This Motherless Land by Nikki May

From the prize-winning author of WAHALA, a powerful de-colonial retelling of MANSFIELD PARK, exploring identity, culture, race and love.

'A spirited exploration of culture and kinship' BONNIE GARMUS

'Deeply emotional and entertaining' EMMA STONEX, author of The Lamplighters

'Tugs at the heartstrings' DAMILARE KUKU, author of Nearly all the Men in Lagos are Mad

When Funke’s mother dies in an accident in Lagos, she’s sent to live with her maternal family in England. Against a backdrop of condescension and mild neglect, sensible Funke strives to fit in, determined to become one of them. Free-spirited Liv has always wanted to break free of her joyless family, to be nothing like them.

Fiercely protective of Funke, she at last has an ally. The two cousins give each other what they need most: love. But the past casts long shadows and the choices made by their mothers haunt them, shaping the trajectory of their adult lives.

Can they escape their legacy?

Witty, warm, hugely entertaining, This Motherless Land bridges three decades and two continents, delving into the thorny territories of race and culture and belonging. At its heart is a story about love and how it can make the difference between surviving and thriving. 

Paperback 
Publication: 6 Mar 2025, Doubleday
ISBN: 9781804994382
Extent: 368 pages