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Chapter 18
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Girl with the Louding Voice, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Education, Empowerment, and Self-Worth
Gender Inequality and Solidarity
Wealth, Poverty, and Choice
Survival
Summary
Analysis
Iya lives in single room in Agan, the village adjacent to Adunni’s. It’s dark by the time Adunni arrives in Agan; she knocks on Iya’s door several times, but nobody answers. Adunni grows increasingly panicked and initially doesn’t notice that the door has opened. She steps inside and sees Iya, looking extremely thin and ill, sitting on the floor, a walking stick beside her. Iya’s unit is practically empty, with only a mattress, kerosene stove, and a few hanging cloths inside. Adunni tries not to cry as she tells Iya all about Morufu, Khadija, and Bamidele. Iya believes that Bamidele will never come clean about Khadija, for fear of being punished by the Ikati village, which is notorious “for killing people with no questions.”
Iya sees Bamidele’s betrayal for what it is and believes Adunni’s story. As such, she positions herself as someone Adunni can trust, which is more than she can say of any of the men she’s encountered thus far. Iya’s wary remark that the Ikati village is known “for killing people with no questions” shows how fiercely Adunni’s village strives to uphold their social norms. This doesn’t bode well for Adunni, who remains in danger if the villagers believe it was her who killed Khadija.
Themes
Iya can’t allow Adunni to stay with her but offers to help in another way: she has a brother, Kola, who helps “girls like [Adunni].” Iya tells Adunni to go to sleep; they will plan Adunni’s escape tomorrow. Adunni turns off the lantern and lies down. Iya coughs violently and snores, and Adunni stays awake thinking about Mama, Kayus, and Khadija. Suddenly, she hears Papa’s angry voice coming from outside.
Adunni means well, but the introduction of Kola into the equation presents another opportunity for a man to betray Adunni. Papa’s voice outside confirms Adunni’s earlier fear that Papa would break his promise to help her explain Khadija’s death to Morufu.
Themes
