for Nigerian children to be fostered while their parents worked.
Moving to a new country was a divergence from the life she had known -- new language, new customs and a new way of life. This is her story of self-discovery and how her two worlds shaped her. I thought the way the author told her story was rich, humorous (at times) and honest. Adjoa Andoh (most recently known for her role as Lady Danbury on Bridgerton) lent her voice to the narration of this memoir and it is fantastic!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this book!
August 19, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir from Florence Olajide, a Nigerian born in Britain, fostered with a loving white family for the first six years of her life. One weekend her birth mother picks her up for a visit and she never returns to that family but is whisked off to Lagos where she grows up. She returns to England as an adult, becomes a teacher, but has to overcome many instances of cultural dissonance. In Nigeria she is very different from her cousins and extended family and has to completely learn a new culture and a new language in order to be able to fit in. She has come from a loving home but is regularly beaten by her grandmother because of her ignorance. Of course she begins to question her very identity. British? Nigerian? Is it somehow possible to be both? On her return to England she experiences racism and understands the differences she recognized but couldn’t completely understand as a six year old. Her unique perspective makes her an exceptional teacher as she rises through the ranks with rare understanding of the pupils in her charge.
August 12, 2021
This is not my usual type of read, but I loved the story of Florence, who was born in Britain in the 1960s to Nigerian parents but fostered by a white family, but then taken back to Nigeria when she was six. She found life very different and struggles with the hardships of Nigerian life and the Yoruba culture. Living with her father's extended family she was often abused by her grandmother. Florence was an intelligent and resilient child though and I couldn't help admiting her. We follow Florence as she goes to school, and eventually falls in love. Then, along with her husband and children, Florence returns to Britain and once again has to fight to make a life for herself and her family.
The narration by Adjoah Andoh was superb, and I really felt that it was Florence herself telling her story. This is an incredible thought provoking memoir of an amazing woman and I highly recommend.
The narration by Adjoah Andoh was superb, and I really felt that it was Florence herself telling her story. This is an incredible thought provoking memoir of an amazing woman and I highly recommend.
July 13, 2021
Florence Ọlájídé has written a fascinating, emotional and enlightening memoir of her life as a young black child growing up in Britain in the 1960s and the conflicts she faced when she returned with her family to Nigeria, then again when she returned to England as an adult. A feisty, intelligent and outspoken child she struggled with the cultural differences, especially with how women and children are treated. Her portrayal of life in Africa and the Yoruba culture was absorbing and I felt myself rooting for Florence all the way, although the strong family love was evident throughout the story. It was interesting also to read of Florence’s struggle as an adult and mother with the difference in childrearing and educating when she became a teacher, then headteacher in London. A captivating read. Highly recommended.
July 22, 2022
This is really in-depth exploration into how culture and family history forms you but didn't necessarily help you find where you fit. Florence 's story is told with so much colour and detail that you really get to share her experiences. Hers is a remarkable story and offers so much insight into the change l challenges of making the UK home, but also of how to approach this in a redepmtive way, especially how Florence supported other families and school children to help them navigate the cultural challenges they came up against. I would have loved to hear more about how Florence had to change the way she taught when she arrived in the UK. This is an important story and one I'm so grateful to have read, especially the parts where Florence highlighted the way many British people navigate relationships that is not the most open or welcoming.
July 21, 2021
Olajide's autobiography gives the reader an insight into Nigerian family life and culture. Born in Britain, she emigrated to Nigeria as a young girl and shares her struggle to assimilate to the Nigerian way of life. My admiration for Olajide grew throughout the book. She is determined to rise above hardship and gain a good education, while adamant about doing what's right for her, rather than confirming to expectations. This is as much social history, through the eyes of a British Nigerian woman, as it is about one individual; a thought provoking social commentary rather than a catalyst for change.
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