Only big bumbum matters

Damilare Kuku must explain to me why her book title is 5 words. I'm going to be referring to it as the book moving forward. I can't type all those words, please.

I finished reading the book last night. I thought I'd finish it at the end of the week, but 10 pages into where I stopped on Saturday, I realized I could sit in the bookstore and finish it. Nothing waiting for me at home so why hurry home?

I'm pleased I read the book in 3 days. It took that long because it was in the bookstore. Or not really. I have books at home that I've not guzzled down with such speed.

I like the book. It was a quick, easy and needed read. The writing was okay. The story felt a bit disjointed, but I understood what the author was trying to do.

The BBL craze happening and the backlash against it reminds me of something I wrote years ago on bleaching. It's easy to have self-love, body confidence, or feel beautiful in your skin till you see the favors and respect people get from having certain body types.

The book touched on how insecurity, like charity, begins at home. And how it's a seed planted and is vigorously watered by society, family, and friends. How things that are often said as jokes stay with people and feed already existing insecurities.

This is not new information to me because I have experienced this. Many women I know have experienced it too. When people greet you with comments about your body. Unfortunately, I'm not 100% innocent. This book has reminded me why I need to be more cautious about the things I say about people's bodies, albeit jokingly. Especially to my family and friends. And not only body as in weight but also other features - nose, lips etc.

I think the book was a bit disjointed in that it wanted to talk about the women in her life - their lives and how they became who they are. I think it's important because we - I mean, me, I forget that my aunties were once young or had dreams of husbands, children, and government jobs. I wish my aunties told us more about their lives- regrets, highlights, big and small moments.

I enjoyed that there wasn't trauma in the book, unlike a handful of Nigerian books. I don't have the energy to rate it. If you're curious, pick it up. You might like it or not. But hey, it'll add to your book count for the year.

From Uganda with Love plays on loop as I edit and prep this. Even though my brief visit to Uganda was without love, I love this little EP from MAUIMØON x La Soulchyld. It's a mix of playful, flirty and laid-back.