This archive report was first published on 24 September 2019.
Oyinkan Braithwaite: Nigerian Author's Rise to Literary Fame ¶
Published on September 24, 2019, Nigerian author Oyinkan Braithwaite's debut novel, 'My Sister, the Serial Killer', has been making waves in the literary world since its release in 2018.
On September 22, 2019, a group of ardent readers gathered in an intimate setting for a book reading and conversation with Braithwaite at Cafe One by Sterling in Lekki, Lagos. The event provided the perfect environment for candid conversations about the author's debut novel, her writing process, and more.
Braithwaite's inspiration for her novel came from the black widow spider, which she wrote a poem about in 2007. The idea stuck with her until she started writing the book in 2017. She set out to finish the project in one month, which she did, and self-published it on platforms like Okada books and iBooks.
The novel is primarily based on the story of two sisters, Ayoola and Korede. Despite Ayoola being the one committing the crimes, the story is told from Korede's perspective. Braithwaite chose this point of view to allow readers to see the relationship between the two sisters and Korede's self-esteem issues.
Braithwaite also drew from her experiences with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to add tension to the book. The novel explores themes such as sisterly bond, loyalty, beauty, and how society chooses to engage with it.
Her book has received a lot of recognition since its release last year, selling 13,052 units according to Nielsen BookScan and coming out in 5 languages with about 20 pending. It has been considered for several notable literary awards, including the 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction and the Booker Prize.
