The Nigerwife Quotes

“He leapt through the air balletically”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“You have to go on with things, or things will get on without you.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“...but if your heart is open, she thought with a sigh, it doesn't matter how smart you are, how cautious, whether you move so fast, if you're weak or strong, how good. If you leave the door open, someone's going to find their way in”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“Love burned brightly. But it cast such deep shadows.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“If she stayed in bed all day, the meals were still made, the flat still cleaned, the children taken care of, the lawn watered and trimmed. The message was clear. She was irrelevant. Free to go—without the children, of course.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“The Nigerwives were so different, a pick ’n’ mix of skin tones, hair textures, body shapes, and facial features, but their stories were one and the same. They had all defied the pride and prejudices of their families, sacrificed friendships and careers and independence, and followed heart and husband to Nigeria”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“The Dubai of Africa is happening.” “What is here? What is happening? Property speculation will ruin everyone.” “The oil price is up. We have a new president. It’s a good time. We are the sleeping giant of Africa, soon to awake like Sleeping Beauty.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“It sounded to Claudine as if he’d been bullied into going. To make things look good. But she knew that trying to make your parents happy was like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it. She was living proof that no matter what you did, they never loved you back if it wasn’t in them. If you just weren’t in their thoughts like that, there was nothing you could do about it. But she could tell Tonye wasn’t ready to hear that. And probably never would be.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“But Nicole was left with thoughts of Ethel, Christina, and the Italian woman, women who had given up their lives and moved here to Nigeria for a man. Their wants and needs were secondary. They had made themselves expendable to some man’s dream to “go home,” to pursue his raison d’être at the expense of theirs. And once you were there, you were taken for granted. A seen unseen. You were part of their storyline. And it was worth it when they loved you, when things were good; but when you were forgotten, discarded, you had to find your own reasons to be in place. You had to go back to living for you.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“...people who needed so much to be happy generally weren't”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“Certain men want you because you’re yellow. That’s all. That’s it. You’re something to have, like a handbag or a watch. They quickly get bored of that when they see how dumb you are.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“I’m sorry,” said Kemi in that infuriating way. “But I really tried to help you be a little less stupid. To get you moving again. But you’re so helpless, such a damsel. ‘Woe is me, I have everything, I have nothing.’” “My husband, Kemi!”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“These Lagos babes. They would rather do all this for a guy who doesn’t even care so long as he has money, or has a rich papa, or a big family name. But someone like me they disrespect. Even if I love. Even if I’m prepared to lay down my life. They won’t even look twice at me.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“Her parents had worked Claudine like a dog; she hadn’t been paid either and often caught a beating as a reward—but they were blood. She wasn’t sure if that made it better or worse.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“Penny was angry at the world for not giving her light skin. Claudine was angry with Granny. Safe bet that there was a long line of Jamaican women going back to the violence meted out under slavery.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“Don’t joke, ooo. It’s rough out there. Tonye probably has his second wife lined up already. The men here are so entitled. They can do whatever they want.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“Her life was a junkyard of failed relationships, but she didn’t let that stop her. Even at their big ages, Penny looked for love under every flowerpot and basketball cap. Claudine could never understand what hole could be so deep it needed such a stream of men to fill.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“Mummy certainly acted like her light skin and long hair were something special. She loved to come home from work and talk about who’d thought she was Italian or Indian or Chinese that day.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“I don’t understand these Nigerwives,” she said. “Why do they come?” “For a life of privilege,” said Kemi. “The big house with servants, the driver, the nanny. It’s not rocket science. Isn’t that what all women want?”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“Why would women put themselves in these situations, with no family, no help if anything happened? She suddenly felt angry. Angry with Nicole, Astrid, all the Nigerwives.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“You’re always vulnerable. I can’t afford to get involved. I’d have to leave the country. Promise me you won’t say anything.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“I didn’t approve of Tonye’s marriage. I still don’t. Culture is very important, and the woman is the heart of the culture. It was important to me that as head of our house, Tonye married a woman who understood. Nicole did not. But I still embraced her as a daughter.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“Oh yes, bride price.” It could only be Abi. “They’ve bought her like a chicken at market. I hope we specified no return to sender on the receipt”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“What would you know? Where is your father? Your people have no culture to worry about, but here in Nigeria, we all have our role to play so we don’t end up completely dysfunctional like you guys.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“You shouldn’t need a long weave and one bag ah makeup just to go out in public.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“So you may not like it, but I’ll decide what’s best for her and my family. I’ve welcomed you as a courtesy, but I owe you nothing. When the time is right, I’ll tell you more. Be patient.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“Tonye. Your wife is missing. You even think she’s dead, and in the same breath, you’re having a family wedding? What the living hell?” She wanted to grab the laptop and smash it over the ginnal’s head.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“It wasn’t personal because none of his ancestors had been trafficked as slaves, so gray eyes and light skin were simply an advantage in his mind, not a reminder that many ancestors were raped or bred like animals. Tonye was a pragmatist and a realist, not a historian or psychologist;”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“It’s a shame to see such fun, independent women reduced to Stepford Wives. I mean, what is this shapeless auntie bubu you’re wearing? You’re taking this whole Nigerwives thing too far.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife

“His was a superstitious country where grudges were made into spells, cats were vectors of witchcraft, and demons posed as beggars to whisk you off to the underworld. “Madam, it happens,” he would insist, offended when she dismissed theories as nonsense.”
― Vanessa Walters, The Nigerwife