Look, I get it.

You’re tired.

Tired of picking up another Nigerian novel only to be hit with colonialism, civil war, poverty porn, or some combination of all three. Don’t get me wrong – these stories matter. But abeg, sometimes a babe just wants to read about two people falling in love without having to process generational trauma at the same time.

Enter the magical world of Nigerian romance novels. Yes, they exist! And no, they’re not just poorly written Mills & Boon knockoffs. These books are serving heat, heart, and humor with a distinctly Nigerian flavor.

So why aren’t you reading them?

I mean seriously.

Let me break it down for you. These authors aren’t just writing one flavor of love story like garri soaked in cold water.

They’re serving a whole bukka of romance:

Take Timi Waters, for instance, yours truly of course, duh!

That woman is the queen of sensational romance novels. Think “Devil Wears Prada” but make it Lagos tech startup vibes. Her heroines are climbing corporate ladders in stilettos while dealing with fine but complicated CEOs. And trust me, the tension between her characters is hotter than pepper soup on a Harmattan morning.

Camaa Pearl specializes in slow-burn romance with enough Nigerian spice. Her writing style and “girl-next-door” type romance will have you screaming “God when?” at your phone. You know that ex from university that’s suddenly posting Instagram stories from Eko Hotel looking like a whole snack? That’s the kind of story she writes but with actual happy endings instead of blocking them on WhatsApp.

Kiru Taye? Aunty is the “Iya Oloja” of steam! I’m talking eat-your-phone-out steam. I’m talking drool-worthy-love-must-locate-me-this-year steam. Her characters will make you forget everything you learned in Social Studies. She’ll have you invested in a love story between a warrior and a princess faster than your mother can say “When are you bringing someone home?”

And Emem Bassey? She’s out here writing sweet and spicy romance featuring buxom heroines dealing with both venture capitalists and village people. The kind of stories where love must survive both family drama and actual drama.

That’s not all.

Not even close.

Have you read Rosemary Okafor, Amaka Azie, Sally Kenneth Dadzie, L Leigh, Jesicca Tagbajumi, Adesuwa O’Man Nwokedi, Tomolola Coco Adeyemo….woah, woah, wait! Before I go any further.

You haven’t read these authors?

Where art thou being? Not under a rock, I hope.

I mean we don’t judge.

We love the flintstones.

But gurrrrrl!

Okay.

Phew.

Let me exhale.

The Real Wahala

Here’s what gets me heated: Nigerian romance authors are out here WORKING. They publish consistently, market their books, and engage with readers on social media. Meanwhile, what are we doing? Complaining about how there’s nothing to read except heavy literary fiction while scrolling past their books on Amazon.

“But where can I find these books?” I hear you ask. The same place you buy all those trauma books you claim to be tired of – Amazon! And please, don’t come with that “romance isn’t serious literature” nonsense. First of all, who said everything needs to be serious? Are we not stressed enough? Secondly, these books tackle real issues – career, family pressure, modern relationships – while still giving us the happy endings we deserve.

While we’re still talking literature, let’s even get into the nitty-gritty of romance writing. Crafting a good romance novel is harder than explaining to your Nigerian parents why you want to study creative arts.

A romance author:

• Craft complex characters with more layers than Mama Peace’s gele
• Build tension that keeps you more hooked than your aunt’s Zee World addiction
• Tackle social issues smoother than a politician dodging interview questions
• Create chemistry that’s more explosive than mixing Bigi Cola with Mentos

I mean, you’ll read Chimamanda’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” and call it a masterpiece because it explores war and politics through a love story, but turn your nose up at romance novels that explore modern Nigerian society through love stories.

Make it make sense.

Common Themes in Nigerian Romance

• Career women navigating the chaos of Lagos corporate life
• Traditional family values clashing with modern relationships
• The pressure of being a successful woman in Nigeria (where your bank account is growing but your mother’s prayer points are still “husband husband husband”)
• Mental health and personal growth (because contrary to popular belief, romance novels aren’t just about finding a man)

The Tea About Nigerian Publishing

Let’s talk numbers because this is where it gets interesting.

The average Nigerian romance author:

• Self-publishes because traditional publishers claim “romance doesn’t sell” (but will publish the 157th book about Nigerian suffering)
• Price their eBooks at $3.99 (the same price as one small shawarma, I’m just saying)
• Market their work harder than Blessing hustling hair cream in Lagos traffic
• Build their audiences from scratch because nobody wants to give romance writers book deals or literary prizes

Meanwhile, you’ll pay ₦25,000 for a hardcover novel about depression and political unrest but won’t want to spend much on a story that might actually improve your mood.

Who do us this kain thing?

The Cultural Impact You’re Sleeping On

These romance novels are doing important cultural work, and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise (after my morning coffee, sha).

They’re:

• Showing that Nigerian love stories can be modern and progressive
• Creating characters that don’t need to leave Nigeria to find happiness
• Writing dialogue that sounds like your WhatsApp group chat (complete with voice notes and emoji drama)
• Proving that our stories can end with joy instead of lessons about suffering

A Call to Action (Because I’m Not Just Here to Rant)

Here’s what I’m proposing:

• Next time you’re about to buy another book about Nigerian suffering™, add a romance novel to your cart too. Balance is key.
• Follow these authors on social media. They’re not just writing books; they’re building communities.
• If you read and enjoy their books, leave a review! It costs nothing but means everything.
• Share their books with your friends. Yes, even that your friend who claims to only read “serious” books. Especially that friend.

The Bottom Line

We keep talking about supporting Nigerian creativity and culture. Well, here’s your chance. Our romance authors are out here writing stories that celebrate Nigerian love, joy, and happiness. They’re showing the world that our stories aren’t just about pain and struggle.

The Last Word

If you can binge-watch “Glamour Girls” remake without complaining, you can definitely enjoy a well-written Nigerian romance novel. These authors are literally giving us everything we claim we want – modern Nigerian stories, relatable characters, happy endings – at the price of one overpriced Zobo.

Now that I’ve used enough brain cells to write this, do you still have anything stopping you from picking a Naija romance? Because “I didn’t know they existed” expired as soon as you read the first word on this article. Abi I lie?

Anyway, I’m done ranting.

See you on the next one.