Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad: Stories

The anti-rom-com debut short story collection that took Nigeria by storm, featuring twelve “bewitching and revelatory” (The New York Times) and “ridiculously entertaining” (Booklist starred review) stories about the perils and pitfalls of dating men in Lagos, from a rising star of Nollywood

“Sharply observational, funny and profound, this book is dynamic sociological satire that is as universal as it is specific.” —Bolu Babalola, author of Reese's Book Club pick and national bestseller Honey and Spice

One night, you will calmly put a knife to your husband's private part and promise to cut it off. It will scare him so much that the next day, he will call his family members for a meeting in the house. He will not call your family members, but you will not care. You won’t need them.

 In this remarkable and darkly humorous short story collection, Damilare Kuku takes us deep into the heart of modern Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, and the lives of a collection of audacious women who cope with romantic difficulties by brilliantly turning the tables on the men who wrong them.

One hardworking married woman calmly threatens sharp-edged revenge on her lazy, hypocritical husband. Another skillfully protects her own business interests by shielding her pastor-husband from allegations of cheating that may or may not be true. A group of wealthy wives deceived by their husbands join forces in a WhatsApp support group called the Virtuous Wives Guild. And a discerning dater fed up with Nigerian men makes a vow to date only oyibos before discovering that white men can act just as badly.

A bestseller in Damilare Kuku’s native Nigeria, Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad is a raunchy, satisfying, and outrageous example of contemporary African fiction steeped in the chaos and allure of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest city. It’s also a love letter to Nigerian women: the women in these stories may be confronted at every turn with liars, scammers, and cheaters in their quests for love, but they always figure out how to come out victorious.

“If you are over Valentine’s Day, Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad is for you.” - The Root

“If you’re going through a break-up and need a pick-me-up, this is the one for you.” - Huffington Post

“Ridiculously entertaining . . . Kuku does not resort to clichés or caricatures of men and women one-upping each other, instead she imparts gracious moments of femininity, reasonableness, compassion, confidence, and empowerment.” - Booklist (starred review)

“Kuku's unflinching insight and irresistible charm promises profundity—and (mad) laughter.” - Shelf Awareness (starred review)

“A bewitching and revelatory portrait of Lagos.” - The New York Times

“Raucous and vibrant.” - Library Journal

“With this singular debut collection, Nigerian author Kuku digs into the trials and tribulations of dating and married life for women in Lagos. . . . Kuku finds both hideousness and humor in her precise details and candid, voice-driven characterizations. Readers who have had their own share of bad romances will appreciate the realness on display.” - Publishers Weekly

“Kuku is a studious writer who leans into humour, satire and astute observations. . . . Kuku’s stories are delectable and fun, but they also reveal the ridiculousness of gender expectations and the sexual politics that assign men and women rigid roles in intimate relationships.” - The Guardian

“‘Witty and utterly enjoyable! At the heart of every story is a juicy scandal waiting to unfold. This is definitely the best of Lagos situationships in three hundred pages.” - Sally Kenneth Dadzie, author of Stranger In Lagos

“Kuku’s provocative debut is a brilliant, witty, punchy account of the messiness of relationships.” - Refinery 29