Endless Fortune

De: Ify Adenuga

Narrado por: Ify Adenuga, Nicole Adeyemi

How do you go from being a penniless student in a foreign country to raising four of the most successful creatives working in Great Britain today?

In 1980, Ify exchanged war-torn Nigeria for the strange streets of London. Having escaped death, hunger and extreme poverty, she had to start a new life as a working-class immigrant and student in an environment far removed from her own, in a city brimming with hostility.

Ify met her husband, Joseph, a Yoruba man, in 1981 at a bingo hall in east London where both were working immigrants. After the birth of their children, the couple returned to education before setting up their own businesses. Together they raised their family in the tough working-class area of Tottenham and encouraged them to explore their artistic instincts against the backdrop of sometimes violent situations and harsh environments.

Their children - Joseph Junior (aka Skepta), Jamie (JME), Julie (Former Beats 1 DJ and NME Awards 2020 co-host) and Jason (producer and graphic designer) – all achieved tremendous success.

This is the story of their remarkable mother.

©2020 Ify Adenuga (P)2021 Audible, Ltd

A Fascinating Walk Down Memory Lane

Reading Ify's book was a delightful and fascinating walk down a familiar road I experienced myself. As an Igbo child who got caught in the crossfire of the Biafran war, attended Queens College, Enugu, and left the country to finish my studies in the UK, Ify's story resonated deeply. She wrote openly and honestly about her struggles and successes and I felt pulled in to ride those turbulant waves with her.
It was insightful to learn about Ify's life journey, her parenting philosophy and how she raised her super talented and famous children. I deliberately took my time to finish this book because I wanted to savor every chapter, to inhale every experience and to let it settle in my bones. It was quite satisfying.
My only distraction was the 2nd narrator who butchered both Igbo and English words. Oddly enough, even her Yoruba was suspect. It left me wondering who made that questionable decision.
Frankly, Ify speaks all three languages fluently and should have read the entire book herself. I strongly believe that authors should read their own works as it adds a special yet nuanced touch to the work. If they choose not to read their books, they should insist on picking narrators who are fluent speakers of the language(s) expressed in the book.
That said, I applaud the author for her first book and look forward to the next one. Kudos, Sis!