Lagos Flash Fiction Series (#1-6) by Tolulope Popoola

While many books in the Nigerian literature space hint at the chaos in Lagos, the Lagos Flash Fiction series really highlights the madness of Lagosians.

The first time I visited Lagos was after my WAEC exams. I was wide-eyed and curious because I had heard so much about it. A few weeks into my visit, I came to a realization: Lagos people are mad, and you need to be mad to survive in Lagos.

While many books in the Nigerian literature space hint at the chaos in Lagos, the Lagos Flash Fiction series really highlights the madness of Lagosians.

Thoughts

The collection comprises a total of six books, with each one spotlighting a different character and how they navigate their career in the city.

The series kicks off with Memoirs of a Lagos Wedding Planner, which is the story of Bisi, the wedding planner. Honestly, I think this was a smart choice because what better way to highlight the absolute madness of Lagos than a wedding scene?

One thing I noticed while reading the series was how Tolulope infused humor into the stories. Like yes, the bridal train might have gotten into an argument before the wedding, and, yes, the bride had to hire strangers to fill in. But it’s told in such a funny way that you can’t help but laugh.

And while the story might be humorous, the story does shine light on what it means to live in the city.

A key theme in each of the books is survival. Each of the characters had one goal in mind, which was to survive whatever the day would throw at them. From CJ, the best man ensuring that all weddings went on without a hitch, to Ladi encountering a ghost in his car just because he wanted to make more money, each of these characters wanted to survive.

If you’re looking for something short and entertaining, then you should definitely pick up the Lagos Flash Fiction series