Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku

But let’s be clear: Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow isn’t about liposuction; it’s about the choices we make in life, what influences those choices, and their consequences.

“The thing about being beautiful was that people listened to you. They favoured you.”

Big bumbum matters, and that’s a fact! On this hill, I shall die. Big bumbum is the new currency—the oga that opens doors and validates us. It’s the traffic and the roadblock.

But let’s be clear: Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow isn’t about liposuction; it’s about the choices we make in life, what influences those choices, and their consequences.

That said, can we all gather to beat Làdun? Children can be selfish, but in this life, you must live for yourself and your happiness. When you’re happy, your children will be happy, too.

Thoughts

Damilare has a knack for humorous titles, from All the Men in Lagos Are Mad to Big Bumbum Matters. But just like the former, the title is where the humor ends.

Deconstructing societal constructs

The story is deep, sad, heavy, and deeply reflective. It doesn’t crucify people who undergo butt lifts or liposuction but instead provides insight into how societal constructs shape our views of women’s bodies.

While the narrative revolves around Temi and her desire for a butt lift, it delves into broader conversations, like the pervasive influence of pretty privilege. Pretty privilege is a necessary conversation—it benefits some while disadvantaging others. An argument could be made that it doesn’t help people in the way they think, but let’s save that for another day.

Finding and accepting self

Beyond the bumbum, this story critiques how society’s expectations trample on individual desires. Take Auntie Jummai, for instance. She clearly liked women but got married, likely to please society and hide her true self. That didn’t end well.

Even the hairdresser couldn’t be who she was because of societal expectations. This echoes a line from Nervous Conditions, where Tambu’s mother says, “The burden of womanhood is a heavy one.” This line encapsulates the entire plot of the book.

Family dynamics

In Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow, we see how important family is but also how fractured it can be. I appreciated how Damilare gave each of them a voice in the story so we could hear from all sides.

My heart broke for Temi’s family and all they lost. Temi’s dad exemplified what parenthood should be, and I loved him even more by the end. Temi’s mom is still just a girl at heart, desperately needing love and care. Ladun and Temi need holding too. May anger never hold us back from making up with the people we love.

As for Auntie Jummai. I hope someone takes the load from her back and tells her to rest. She’s been through so much.

Verdict

The story of Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow is incredibly important and timely. It’s a sobering reminder of how societal expectations shape and sometimes harm our choices.

“You keep waiting for life instead of seizing it and going for it.”