Imitation
The chapter opens with Nkem staring at a copper‑colored Benin mask on the mantel, its “imitation” status repeatedly noted by her husband Obiora. While she is at the mask, her friend Ijemamaka calls from Lagos and tells Nkem that Obiora’s girlfriend is a twenty‑one‑year‑old with short, tight curls and that she has moved into Nkem’s house in Nigeria. Ijemamaka’s tone is gloating and critical, and Nkem listens silently, feeling numb, while the conversation drifts into a commentary on rising prices in Nigeria, traffic, and erosion. Nkem does not correct Ijemamaka about her own recent trip to Nigeria and ends the call by promising a visit that she knows she will not keep.
Back in the living room, Nkem reflects on the mask’s original cultural purpose—royal protection and the gruesome rituals that created it—contrasting the authentic history with the cheap replica she now owns. She remembers how Obiora first described the mask’s provenance and the British “Punitive Expedition” that looted the originals, as well as later stories about Nok terra‑cotta figures. These recollections underline Obiora’s habit of romanticizing African artifacts while presenting them as “breathing” objects in their American home.
Nkem then moves through the house, noting the suburban Philadelphia setting, the white neighbors, and the way Obiora’s “rich Nigerian men” status has bought them a large home, a private school for the children, and a lifestyle she never imagined. She recalls the early excitement of moving to America to have a baby, the photos of the Liberty Bell, and the condescending but helpful gestures of the white neighbors. She also recalls the pressure on Obiora to maintain a “Big Man” image, the cultural expectation that Nigerian husbands provide material comfort while women remain invisible.
Feeling compelled to change her appearance, Nkem takes a texturizer, then cuts her own hair with scissors, cutting close to the scalp and letting curls fall onto the sink. While she cuts, she thinks of a Nigerian woman she once met who complained about “our men” keeping wives in America with housegirls. Nkem’s thoughts drift to the household hierarchy; she and Amaechi, her Nigerian housegirl, have moved from a servant‑employer relationship to a more equal friendship, yet the lines remain blurred.
After the haircut, Nkem asks Amaechi to clean up the hair. Amaechi reacts with alarm, fearing something has happened, and they discuss the children’s meals and cooking preferences. Nkem eventually tells Amaechi that Ijemamaka has informed her about Obiora’s girlfriend moving into their Lagos house. Amaechi is hesitant, asking whether the information is certain; Nkem insists she trusts Ijemamaka. Their conversation reveals Amaechi’s awareness that men like Obiora often have multiple girlfriends and that women are expected to tolerate it.
Later, Nkem makes a late‑night phone call to a new houseboy, Uchenna, in Nigeria, asking if anyone else is staying in the Lagos house besides the usual staff. Uchenna assures her no one else is there, confirming the girlfriend has not yet arrived. Nkem feels like a spy, surveilling her husband through a stranger.
After the children are in bed, Nkem asks Amaechi for a small drink; they share wine, recalling the toast they made when Nkem first received her green card. The scene underscores her sense of belonging to America despite lingering homesickness and cultural dislocation.
The next day, Nkem drives to the airport to pick up Obiora. During the drive, her children are quiet. At the airport, Obiora greets the family warmly, joking about “big‑big English” and calling the children “Americanah.” Back home, after dinner, Nkem examines an Ife bronze head that Obiora has finally brought—a genuine artifact, unlike the earlier imitations. They discuss its age, purpose, and the violent history of the Benin masks; Nkem questions whether the people who made and used such objects were ever happy.
Obiora notices Nkem’s new short hair, questions why she cut it, and expresses a preference for long hair. He also comments on her “big man” status. While he showers, Nkem attempts to broach the subject of moving back to Lagos permanently. Obiora is taken aback, asks for clarification, and says they will discuss it. Nkem realizes she has finally spoken up, but the conversation stalls, leaving the future uncertain.