A review of Martins Agbonlahor’s ‘Killing Them Softly’ by Andrew Iro Okungbowa
‘Killing Them Softly’ by Martins Agbonlahor, a Nigerian – born United Kingdom-based lawyer and journalist, is a seminal book on the struggle for women’s rights in Nigeria. It also highlights the injustices meted out to women based on cultural beliefs and practices and is a revolt against this odious maltreatment.
It x-rays happenings in Nigeria where poor governance has caused problems of injustice, human rights abuses, bribery, corruption and religious bigotry amongst others. It is also a reflection on other African countries where such practices are elevated to an art.
Through his captivating plot, the writer shows that though he might have left his country of birth, he is fully abreast of happenings there. His source materials are his background and experiences that he uses to highlight the problems plaguing his fatherland.
The author will surely earn commendations for his efforts in the 313 page-novel for telling his story from the standpoint of a feminist. He succeeds in sustaining interest in the factional novel by adopting the storytelling technique rather than use mere polemics.
He makes his case against patriarchal beliefs and practices against women right from the prologue. He frowns at treating women like chattel and seeing them as playthings for men.
So, every point in the novel, he highlights how the odds are stacked women through the life of the protagonist, Martha Clifford. In 28 chapters, he narrates how Martha challenged the status quo and attempted to break the glass ceiling.
She is raised in a polygamous home where her father calls the shot, with his wives and children mere appendages to his person. They have no say in the running of the house and don’t dare go against his dictatorial decrees.
She agonises over this culture in her house. Whenever she queries this state of affairs, her father, mother and others silence her. They warn her against going against oppressive and degrading cultural practices. To do as she is told and not contravene societal code as the consequences are grievous.
She lives in perpetual fear of being denied education and given out early in marriage. The mutilation of her genitals at an early age further brought home the brutality of some cultural practices to her; of her situation as a girl – child growing up in a patriarchal environment.
Fate smiles on Martha at the point of being given out in marriage. Her prospective husband, whom her father is indebted to brings good news to the family. The man, manager of the pool outfit in the community, discloses that Martha’s father has won and become a millionaire.
However, before handing the winning cheque to her father, he elicits a promise from him to educate Martha from secondary school level to university level. Her education further exposes her to other harmful cultural practices against the girl-child and women generally, and she becomes an activist. She is jailed as a result of her actions, but she is undeterred.
Despite spending over two years in prison alongside her five friends with whom she established ‘Women Incorporated,’ later corrupted by the government and the society to ‘Woeman6’ Martha is unbowed.
Does she eventually succeed in her quest? The taste of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating. Reading the novel answers, the question and also highlights other harmful practices against women and children.
It also narrates Martha’s achievements, especially the inclusion of more women in politics and power following her struggles. Reflecting on the development in the epilogue, Martha notes: “We’ve shown to the world that human rights being also women’s rights should not just be an empty phrase mouthed by insincere propagandists, but one that finds meaning and fulfilment in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Please, keep the flag flying.”
‘Killing Them Softly’ is a well-written novel. It reads well with the author’s inclusion of relatable anecdotes and examples from contemporary society. He further spices it with examples from his years of living in Italy. It is a novel for all Nigerians, especially people of conscience concerned about the plight of women and the oppressed.