Nneoma Kenure writes stories that interrogate the place of Nigerian women. She is editing a collection of short stories, querying agents for a memoir, and working on her first novel—DAUGHTER OF A NOBODY. 

Her story ‘There’s a Man in My Bathroom’ features in THE BARE BONES BOOK OF HUMOUR. The anthology’s editor Ankit Raj Ojha describes it so: “A lone woman weighs her next move as danger lurks in the loo.” 

Ankit interviewed Nneoma to know more about her writing life, her sense of humour, and how she navigates awkward spaces.

Tell us about your perspective on humour and its place in writing and in life.

Humour is sometimes all we have, and I would love to see more Nigerian writing and narratives that engage in serious conversations (and the not-so-serious ones too) without all the tensions. Life is hard after all. 

What are the things, works, and authors that have influenced your writing? 

It’s rightfully no longer de rigueur to mention his name, but the first time I read a funny book that condensed an eight-hour road trip, it was a book by Bill Cosby. I will never forget laughing from Owerri to Lagos. Classic literary comedy had rarely made me laugh; the sole winner was Soyinka’s THE LION AND THE JEWEL, so perhaps there was a time or cultural barrier. Anyway, the concept of reading pop comedy was a shocker. SHEILA LEVINE IS DEAD AND LIVING IN NEW YORK is one of my favourite books. I forgot my copy on a plane years ago and have to force myself not to look out for it every time I board a plane. 

Is there any image, phrase, idea, place, person, or memory that became the seed for ‘There’s a Man in My Bathroom’? 

Truthfully, my story is almost nonfiction. I wrote down everything that happened between my friend and me, as I found our conversation hilarious, and then added a little something to it.