First, a few clarifications. I have taken several liberties with my descriptions of Lagos, Nigeria. All the villages, streets, churches, and neighborhoods depicted here are entirely fictional. These details have only been included to give the novel verisimilitude. I have taken similar liberties with my translation and extrapolation of Yoruba words, proverbs, and myths. Instead of literal translations, I have embraced the more poetic, rhythmic renderings of these ideas.
Writing and publishing a book like this one is impossible without the contributing hard work of so many talented people. My eternal gratitude goes to my editor, Jonathan Lee, and the team at Catapult for being the best advocates for this book.
My very special thanks go to my family; my child, my parents, my siblings. Thank you for being a trusted support system. I love you all so much.
Finally, to the faculty of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, particularly Samantha Chang and Kevin Brockmeier, I am grateful for the guidance and fellowship.