Waiting for Maria
Waiting for Maria is a powerful and unsettling portrait of life inside a Nigerian women’s prison, where inmates struggle not only with confinement but with a broken justice system that forgets them. Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s National Day, the story follows a group of female inmates as they compete for the country’s single amnesty slot—one chance at freedom in a system that offers little mercy. When the executioner arrives, the stakes grow higher and time becomes a haunting shadow over every decision. Through heartbreak, betrayal, and quiet acts of kindness, the women reveal stories of unjust detention, abuse, resilience, and fragile hope. At the center of it all is Maria—whose mysterious fate holds the key to their shared redemption. A finalist for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, Waiting for Maria is both a literary and human rights triumph. It is a searing commentary on gender, injustice, and the power of solidarity in even the darkest places. This gripping novel shines a light on the silenced voices of incarcerated women and invites readers to question the systems that fail them.
Write Your Feedback
About Author
Bestselling author of mystery novels, weaving suspense and intrigue. Captivating readers with every page turn.
Other books
Browse other books
.png)
.png)
"I really liked this book, but a casually described instance of child sexual abuse... was disturbing and never addressed. Despite this, the novel highlights the corruption of the Nigerian prison system... The storytelling is original, with inmates' stories told in various formats. The ending felt abrupt, but it’s worth reading... It definitely needs trigger warnings for sensitive topics."
"A harrowing tale about a Nigerian prison and its women... The author portrays a derelict prison and the women who run and inhabit it. From the warden grappling with being unmarried in her forties to the inmates with diverse stories, it’s a sobering read... The attempt to capture the prisoners’ voices made some parts challenging, but overall, it’s a necessary read."