By: Kingsley Mark Akpan
Femme Forte. It’s French for “strong woman”; and expatiated on, “a woman of courage, intelligence, and fortitude”. Such women abound world over; particularly as members of Nigeria’s “Book Club City” since 2021 and its longest-running city book club, Uyo Book Club.
With March calendared globally as the month for the celebration of the International Women’s Day, Uyo Book Club dedicated this month’s reading session to highlight the multi-faceted and layered roles of women, beam their countless successes, and champion their rights.
Just as fitting, “So Long A Letter” – the award-winning novel by Senegalese author and female rights activist, Mariama Bå – was chosen as the Book of the Month; and Mrs Esther B. Attih, a creative director and writer who champions women’s rights, emerged as the Book Reviewer of the Month.
As usual, Shakespeare Hall, WatBridge Hotels and Suites (opposite Ibom Hall), Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was the venue; and hours before the designated 4:00 p.m time of commencement, the hours-long torrential rainfall regardless, members were already trickling in for the book ‘buffet’ segment we call the “DEAR Moment” – which is a catchy acronymic term for the “Drop Everything And Read Moment”.You see the hundreds of books splayed in front of everyone on the large, long table in the attached photos from Uyo Book Club Reading Sessions? That’s how the DEAR Moment is set-up – you get to make a pick of any book you fancy then read it.
It doesn’t end at just reading during the DEAR Moment. We get to ruminate on the books read, with each person present giving a summary of their chosen book. Curious about what books were read and summarized during the DEAR Moment? You should watch the livestream of the event here: https://www.facebook.com/uyobookclub/videos/1487103196462560/ .
“So Long A Letter” focuses on protagonist Ramatoulaye’s letter to her long-time friend, Aissatou. Ramatoulaye informs her friend of being recently widowed, and the length and processes involved in the traditional mourning rites. The protagonist presses on about betrayal by her recently-deceased spouse, societal and familial expections of her as a wife and mother, the intricacies of and rifts caused by polygamy, and the humiliating gender-biased mourning rites she is being subjected to.Mrs. Attih, the Uyo Book Club Book Reviewer of the Month of March 2026, templating on the themes of “So Long A Letter”, drew comparisons with occurrences in Nigeria. From the glass ceiling of aspiration within Nigeria’s sociopolitical system to the weighter expectations when actions are morally scaled, she highlighted the discrepancies in what is expected of and opportunities made available to women in the larger society.
Reacting to the book review, Dr. Udeme Nana, the Founder, harped on the need to make society a safer place for women, opining Nigeria (and Akwa Ibom particularly) should place a stiffer, harsher punishment on people who violently assault women, including proven rapists. Dr. Nana condemned the trivializing of rape by those who blame the victims and attempt to shield rapists from facing the legal consequences.As regards making workplaces safer for women, Barr. Obo Effanga, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, a Fellow of the Uyo Book Club and its January 2026 Special Guest Reader, exemplified by analogizing how he does it. Barr. Effanga recalled setting up a meeting attended by female staff of the INEC Akwa Ibom State Headquarters, and during the deliberations where he encouraged the women to speak up for themselves, they listed adjustments which will make work more conducive.
It resulted in him directing the construction of toilets attached to each office, stocked with toiletries and sanitary pads. For the INEC state boss, he realized insisting women speak up about their workplace needs highlighted his blindside to some of the realities of women as he otherwise wouldn’t have, as a man, thought about details such as sanitary pads and other such female peculiar needs.Barr. Effanga also mentioned certain familial experiences have helped him understand better that only women truly understand the challenges of women so he’s always in support of letting women champion their causes while he supports them in every way he can.
For Dr. Martin Akpan, the Uyo Book Club Orator, Mrs. Esther B. Attih’s animated and engaging book review stood out; and her spin on the book’s many themes, relating it to the events, happenings and observable societal occurrences in Nigeria did “So Long A Letter” justice and made it a memorable review to be recollected with nostalgia.
There were more reactions from other members present. Banker-turned-writer, Mr. Chukwuma Amadi, quizzed the Book Reviewer of the Month about balancing being observably cultured yet identifying as a feminist which, in his words, connotes negativity and combativeness in the Nigerian context.
The same notion was reiterated by Mr. Kingsley Mark Akpan, a web developer and brand Identity designer. Mr. Akpan, analogizing with viral examples in the Nigerian social media space, questioned why the worst representatives of feminists seem to be more vocal than the consummate, evenly-tempered civil ones; with the former generating bad press for the movement which should, by default, simply be about women’s rights.
As a testament to Uyo Book Club’s enduring legacy and cross-border eputation for championing intellectualism and organizing fun reading sessions, amongst the new faces present was Prof. Victor Datonye Dapper, the Professor of Human Physiology at the University of Port Harcourt and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Medicine (NAMed), who came all the way from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
The Uyo Book Club welcomes all. It is perhaps Nigeria’s most diverse demographic organizational make-up, with members ranging from pre-tertiary school students to heads of parastatals and captains of industry united and connected by the love of books, reading, and intellectual engagements.
Uyo Book Club Monthly Reading Sessions, one of the many expressions of the book club, holds every Saturday by 4:00 p.m. (WAT) at WatBridge Hotels and Suites (opposite Ibom Hall), Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
We are active online too and you should follow us to keep up with our activities and for enquires by checking out https://www.facebook.com/uyobookclub and https://uyobookclub.org .
