Habitat of the Ordinary People: A Novel

In , Olumide Olutola documents the experiences and lives of marginalized individuals struggling to live on Graeme Thompson Street, a representative dystopic Nigeria's space that is far removed from the seat of power. Part coming-of-age, part family tragedy and sociopolitical trauma, is a narrative driven by its characters and their emotions. Set during Nigeria's transition between the end of military dictatorships and the beginning of a new civilian rule, describes the challenges of its protagonist, Tori Ilesanmi, in navigating the condition of the environment that shapes most of his formative years while he witnesses the growing decadences of a one-time prosperous oil palm company that his grandfather helped to found. Tori's curiosity in Nigeria's evolution motivates him to learn about his space and country from the common people who feel neglected by the ruling elite. Tori is one of these common people, and his experience is a testament to their collective struggle to overcome their socioeconomic condition. Although Tori is the central character in , the story in the novel is not his alone. This narrative equally describes the experiences of the other important characters, especially Bridget and Moji and his two friends, Roseline and Chinedu, who help him to rise above the hostility of Graeme Thompson Street and are also curious about what happened to their country. There is something else fascinating about this novel. While its protagonist is a young male character struggling to navigate life amid a series of family tragedies, most of the other key characters that nurture, raise, and shape him are strong women who use their voices to challenge the harmful habits of a society destabilized by political and cultural oppressions. In doing so, shows the valuable contributions of women to the rise of the African society and describes the mess in a dysfunctional space from the perspectives of women and men alike. Ultimately, the fresh voices and themes in offer a new and unique perspective to understand the experiences of the people living in the indigent and less recognized communities of Nigeria and Africa.