Nigerian author Lola Shoneyin launched the Malayalam edition of her acclaimed novel The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives at the Kerala Literary Festival!

The Malayalam edition is the first of three translations expected in 2026, bringing the total number of languages to at least ten by year’s end. Previously available in English, Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Turkish, the novel continues its global reach fifteen years after its initial publication in 2010.

During the festival, Shoneyin participated in three sessions: “The Caricature Of A Patriarch,” “Exhibitions To Experiences: How Curators Make Meaning,” and “Elected Dictators: When Democracy Becomes The Cover (Book Launch).” The Malayalam translation launch represents a significant milestone for African literature in India, creating opportunities for readers in Kerala to engage with contemporary Nigerian storytelling. Shoneyin described the festival as “magical” and expressed enthusiasm about the expanding translation program that continues to introduce her work to new audiences across different linguistic and cultural contexts.

The Malayalam edition arrives as EbonyLife Films prepares a feature film adaptation of the novel, scheduled for theatrical release in December 2026. The film marks EbonyLife Films’ first cinema project in five years and represents an unprecedented partnership between four major African media companies: EbonyLife Group, Genesis Group, Nile Media Entertainment Group, and Silverbird Group. The cast includes Odunlade Adekola, Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Aigbe, Bimbo Ademoye, and Omowunmi Dada, with supporting performances from Shaffy Bello, Bisola Aiyeola, Lateef Adedimeji, and Kunle Remi. Director Daniel Oriahi and screenwriter Adze Ugah are adapting Shoneyin’s novel, which explores power, patriarchy, and secrets within a polygamous household.

Originally announced as a Netflix series in 2020, the project evolved into a feature film format better suited to the novel’s tension-driven narrative and psychological depth. The film will be released in Nigeria and international territories, including the United Kingdom, where EbonyLife Cinemas is scheduled to open in 2026. The simultaneous expansion of the novel through translations and its adaptation to screen demonstrates the enduring relevance of Shoneyin’s examination of marriage, fertility, and female agency within contemporary African society. From its position as required reading in Nigerian schools to its upcoming cinematic interpretation, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives continues to generate conversations about gender, power, and tradition across multiple platforms and global audiences.

Photos from the Festival obtained from Lola Shoneyin’s Instagram page: