Telling it as it is — A Review of Omotoyosi Akinpelu’s ‘ A Butterfly’s Musings’

When you pick up A Butterfly’s Musings you are tempted to instantly find an all encompassing theme, something to tie all the lines that make it up, into one single ball of emotion. But A Butterfly’s Musings will not be constrained so easily. This butterfly has just found its wings and is flying as it wills. The variety and multiplicity of themes is what makes it so absorbing, Toyosi invites us to share her pain, growth, learnings, indecision and aspirations on every page. When you think you have her all figured out, she changes direction and invites you to share another facet of her.

In Dear Female and Black Gold she salutes women and female empowerment. In No Stop Please, To Be Strong, Be Bare? No Thank You and Circle, she uncovers tragedy, rape and the lifetime journey that healing is. In Answered Prayer ( you should read this if you are writing your wedding vows anytime soon ) , she makes us crave love and in I See Men Differently she tackles the reality that abusers are often two faced , men of honour to some and walking terrors to many. My early favourite ( I will be going back to read this book many times) is Dear Woman where she urges women to keep some love for themselves in a world where they are expected to build men with love and nurture children with endless affection.

The strength of A Butterfly’s Musings lies in its simplicity, the writing is not forced, the rhythm is not mechanical. It is pure, relatable writing that speaks from the heart and when a random line sparks a memory, gives you comfort or helps you confront a situation, it has achieved its purpose.

The title might read A Butterfly’s Musings but Toyosi takes us on the entire life cycle; egg, larva, pupa, everything that leads to this bright and beautiful butterfly.

P.S I’m giving away one copy of this book in my WhatsApp DM.