This episode of The LitJames Podcast surrounds the inspiration behind Ifesinachi Okonkwo's The Tiny Things Are Heavier; how the ENDSARS protests spurred her into writing the book; the emotional trajectory of young women who japa in their 20s; the impact of migration on our well-being; how the title of her book came about and the arduous nature of sentence creation.

It also debunks the MFA-ication of Nigerian writing while upholding the long tradition of Achebe mentions in our literature.

Takeaways

• Migration and its impact on identity and emotional well-being
• The influence of Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart' on Nigerian literature
• Normalization of things that should not be normal

Chapters

• 00:00 The Inspiration Behind the Book
• 32:51 The Tiny Things Are Heavier: Title and Inspiration
• 38:26 Character Development and Writing Process
• 56:27 The MFA-ication of Nigerian Writing
• 01:03:33 The Impact of Migration on Identity and Well-being
• 01:09:02 Economic Anxiety and Anti-Immigrant Sentiments
• 01:14:57 Plot, Character, and Sentences
• 01:20:30 Mental Health and Societal Attitudes
• 01:26:28 Patriarchy and Gender Dynamics
• 01:38:05 Romantic Persistence and Self-Acceptance
• 01:45:10 Influence and Writing Well