Characters

Yaremi

Yaremi is the novel’s protagonist and heroine. She is Ajumobi’s widow. Much of the
story in Lonely Days revolves around her. Yaremi’s humiliation, loneliness and
struggle for survival in Kufi are a microcosm of the plight of widows in the larger
society.

Her character is that of a hardworking and assertive widow undaunted by societal

pressures. Through Yaremi’s character, the author celebrates the beauty, industry,
talent and resilience of the African woman.

Though her marriage to Ajumobi was not entirely perfect as they fought on some
occasions, she loved her husband nonetheless. The author also uses Yaremi’s
character to portray the dilemma most widows face when considering a second
marriage. Through her character, one understands that a widow’s remarriage comes
with so many unanswered questions.

Woye

Woye is Yaremi’s grandson. He is the son of Segi, Yaremi’s daughter. He lived with
Yaremi until it was time for him to start school in Olode. He kept Yaremi company
and assisted her in making taffeta products which she sold in different markets.
Through Woye’s character, the author celebrates childhood innocence and stresses
the importance of informal home training before formal education.

Ajumobi

Ajumobi is Yaremi’s late husband. He was a brave hunter who loved to boast of his
hunting prowess. He died after a brief illness. He was an ambitious man. For
instance, prior to his death he planned to renovate his house and take a second
wife. He was short tempered and often reacted to Yaremi’s nagging. Like other men
in Kufi, he beat Yaremi on few occasions.

Segi and Wura

These are Yaremi’s daughters. Segi is Woye’s mother. Yaremi discussed her fears of
remarriage with Segi when she visited Kufi.

Alani

Alani is Yaremi’s son who lived in the city. He hardly came to the village having
taken to city life.

Dedewe, Fayoyin and Radeke

These are three other widows in Kufi. Their experiences reflect the injustice and
ill-treatment meted out to widows by members of the society.

Ayanwale, Olonade and Lanwa

These are Yaremi’s suitors. She turned down their marriage proposals when each of
them approached her privately. She further rejected them all in public during the
cap picking ceremony.

Setting:

The novel’s location is Kufi, an imaginary village in the South-Western part of

Nigeria. The author uses Kufi to represent and illustrate the larger society’s
treatment of widows.

Narrative Technique:

The author uses mainly the third person narrative. However, on few occasions the
author let Yaremi tell her own story.

3) CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter 1

Yaremi mourned the death of Ajumobi and tried to console herself with the fact that
Ajumobi did not die a shameful death.
The mourners falsely suspected her of having killed her husband.
She became very lonely with no husband or children to keep her company.
Woye, her grandson became her only company. She told him stories of her childhood
and taught him number games while making taffeta.
Chapter 2

Chapter 2 captures Yaremi’s everyday routine especially how she worked hard in the
kitchen, in the forest while gathering firewood and in the dyeing yard where she
produced her taffeta.
Yaremi is portrayed as a very strong, beautiful and agile woman in spite of her
age.
Chapter 3

This chapter describes the narrow road leading to the village river. This road
served as a meeting point for widows in Kufi.
The chapter also features stories of humiliation, torture and ill-treatment of
other widows in Kufi namely Dedewe, Fayoyin and Radeke.
Chapter 4

Yaremi showed her versatility by combining different tasks. She made stitches,
discarded husks of palm kernel and blew chaff off the melon seeds.
She spent her leisure time exchanging pleasantries with neighbours and telling Woye
stories from her childhood days.
The importance of time management was emphasised in this chapter.
Chapter 5

Woye is portrayed as a very playful child. Yaremi taught Woye how to make scarecrow
to ward off hawks.
The chapter reveals the people’s superstitious beliefs.
Chapter 5 describes events leading to the death of Ajumobi.
Chapter 6

Yaremi is portrayed as an independent woman who was no longer under the control of
a man.
This chapter introduces the readers to the character of Ajumobi. Ajumobi is
described as a brave and powerful hunter. He was also very ambitious.
Yaremi recalled the moments they spent together and showed how much she adored him.
Ajumobi expressed his desire for a polygamous marriage.
Chapter 7

The author describes moonlight night in Kufi.

Yaremi recalled her relationship with Ajumobi in his lifetime.
She recalled how she insulted him on some occasions and how Ajumobi beat her.
After his death, Ajumobi appeared on different occasions.
Yaremi attempted to ask Ajumobi several rhetorical questions.
Yaremi expressed her desire for Ajumobi’s affection.
Chapter 8

This chapter describes how Yaremi sold her taffeta in different markets and how she
dealt with her debtors.
Woye’s ill-health worried Yaremi. She gave him special attention and made several
promises. These were aimed at making him recover quickly.
Woye recovered from his illness.
Chapter 9

This chapter describes Kufi women. They were hardworking and showed so much
devotion to their husbands and children. It also describes how women coped in
polygamous homes.
Yaremi displayed her generousity by sharing her food with others.
Yaremi became influential and assertive. Most men in Kufi resented her for these
attributes.
Ayanwale, Olonade and Lanwa proposed marriage to Yaremi.
Chapter 10

Yaremi displayed manly attributes.

She chided her suitors and turned down their marriage proposals.
Ajumobi appeared to Yaremi in her dreams assuring her of his presence and support.
Her extended family planned to organise a cap picking ceremony to facilitate her
remarriage and a purification ritual to make her forget the past.
Chapter 11

Dedeke, Fayoyin and Radeke tried to talk Yaremi into remarriage.

This chapter features the cap picking ceremony.
Yaremi refused to pick a cap at the cap picking ceremony.
The villagers were angry.
Chapter 12

Yaremi suffered great resentment from the villagers as a result of her decision to
remain unmarried.
She recalled her happy days with Ajumobi especially how he showered her with love,
care and affection.
She considered leaving Kufi for Adeyipo, her parents’ village.
Chapter 13

Segi visited Adeyipo village. Yaremi confided in Segi and expressed her fears.
The chapter features many unanswered questions associated with a widow’s second
marriage.
Woye looked forward to starting school in Olode.
Woye returned to Olode with Segi, his mother.
Chapter 14

Alani, Yareni’s son arrived from the city.

Uncle Deyo scolded him for keeping away from the village and from his father’s
properties.
Uncle Deyo took Alani to Ajumobi’s cocoa plantation showing him the farm’s
boundaries.
To Yaremi’s chagrin, Alani announced that he was returning to the city and was not
interested in cultivating his late father’s farm.
The village elders threatened to confiscate Ajumobi’s properties and banish Yaremi
completely from the village.
Yaremi resolved to remain in Kufi in spite of all odds.