Essay Questions

What is the meaning of the title?

The title of the book—Wahala—is Nigerian/English slang for trouble or a problem. It is used here connotatively as a way of specifically identifying a problem that is the going to be the source of trouble. Simi’s father warns his daughter against associating with troublemakers by identifying them as a collective: “They are dangerous. Too much wahala.” This is the issuance of a strong warning from a parent to a child to keep away from a person not so much because of who they are individually, but because of the recognition of a membership within a certain category of personality type. It is a recognition of the darker side of humanity that some people just seem born to cause trouble. Some dictionary definitions add a little more shading to the term by suggesting an association with bad luck. And, indeed, the introduction of Isobel into the existing group dynamic does result in changes of fortune.

What is the unifying fact about the friends at the center of this story?

This is a story told through a very unique perspective. What brings this group of friends together is a cultural duality which is rare enough to definitely warrant fictional examination. The women are of bi-racial heritage with Nigerian fathers and British mothers. Because this genetic commingling produces offspring that are not typically “British” in physical appearance, another level of shared commonality is that they all view themselves as outsiders within the famously rigid traditions of English culture. Their friendship is not simply based on the positive aspects of the cultural background they share. There is also a bonding over shared prejudices and petty biases. An interesting element in their relationship centers on the issue of racism. While they all experience racial prejudice directed toward them, they also exhibit racial prejudices directed toward others. The irony is that they are often oblivious to their own racism even as they are complaining about being victims of prejudice.

Who is the "wahala" of this story?

One of the aspects of storytelling which some critics and readers have expressed concern with is the decision by the author to immediately identify Isobel as “the trouble” of the title. It only takes a few pages for Ronke to spot Isobel from across a restaurant as a stranger deep in conversation with her friend Simi and feel “a spike of irritation.” Less than five paragraphs later, Simi introduces the two by telling Ronke that she is going to love Isobel. Ronke’s unspoken response is to think to herself, “I wouldn’t bet on it.” The complaint is that by identifying Isobel as “the wahala” that is going to cause such trouble for the established group of friends, dramatic tension is sacrificed too early. In reality, however, if one reads that opening sequence introducing Isobel without the context of knowing any additional information to come, this criticism is completely unjustified. The only indication that Isobel might be trouble—much less actively seeking to cause trouble—is the negative reaction toward her expressed by Ronke. In fact, one should probably be more suspicious that it is Ronke who will be the one making trouble rather than Isobel.