390pp., paperback, Reprint, Quercus, London, (2024) 2025

ISBN: 9781529425444

A coming-of-age novel, set in Makoko, the floating slum off mainland Lagos, Nigeria.

Nineteen-year-old Yemoja, nicknamed Baby, longs for a better life. When a video of her at work goes viral, she is faced with a choice: leave to represent Makoko on the world stage, or stay and live the life she's always wanted to escape.

"From the deep, dark lagoon of the Makoko slum where canoe boats steer through dirt and debris to the gentle blue lakes of Switzerland, water is at the heart of this beguiling novel. Chioma Okereke has crafted a dynamic, memorable narrator in Yemoja, who sees herself as one pinprick on a map but whose youthful energy and curiosity lifts her on a wave towards new experiences. A captivating, surprising, beautifully structured narrative about grief and loss, but also strength, joy and the value of friendship." Gemma Seltzer, author of Ways of Living

"A beautiful and expansive novel of resilience, love, and family. Okereke's prose beguiles, her characters sing with life and vitality. The world of Makoko teems with character, rich with sensory detail. Heartwarming and incisive, Okereke's skill lies in her incredible warmth and empathy, exemplified by her ability to repurpose this humble community of abject poverty and make it shine. "Courttia Newland, author of A River Called Time

Chioma Okereke was born in Nigeria, grew up in London, and studied law at UCL. The author of the novel, Bitter Leaf, she divides her time between London, Lagos, and rural France.

WATER BABY

: Okereke (C.)

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