AN ENERGISED AND SYMPATHETIC PERFORMANCE THAT IS A GLORIOUS WATCH FOR OLDER AUDIENCES

By Madeleine Anderson ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives is a cheeky, honest and compelling display of how women find ways to resist, relate and rejoice in challenging, male-dominated spaces.

Rotimi Babatunde’s adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s book by the same name has Patrice Naiambana playing the polygamous protagonist (Baba Segi). Naimbana’s performance is tough and touching, and shifts between playful flirtation with the audience and jarring displays of domestic and sexual violence.

The play starts with Baba Segi, a wealthy Nigerian man who has three wives and three children. Soon, he meets Bolanle, a university-educated and beautiful young woman that he soon marries.

Bolanle’s education, and her struggle to conceive, subverts the existing order that had been enjoyed by the first three wives, who were content with how their home had functioned before she arrived. Other than Bolanle, all the wives have children ‘with’ Baba Segi, but as is eventually revealed, they have found other waves of having sex and children, outside of the confines of Baba Segi’s home and gaze.

Baba Segi’s four wives are played by Kemi Adekoya, Mofe Akande, Dolapo Oni and Christina Oshunniyi. All the women take on multiple roles, giving the play a stunning ensemble strength, with all actors dancing and playing instruments throughout the performance, in both dark and comic moments.

Parts of the play are either sung or spoken using Yoruba dialect or proverbs. Whilst not understanding the precise translation of these moments, I still felt the emotion and impact of their tone and pitch. All the cast members, and especially Baba Segi’s four wives, were brilliant singers, whose rhythm was central to displaying the multiple themes that were explored throughout the layered and fast-paced narrative.

The production uses a plain black set, with a cream carpet and a few armchairs placed along the front row of seats. Different characters occupy these seats at various points throughout the performance, drawing in audience members in sometimes wince-making sexual exchanges.

The plain staging is off-set by a range of colourful lighting, such as the use of a dark-blood red during a scene depicting sexual violence against a child, or the bright white light that is shone onto ‘teacher’ a prophet-like character (played by Usifu Jalloh) who Baba Segi regularly visits to get advice on conception and marriage.

Whilst performing as part of a large cast, nobody was lost in the group and each character stood out through their compelling performance and the play’s acutely funny writing.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives explores the themes of violence, subversion, and women’s domination and liberation through the lens of sisterhood and of sex. I can see why the play is recommended for those over 18, given its darker themes, but thoroughly enjoyed this energised and sympathetic performance that is a glorious watch for older-audiences.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives is at the Arcola Theatre until May 31.

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Photo Credit: Charlie Flint