Every Day Is for the Thief

What are the consequences of a national culture that emphasizes idea l’a need? How does that damage a nation’s development?

In what ways is the past “not even past” (114) in Lagosian culture? How does Faulkner’s quote about the American south resonate with what the narrator sees in Lagos?

In the narrator’s eyes, what are some of the problems that prevent Lagos from having a rich culture?

Although the narrator has returned to Lagos to attend a wedding, his underlying motivations are far more complex. What drives him throughout his journey home?

How do the touts, the “yahoo yahoo,” and the area boys exemplify the state of modern-day Lagos? What larger problems do they represent?

What role does belief play in Lagos, and how does that conflict with what the narrator thinks Lagos needs to thrive?

How has the legacy of slavery impacted Nigeria? In what ways is it still present in Lagosian culture?

How does the narrator perceive the MUSON Centre, and why is it a complicated portrait of his larger hopes for Nigeria?