I’ll See You in Ijebu
I'll See You in Ijebu
Picture Book / Ages 5-10 / Nigeria
Barefoot Books
March 12, 2024
unpaged
A Catholic girl in Lagos, Nigeria takes a trip to visit her Muslim relatives in the countryside town of Ijebu to celebrate Eid al-Adha.
In I’ll See you in Ijebu, Bunmi Emananjo captures vividly, a replica of my childhood experience during Christmas festive seasons in my hometown in Nigeria. Our eagerness to get ready for the trip, the excitement about sights-seeing on the trip, the big family and friends’ reunion, the serenity that welcomes you, and most especially the never-ending cooking that goes on for days are cleverly captured in this beautifully written story and poems about Olu’s visit to Ijebu for Eid. The story highlights how culture, language, and love play out organically among families and friends in Nigeria, especially among the Yoruba people during festive seasons. It makes you want to recreate the past in the present.
Olayinka Olagbegi-Adegbite, PH.D.
University of Wisconsin
Published in Africa Access Review (September 12, 2025)
Copyright 2025 Africa Access
I’ll see you in Ijebu, by Bunmi Emenanjo, an entrancing children’s story with a mix of Yoruba, dives into the deep culture and ways of living for a girl in Lagos. This book shows the fun and amazing side of Nigeria that few people see; the business, the games, the food, and the language all pull you to want to see and know more about this country and its people. Middle Schooler
The back matter includes maps and informative tidbits about Nigeria, including food, music, fashion, games, religion, and language. The book was selected as a Today Show ‘Read with Jenna Jr. 2024’ Summer Reading Book.
Author Bunmi Emenanjo was born in the United States and raised in Nigeria. She credits her Nigerian childhood and culture as the inspiration for her writing. Diana Ejaita’s characteristic illustrations are executed with black silhouettes and bursts of color. Ejaita is of Italian-Nigerian heritage. An accomplished artist, she has illustrated several children’s books and designed 4 covers for the New Yorker magazine. CABA Committee