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Chapter 22
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
Big Madam parks her car in front of Mr. Kola. Mr. Kola turns off the engine and he and Adunni get out of the car. A fair-skinned man in a brown dress, whom Kola explains is Abu, Big Madam’s driver, emerges from the car. Adunni sees Madam’s feet emerge from the Jeep first, followed by Big Madam. Big Madam is a large woman. Adunni watches Big Madam inhale, feeling as though the large woman’s breath is sucking up all the hot air, leaving everyone around her cold. Big Madam’s face is painted with bright, flamboyant makeup. Mr. Kola, Adunni, and the flowerpots shake in her presence.
Adunni’s observation about Big Madam inhaling all the warm air suggests that Big Madam is a very powerful woman. Since all the people in this scene besides Big Madam are hired help, the observation seems to suggest that Big Madam’s wealth gives her power and strength at the expense of the lower classes. Still, the thick layer of makeup Big Madam plasters on her face suggests that she’s hiding something—perhaps her life isn’t as grand as it seems, and perhaps she isn’t as in control as Adunni’s observation would suggest.
Themes
Big Madam greets Mr. Kola, whom she calls “Agent Kola.” Adunni introduces herself to Big Madam, and she and Kola assure Big Madam that she is hardworking and intelligent. Big Madam tells Kola that “the last girl [he] brought,” Rebecca, “is still missing.” Adunni wonders whether something bad happened to Rebecca, and if something bad will happen to her. Mr. Kola tells Adunni to run inside while he and Big Madam talk alone.
It's interesting that Big Madam calls Kola an “Agent” and that he seemingly has a history of bringing girls like Adunni to work at Big Madam’s. Suddenly, it seems as though Adunni was right to be skeptical of Kola. Perhaps this trip to Big Madam’s was a good choice simply because it was Adunni’s only choice. The brief mention of Rebecca is mysterious, and it hints that Adunni, too, could be in danger now that she’s working for Big Madam.
Themes
Adunni enters the house, and a short man wearing a white outfit greets her. A blue cloth bearing the words “The Chef” hangs around his neck. Adunni introduces herself to the man, who is grateful that “the new housemaid” is finally there. Adunni is confused, since Mr. Kola didn’t mention anything about her being a housemaid. The man introduces himself as Kofi, “the chef. The highly educated chef.” Kofi explains that he is from Ghana, though he has lived in Nigeria for 20 years.
Adunni’s new life doesn’t seem to be as fortuitous as it once appeared—she escaped a life of domestic work and misery at Morufu’s house only to do domestic work in another house. The fact that Kofi makes a point to specify that he is “highly educated” is evidence of the cultural currency that education carries in Nigerian society.
Themes
Adunni takes in her surroundings. She looks around the room and sees photos of Big Madam and her two children. She smells fish stew and money. She also notices that the air is cold and sees a “white box” in the window blowing cold air. There is a big bowl full of fish to Adunni’s right, which Kofi calls an “aquarium,” a word that’s unfamiliar to Adunni. Kofi leaves to prepare dinner, and Adunni wonders if they’ve found Khadija’s body back in Ikati. She also wonders why she isn’t in Ikati being Morufu’s bride, why she isn’t with Mama. Finally, she wonders what she’s doing here, working as a housemaid, when all she really wants to do is go to school.
Adunni takes in her new surroundings with such intensity because so many of the luxuries she sees in Big Madam’s house—like air conditioning units and glass aquariums—are completely new to her. Adunni’s also wonders why she’s ended up in this position in the first place: the limitations that her gender and class have imposed on her make the ability to truly change one’s living situation nearly impossible to fathom.
Themes
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