Wednesday 25 January 2012

TEDxEuston - Lola Shoneyin - 'Boys, sex and control'

It is difficult to put Lola Shoneyin in a box - novelist, poet, teacher, mother, activist. Perhaps that is what makes her so unique and interesting. Perhaps that is why we chose her to start off TEDxEuston 2011 - with no idea of her topic. What a start it was....


Lola Shoneyin says that she considers herself very lucky to have a day job that she absolutely loves: teaching English and drama at a secondary school in Abuja, Nigeria. She is also Deputy Principal of the school and first says that she writes in her spare time, and then admits she really writes 'all the time', constantly trying to memorise a catchy line or jot down phrases on paper. Lola wanted to be a writer because of the many stories she had to tell, having spent exactly 7.673% of her life day-dreaming. Her best seller; "The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives" is set in modern-day Nigeria. It explores the intricacies of a polygamous family. It has been described as "A fiercely funny, endearing and provocative novel" and as "...a powerful, mature and absorbing work of fiction". Lola has four children and is married "to a lovely, compassionate man who used to have a huge moustache."

Watch her amazing talk at TEDxEuston 2011 here.....and share it!

No comments:

Post a Comment