The Girl with the Louding Voice

As Adunni’s father hammers his fist against the door of the room, the old woman tells Adunni to pass through another door and hide in the filthy bathroom. Adunni listens to her father question Iya. He orders Kayus to search the room. Kayus enters the bathroom, stares at Adunni, and then tells their father that she is not there. Adunni listens as her father complains that Morufu, the village chief, and others are waiting for them to find her. 

Iya cooks yams and tells Adunni to bathe. Adunni washes behind the shared house, crying as she scrubs herself. Later, Kola arrives. A tall, skinny man with facial scars, Kola comes up with a plan to get Adunni a job in Lagos, the Nigeria’s capital. Adunni has always dreamt of visiting Lagos one day. When Kola tells her to pack her things, she does not know whether to laugh or cry. After a moment of hesitation, she leaves with Kola to take the mysterious job in Lagos.

In Kola’s car, Kola tells Adunni that she will have to fake a set of medical results for someone named Big Madam to get the job he arranged for her. Though she is suspicious about Kola’s lies, Adunni agrees. To distract herself from her situation and her past, Adunni sings a song to herself. Kola appreciates her singing and hopes that "Big Madam will be good" (80) to Adunni.

They arrive in the busy, vibrant, and loud city of Lagos. Adunni is fascinated by the street vendors, the beggars, the traffic, and the food. Kola drives through the city and points out certain landmarks. Big Madam is rich, he explains, and owns a fabric shop in a wealthy part of the city. The shop is named after Big Madam’s daughter, Kayla. Upon arriving at Big Madam’s luxurious home, Adunni promises that she will not steal, lie, or chase after boys. Kola warns her that Big Madam has lots of rules and will expect her to work hard. If Big Madam does not like Adunni, Kola does not know where else he can send her. He tells Adunni that he will collect her monthly wages and keep them safe. Adunni stares in wonder at Big Madam’s mansion.

Big Madam arrives in a large car driven by a handsome young man named Abu. She is a large, ugly woman with painted toenails and elegant clothes. Kola introduces Adunni to Big Madam who has doubts about the young girl’s abilities. She criticizes Kola because the last girl he sold to her is still missing. Adunni is sent inside the mansion so that Big Madam can talk to Kola alone.

Inside the house, a Ghanaian chef named Kofi greets Adunni and reveals that she will be a housemaid. She examines the family portraits which depict Big Madam with her two children, a boy and a girl.

Big Madam appears without Kola. She shouts for Kofi and demands information about dinner. Kofi is told to fetch a uniform for Adunni and show her to her room. Then, he is to show her the house and teach her how to iron. Any mistakes Adunni makes will result in Kofi’s wages being docked. 

Adunni is amazed at the size of Big Madam’s house. Kofi gives her a tour of the mansion and explains that Big Madam is married to a man named Big Daddy, but they are not always on speaking terms. Big Daddy has a large library but does not read much since he lost his job and began to drink heavily. He is an alcoholic gambler and a womanizer who relies on Big Madam to pay his debts. Kofi warns Adunni to be careful around Big Daddy.

Kofi proudly shows Adunni the well-equipped kitchen. She imagines how much her family would love to live in the mansion. The staff live in a separate building. Adunni takes the room which belonged to Rebecca, the girl who held her job before and who is now missing. She also inherits Rebecca’s uniform and clothes, even though they are too large. Kofi explains that Adunni will almost certainly not be sent to school. He teaches her how to use an electric iron and warns her that Kola may not be trustworthy. Kola promised Rebecca that he would hold on to her money for safekeeping, but she never received it.

Although Adunni is worried about Kola and her wages, Kofi warns her not to ask Big Madam about Rebecca or anything else because “she is never in a good mood” (95). When Big Madam arrives without her makeup, Adunni struggles to recognize her. Adunni tries to talk to Big Madam about her wages, but Kofi interrupts. In the parlor, Big Madam demands that Adunni kneel whenever they talk. Big Madam lists her expectations of Adunni and explains that she is an important figure in Nigerian society. She orders Adunni to massage her feet and then falls asleep. While Big Madam sleeps, Big Daddy stumbles into the parlor and asks Adunni questions about her age, complimenting her attractiveness. Later that night, Adunni lays in her bed in her room and thinks about her mother and Khadija. 

Adunni works hard every day, cleaning the mansion and the inside of the compound. Each night, she massages Big Madam’s feet. Adunni is only given one meal a day, but Kofi secretly feeds her breakfast. When Big Madam discovers Adunni eating her extra meal one day, she throws the food over Adunni’s head. Big Madam beats Adunni almost every day. Surprised by Adunni’s violent treatment, Kofi suggests that she return to her village. Knowing she cannot do this, Adunni decides to avoid Big Madam as much as possible.

One day while cleaning the library, she finds The Book of Nigerian Facts. The information about Nigeria fascinates Adunni. Big Madam calls for Adunni and then beats her savagely. Shocked by his wife’s violence, Big Daddy intervenes and demands that Big Madam promise never to beat Adunni again. She mumbles an agreement and walks away. Big Daddy hugs Adunni, but she feels that his embrace is "too tight" (105). She runs out into the yard and nearly knocks Kofi to the ground. He promises to help her think of a way to protect her from Big Daddy’s sexual advances.