Kukuruku Girl: Tales of My Childhood for public presentation

A first novel, Kukuruku Girl: Tales of My Childhood, will be publicly presented at The Garden Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos, on April 9, 2022.

Onize Edith Aiyede is the author of the novel, a remarkable collection of stories of her formative years in Igarra in the northern part of Edo State. 

As the title suggests, the novel is about the author’s younger years in her natal town at the foot of the famous Kukuruku Hills from which the title is derived. A reviewer has described her first attempt as a “candid delivery of experiences, which were fun and tragic at some point, while revealing other aspects that were mischievous and humbling.”

Described as a woman of many parts, Aiyede is a professional realtor, holds a diploma in Estate Management and an MBA from Nexford University, Washington DC, USA. 

A child rights advocate and gender equality campaigner, Aiyede is also a culture activist. Of course, she serves dollops of the culture of her town in the publication. Writing the Foreword, for instance, Edi Lawani, promoter and special events consultant, insists that “the essence of her cultural heritage pops out very strongly and this makes the collection of stories take on a historical dimension.”

High-profile guests from academia, Igarra people in the diaspora and the entertainment industry are expected at the public presentation, which will begin at 4:00 p.m.