THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE

“The future is always working, always busy unfolding better things, and even if it doesn’t seem so sometimes, we have hope of it.” What better time for these inspiring words! The Girl with the Louding Voice is a beautiful story of courage, about Nigerian teenager Adunni, whose father marries her off after her mother passes away. All Adunni wants is an education so that she can raise her “louding voice” to the world. But it is hard to maintain hope when she loses almost everyone who cares about her, and everyone left reinforces that she is nothing. When Adunni is sold as a domestic servant in Lagos, she must survive the most desperate circumstances, solve a mystery in her new home, and continue to follow her dream.

I loved this book, and Adunni’s character. I wished I could wrap my arms around her and tell her that she matters! The power of hope is a salve for Adunni’s broken heart, even when she has every reason to give up. What I loved most about this story was the way Adunni allows herself to be lifted up by kindness and human connection rather than give way to bitterness and despair. The story also enlightened me about the tragic circumstances of Nigerian “housegirls,” many of whom are young, teenage domestic slaves.

Now, let’s talk about PLANS. For this post, I had planned to make a bowl of Nigerian puff-puff, dusted with powdered sugar, surrounded by irises to complement the beautiful purple cover. Or the savory meat pies referenced in the book, which sounded so delicious. But I originally posted this in 2020 and as we all learned during that year, *plans* can unexpectedly change. The markets had no flour or sugar, and we all made do with what was in the pantry and freezer! So please humor me and pretend these hamburgers are Nigerian “meat pies.” Thank you to my friend, Nigerian food blogger @kitchenbutterfly , who sent me wonderful recipes that I hope to use one day very soon!