Welcome to Lagos by Chibundu Onuzo comes out today! It’s a debut novel about a Nigerian army officer who deserts his post and travels to Lagos… straight into a political scandal. It’s an amazingly big-hearted and evocative novel. We asked the author how she’s celebrating.
On publication day, I will be in New York. I’ve only been to the city once. I was a child and my memories of the trip are vague. I remember walking past a park, where gigantic men were playing basketball. And I remember how crowded it was. You couldn’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk and stare. A pedestrian would run you over. My Uncle, who was showing us around, tried to take us to a fancy restaurant but my sister and I refused. We wanted McDonalds. So to recoup that missed opportunity, maybe I’ll go and have lobster somewhere to celebrate. Maybe I won’t.
What is certain is that God willing, I will wake up (an event not to be taken for granted) and pray and if I’m doing very well, also read my Bible. Then I will shower because I never go down to breakfast without showering. Then I will follow the smell of bacon and sausages. I never miss a complimentary hotel breakfast. It’s the fourth commandment of travel. Thou shalt rise early, hasten to the breakfast buffet and partake heavily of the repast until thou art full. It saves on lunch. After a heavy breakfast, I’ll probably need a nap or maybe some Netflix. Hopefully, my hotel room has free wifi so I can watch shows that are not available in the UK, like Becoming Mary Jane or How to Get Away With Murder.
I have friends in New York so I might meet up with them before my evening launch event at Word Bookstore in Brooklyn. Most of them have proper grown-up jobs though, so the Man might not let them out of the office till closing time. In which case, I’ll see them at my launch. My outfit has been planned. I bought it from a friend who attends my church and who luckily for me, also happens to make beautiful, Nigerian inspired clothing. Her store is called MsEdivine.
It will take at least an hour for me to get ready. The older I get, the longer it takes. Why you ask? Blame it on YouTube make up tutorials. The daily advances being made in make-up artistry suggest that on my publication date in fifty years time, I’ll start getting ready a week before. The outfit is planned but I’m still vacillating over the shoes? Heels or flats: that is the question?
Hopefully, there’ll be many people there and they’ll buy lots of books. I’ll sign books till I’m tired. I’ll take selfies. I’ll kiss babies. I might go out with some friends afterwards or I might go back to my hotel room and put on some music. Either way, I’ll end the night dancing.
Chibundu Onuzo was born in 1991 in Lagos, Nigeria. She studied history at King’s College London and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in history at the same institution. Her short stories have been commissioned by BBC Radio, and she writes for The Guardian, with a special interest in Nigeria.