The Complexities of Human Connection: A Review of Olukorede Yishau’s “After The End”
By Ilerioluwa Olatunde
….The last part wasn’t true, but he didn’t feel bad about lying. Maintaining separate worlds required a seamless surface, no matter the chaos underneath. Unexplained disappearance, skittish or shifty behavior would lead to suspicion, and eventually, discovery. (pg. 16)
Olukorede Yishau’s After the End brings to mind those Nollywood movies that are often problematic. Layers of secrecy and deception, a double life—secrets buried until death cracks them wide open, leaving the unsuspecting loved ones wrestling with unanswered questions. The novel left me pondering: Is there a limit to what we can forgive from those we’ve given our heart and trust to? What happens when the death of a loved one leaves you with more questions than answers?
In his second novel, After the End, Yishau takes us on a journey with two women, Idera and Lydia, whose lives are connected by a shared tragedy as they navigate grief, betrayal, personal growth, and motherhood. The story opens with a line that instantly grabs the reader’s attention: “Google died on the day the UK voted to leave the European Union” (pg. 3). This intriguing start raises questions quickly, drawing the reader into the novel’s dramatic and thrilling plot. We soon learn that “Google” is the nickname Idera gave her husband, Demola, due to his seemingly endless knowledge and habit of always having an answer—much like an encyclopedia.
The story begins with the sudden death of Idera’s husband, Demola. It takes an unexpected turn when a woman named Lydia shows up at Idera’s doorstep with a son—Demola’s son. This devastating revelation plunges Idera into a place of uncertainty, forcing her to question everything she once believed to be true. Yet, unknown to her, even more tragedy and unexpected challenges lie ahead, and she must find the strength to navigate them.
Spanning four different cities: Lagos, Liverpool, London, and Ile-Ife, the novel fearlessly addresses sensitive, controversial topics. Through these characters, Yishau explores how people cope with grief and betrayal and their paths to find closure and healing. The novel also boldly explores racism, infidelity, family dynamics, motherhood, forgiveness, and redemption. Despite the complexity of its characters, the fast-paced and captivating storytelling keeps the reader deeply invested in the narrative.
From the onset, it is clear that Yishau’s narrative techniques are a testament to his mastery as a writer. The story is compellingly told by alternating between first- and third-person points of view. This choice adds depth and invites readers to connect intimately with the characters while comprehensively understanding the plot. Yishau allows Idera to narrate her story in the first person, while other characters are presented through the author’s third-person narration. This approach emphasises that the story remains essentially Idera’s despite the various perspectives and events.
The author’s decision to alternate between past and present timelines further enhances the narrative’s structure, providing full context for the story and its characters. The use of dates and titles for each chapter helps the reader navigate the timeline, making it easier to understand the progression of events and the connections between the characters’ pasts and their present situations. This technique is essential for Demola, whose secret life is revealed gradually, allowing us to understand his motivations and actions. By employing this method, the author ensures that no character is left underdeveloped, allowing each to emerge as complex and emotionally compelling.
The emotional journey in After the End goes beyond mere betrayal, highlighting the complexities of and motivations behind human behaviour and relationships. Family dysfunction runs deep in After the End, revealing the destructive patterns passed down through generations. It shows the struggle to break free from a harmful legacy, only to find oneself entangled in a similar web of deception. Demola’s secret mirrors the actions of his father, who abandoned him and his mother for another woman. Despite hating his father for this betrayal and vowing never to repeat the same mistakes, Demola finds himself trapped in a similar situation. This dysfunction becomes a dangerous cycle, where the father’s sins are repeated, leaving broken trust and heartache in its wake. It’s a stark reminder of the saying, “Sometimes, we can become the very people we are trying not to be.”
The men in Yishau’s work are a piece of work—absentee fathers, irresponsible husbands, and unapologetic in their actions. Through them, the author examines polygamy, presenting it less as an act of cruelty and more as a consequence of unchecked male desire. In Demola’s case, his first wife was stuck in Nigeria, and he decided to take a chance with Idera, lured by the benefits of the situation. Though the author presents Demola as an “accidental” polygamist, it begs the question: can one truly become a polygamist by accident without making deliberate choices? Unlike his father, Demola didn’t abandon his family, but his cowardly actions led him into deception, carefully hiding the chaos of his actions to maintain a facade of normalcy. As the book’s opening quote from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar reminds us, “The evil that men do lives after them.”
The idea of lasting consequences is further underscored when Idera’s eldest son is stabbed by a teenage boy from a broken home, lacking a solid father figure. This situation reflects a deeper societal issue, where the absence of positive role models and supportive family structures can lead young people toward destructive paths. Thus, After the End goes beyond the surface of love and romance, addressing critical societal issues and urging readers to reflect on the far-reaching effects of our decisions.
The female characters in After the End are defined by their strength, resilience, and growth. Each woman faces profound emotional wounds inflicted by the men they trusted and loved, yet they refuse to be defined by their pain. Instead, they embark on self-discovery, finding ways to heal and reclaim their lives. Idera’s journey is particularly captivating; she evolves from betrayal to finding healing and redemption.
The friendship between Idera and Suliat adds depth to the narrative. Suliat embodies true friendship—loving and ever-present, despite the “madness running in her bloodstream.” Her character brings humor and warmth, making the story richer and more engaging. The novel also brings empathy and understanding to the reality of single motherhood, highlighting that the circumstances leading to this reality are different—whether it’s Suliat becoming a single mother after being abandoned by the father of her child or Idera finding herself in the same position due to her husband’s death. What deserves recognition is not how they became single mothers but how they take charge of their lives and turn their circumstances into something meaningful.
The introduction of Justus, an ex-political prisoner with a history with Idera, added another layer of mystery to the story, effectively ushering in the second part, where the focus shifts to the characters’ journey toward redemption and healing. This development deepens the plot, introducing new dimensions to the characters’ struggles and growth. As you turn the pages of this book, you will appreciate the vivid descriptions of locations, events, and cultural elements, particularly food, which resonate with those familiar with these settings. Additionally, Yishau offers insightful commentary on Nigeria’s socio-political climate, particularly during the military era. This backdrop not only adds historical context and depth to the plot but also draws parallels to the socio-political challenges of contemporary Nigeria.
While After the End presents well-developed characters, I wanted more insight into Lydia’s perspective. Additionally, certain romantic scenes felt superfluous, adding little to the narrative’s substance and potentially distracting from the main themes. Despite these minor drawbacks, the novel excels in its narrative structure and character development. The author skillfully employs alternating points of view to create an engaging story that captures the complexities of human relationships. Though the novel begins with heartbreak, it ultimately conveys a message of hope, reminding us that light can be found at the end of the tunnel.
Biography
Ilerioluwa Olatunde is a creative writer and book reviewer interested in fiction, creative nonfiction, and performance poetry. She recently tried her hands at business writing and finds it amusing. She is a fellow of Sprinng and Speakin' Fingers Academy. Her work, which focuses on book reviews, lifestyle, and the human condition, has been published on platforms such as Sprinng and Shuzia. She draws inspiration from the books she reads, societal and economic issues, her personal life, and her relationship with God.
She is also an Economic Research Analyst and enjoys volunteering. When she is not writing, she reads, listens to music, has fun in her head, or does research.
