Ifemelu

Ifemelu is the female protagonist of the novel. Ifemelu is a Nigerian woman who grows up in Nigeria living with her mother and father. Her mother is a very religious woman and her father is a man who values education. Her Aunty Uju is a huge influence on her life and her confidant. She looks up to Uju’s wealthy lifestyle until she discovers that Uju really has no money of her own, but is completely reliant on her wealthy boyfriend.

Because her father values education and Ifemelu scored well on her standardized tests, she attends a high school where she doesn’t quite fit in because her classmates come from wealthier families. While there, she meets Obinze, a handsome, confidant boy who is new to the school. He immediately fits in better than Ifemelu does. Ifemelu dates Obinze throughout high school and into her college years. When...