Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow

By: Damilare Kuku

Narrated by: Weruche Opia

From the bestselling author of Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad, and 'queen of the banging book title' comes a powerful polyphonic novel about family secrets, judgemental aunties, and Brazilian butt lifts.

Fresh out of university, 20-year-old Témì has a clear plan for her future: she is going to surgically enlarge her backside like all the other Nigerian women, move from Ile-Ife to Lagos, and meet a man who will love her senseless. When she finally finds the courage to tell her mother, older sister, and aunties, at the funeral of her beloved father, her announcement causes an uproar - because in Nigerian families, none of your business is private. Not even if it’s about your bumbum.

But as each of the other women try to cure Témì of what they consider to be insanity, the long-buried secrets that bind and separate them are spilled in the process. In the end, it seems like Témì might be the sanest one sha…

In Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow, Damilare Kuku brings her signature humour, boldness, and compassion to each member of this loveable but exasperating family, whose lives reveal the ways in which a woman’s physical appearance can dictate her life and relationships and showing just how sharp the double-edged sword of beauty can be.

Praise for Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow:

'Damilare Kuku, queen of the banging book title, knows how complicated it is to be a Nigerian woman. This book explores themes weightier than any BBL but never preaches. Kuku made me giggle and gasp. I loved it' Nikki May, author of Wahala and This Motherless Land

'In her latest work Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow, Kuku paints a vibrant intergenerational portrait of the female condition in Nigeria... Funny, fierce, and heartfelt!' Chioma Okereke, author of Bitter Leaf & Water Baby

‘Both tender and hilarious, Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow addresses the impossible decisions that women in patriarchal societies have to make. Damilare Kuku is an enthralling storyteller, handling the boisterous harmony of this multigenerational cast of female characters with compassion and flair’ Jendella Benson, author of Hope & Glory©2024 Damilare Kuku (P)2024 Simon & Schuster UK

Everything

Damilare’s sophomore offering and first debut novel delivers. Damilare’s gift is humour. She is able to use humour to disarm the reader. She skilfully uses humour to offer heart-rending observations.

This debut novel follows Témì, who is 20 years old. She has just graduated from university and her dear father has just died. Her older sister, Làdùn, has returned for his funeral after a bewildering five-year absence. Témì wants BBL and makes the announcement leading to a gallery of commentary.

In this novel, Damilare with masterful storytelling tackles issues that face Nigerian women. While focused on Nigerian women, readers on the continent can resonate with the lived experiences of these women.

With tenderness, Damilare speaks to question of belonging, desire, the shame of secrets, family tensions, colourism, body dysphoria and learning disabilities. Additionally, she makes the render think about the harmful effects of compulsory heterosexuality.

Damilare is a lover who loves love, this can be seen from her portrayal of my favourite character Tito, the Professor and father. Tito loves Hassana deeply and intentionally. He is patient, kind and wonderful. He stays by Hassana.

The debut novel humorous title is misleading, you may enter the story thinking that it will be a light, fun-filled read but it is not. The story deals with difficult topics – living as a Black woman in a society that hates Black women, where one is faced with the everyday violence of patriarchy and misogynior.

Damilare’s characters are wonderfully flawed, which makes them both endearing and exasperating.

In the end, this novel is vivid, hilarious and deeply reflective.