Spotlighting Remarkable Women and Girls

Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku

by Ikupolusi Ariyike

Damilare Kuku’s Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad is a bold, witty, and entertaining collection of twelve short stories that explores modern relationships, heartbreak, betrayal, and the often chaotic realities of dating in Lagos. Published in 2021, the book quickly became a literary sensation in Nigeria, largely because of its provocative title and its unfiltered portrayal of contemporary romance.

But rather than telling a single story, Kuku presents a series of interconnected experiences through the voices of different women navigating love, marriage, friendship, and self-discovery. From cheating partners and manipulative lovers to overbearing mothers-in-law and emotionally unavailable men, each story examines a different aspect of the dating landscape in Lagos.

What Works Well

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its relatability. Kuku writes in a conversational style that feels authentic and familiar, making the characters’ experiences both humorous and painfully real. Her use of everyday language, Nigerian slang, and cultural references helps create vivid stories that resonate with many readers.  

Moreover, the women in these stories are particularly memorable. They are flawed, resilient, vulnerable, and strong in equal measure. While the title suggests a critique of men, the book is ultimately more interested in exploring how women respond to disappointment, betrayal, and societal expectations.

Another standout feature is Lagos itself. The city is not merely a backdrop but a living character. Vibrant, chaotic, fast-paced, and unpredictable. The atmosphere of Lagos shapes every relationship and decision within the collection.

Themes

The collection tackles several important themes:

-Modern dating and relationship dynamics

-Infidelity and betrayal

-Female agency and empowerment

-Marriage and societal expectations

-Patriarchy and gender roles

-Self-worth and emotional resilience

Nearly all the men in Lagos are mad isn’t just a men-bashing book; it offers a complex, wild range of societal issues, struggles, and resilience of women in the city. Kuku balances serious issues with humour, ensuring the stories remain engaging even when addressing difficult subjects.

Ratings: 4.5/5

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Raising Women Magazine Issue 050 – August 2026

Fifty issues. That feels worth pausing for.
Not because fifty is simply a lovely round number, but because every issue represents another opportunity to ask better questions about women, culture and the world we are building.
And Issue 50 certainly asks questions.
Our cover story, PRETTY, BY DESIGN, takes us to South Korea and its billion dollar pursuit of beauty, examining what happens when appearance becomes intertwined with confidence, opportunity and social capital. But before we become too fascinated by South Korea, perhaps we should check our own mirrors. The pursuit of “better” is increasingly global.
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Fifty editions later, Raising Women Magazine remains curious, global and committed to conversations that matter.
Here’s to 50.
And to everything we are still becoming.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 049 – August 2026

There is a quiet shift taking place in the stories women are telling.

For years, success was measured by titles, milestones, and visibility. Today, we are asking deeper questions. What does influence look like? Who is changing the world? Which friendships shape the women we become? And how do we carry our heritage into a future we are helping to build?

This edition celebrates women and girls of African descent whose ideas, courage, creativity, and leadership are reshaping global conversations. Our cover feature is a reminder that Africa is not waiting to be discovered. It is already influencing the future through remarkable women whose work is changing industries, communities, and generations.

Alongside these inspiring stories, we explore the quiet power of friendship, the economics of modern womanhood, fashion’s changing priorities, and the cultural moments defining our time.

At Raising Women Magazine, we remain committed to one belief: when women rise with purpose, they do not simply change their own stories. They expand what the world believes is possible.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 048 – July 2026

There is a quiet shift taking place in the stories women are telling.

For years, success was measured by titles, milestones, and visibility. Today, we are asking deeper questions. What does influence look like? Who is changing the world? Which friendships shape the women we become? And how do we carry our heritage into a future we are helping to build?

This edition celebrates women and girls of African descent whose ideas, courage, creativity, and leadership are reshaping global conversations. Our cover feature is a reminder that Africa is not waiting to be discovered. It is already influencing the future through remarkable women whose work is changing industries, communities, and generations.

Alongside these inspiring stories, we explore the quiet power of friendship, the economics of modern womanhood, fashion’s changing priorities, and the cultural moments defining our time.

At Raising Women Magazine, we remain committed to one belief: when women rise with purpose, they do not simply change their own stories. They expand what the world believes is possible.

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Fifty issues. That feels worth pausing for.
Not because fifty is simply a lovely round number, but because every issue represents another opportunity to ask better questions about women, culture and the world we are building.
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Our cover story, PRETTY, BY DESIGN, takes us to South Korea and its billion dollar pursuit of beauty, examining what happens when appearance becomes intertwined with confidence, opportunity and social capital. But before we become too fascinated by South Korea, perhaps we should check our own mirrors. The pursuit of “better” is increasingly global.
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Fifty editions later, Raising Women Magazine remains curious, global and committed to conversations that matter.
Here’s to 50.
And to everything we are still becoming.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 049 – August 2026

There is a quiet shift taking place in the stories women are telling.

For years, success was measured by titles, milestones, and visibility. Today, we are asking deeper questions. What does influence look like? Who is changing the world? Which friendships shape the women we become? And how do we carry our heritage into a future we are helping to build?

This edition celebrates women and girls of African descent whose ideas, courage, creativity, and leadership are reshaping global conversations. Our cover feature is a reminder that Africa is not waiting to be discovered. It is already influencing the future through remarkable women whose work is changing industries, communities, and generations.

Alongside these inspiring stories, we explore the quiet power of friendship, the economics of modern womanhood, fashion’s changing priorities, and the cultural moments defining our time.

At Raising Women Magazine, we remain committed to one belief: when women rise with purpose, they do not simply change their own stories. They expand what the world believes is possible.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 048 – July 2026

There is a quiet shift taking place in the stories women are telling.

For years, success was measured by titles, milestones, and visibility. Today, we are asking deeper questions. What does influence look like? Who is changing the world? Which friendships shape the women we become? And how do we carry our heritage into a future we are helping to build?

This edition celebrates women and girls of African descent whose ideas, courage, creativity, and leadership are reshaping global conversations. Our cover feature is a reminder that Africa is not waiting to be discovered. It is already influencing the future through remarkable women whose work is changing industries, communities, and generations.

Alongside these inspiring stories, we explore the quiet power of friendship, the economics of modern womanhood, fashion’s changing priorities, and the cultural moments defining our time.

At Raising Women Magazine, we remain committed to one belief: when women rise with purpose, they do not simply change their own stories. They expand what the world believes is possible.