A Resident's wife in Nigeria

A vivid travelogue unfolds as an Englishwoman recounts her journey from the West African coast to the heart of northern Nigeria in the early 1900s. Leaving behind the humid hills of Sierra Leone, she and her husband set out aboard the Sekondi, eager for a change of scenery and a taste of the unknown. Their arrival in Lokoja marks the beginning of an adventure that blends the practical challenges of river travel with the curiosity of a newcomer to a region few Europeans had explored. Along the way, the narrative captures the stark beauty of the landscape, the rhythm of local life, and the author’s candid reflections on the climate and conditions that shaped her experience.

The book proceeds to detail encounters with bustling markets, regal emirs, and everyday customs, enriched by more than forty sketches that bring scenes such as Hausa dress, camel caravans, and river canoes to life. Interwoven with these external observations are intimate chapters on the domestic side of colonial life—managing a garden, caring for animals, and navigating the nuances of household attire. Together they offer listeners a layered portrait of a world in transition, seen through the eyes of a keen, observant traveler.