A Nigerian author and hymnist, Ndifreke Ukpong, has explained the inspiration behind his controversial novel, ‘Every Woman in This Village is a Liar.’
He revealed this during a book review session on February 6, 2024, where he also discussed his latest book, ‘No Limitation To Success.’
‘Every Woman in This Village is a Liar’ is a fictional story set in Osom Village, where all the men are summoned to the evil forest in search of the missing prince.
The village is left in the hands of the women, who have to cope with the challenges and secrets of their lives. When the men return from the perilous journey with the prince, they discovered that the king of the village is dead, and the women deny any knowledge of his death.
Ukpong said that he was inspired by the rich culture and folklore of his native land, and wanted to create a story that would explore the themes of truth, lies, and morality.
He said he wanted to challenge the stereotypes and expectations of women in his society, and to show the complexity and diversity of their characters.
The author said, “I wanted to write a story that would make people think and question their assumptions and beliefs. I wanted to show that women are not just passive victims or obedient followers, but active agents and decision-makers in their own lives. I also wanted to show that truth is not always black and white, but sometimes grey and ambiguous. The title of the book is not meant to be taken literally, but rather as a metaphor for the different perspectives and realities that exist in the world.”
Ukpong also talked about his latest book, ‘No Limitation To Success,’ which is an inspirational book that shares his story of how he achieved his dream of writing 26 books at the age of 26 and how anyone can achieve their own success without limitations.
He said the hoped to motivate and empower more young people to pursue their passions and talents, and to overcome the challenges and obstacles that they may face in life.
“Success is not a destination, but a journey. It is not something that you wait for, but something that you work for. It is not something that is given to you, but something that you earn. Success is not determined by your circumstances, but by your choices. Success is not limited by anything, but by your own mindset. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what you have been through, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. There is no limitation to success,” he said.
However, Ukpong also expressed his concern that Nigeria might face a shortage of writers in the near future. He said that many youths today do not value writing as a profession, and prefer to follow the trends and the money, rather than their dreams and talents. He urged the media, and the educational institutions to support and promote Nigerian literature, and to encourage more young people to read and write. He said that this would help to preserve the country’s history, culture, and identity, and to inspire more people who might have lost their interest in literature.
“Writing is not just a hobby, it is a profession that requires passion, dedication, and creativity. It is also a way of preserving our history, culture, and identity. Unfortunately, many youths today do not see writing as a viable or respectable career option. They prefer to follow the trends and the money, rather than their dreams and talents. This is why I fear that we might lack authors in the near future,” the young author said.
