''The Virgin'' is the 1985 debut novel by Nigerian writer Bayo Adebowale. The novel, published in 1985, narrated the dilemma of a young village girl who after being

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must choose between three suitors, and agonizes about her secret being discovered on her wedding night. Scholar Wendy Griswold classifies ''The Virgin'' as a "village novel", a book that deals with the mores of a traditional Nigerian village, in the same vein as some works by Chinua Achebe. __NOTOC__

Plot

A girl from a

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

village is engaged to a hunter from another village. Having been seduced by a man returning to the village from his life in a Nigerian city, she nervously awaits her wedding night.

Background

Adebowale is considered a member of the " third generation" of Nigerian authors, whose works generally deal with more cosmopolitan themes than earlier generations of Nigerian writers. However, unlike other members of the "third generation", Adebowale's work deals with rural life in Nigeria, particularly life in small villages. ''The Virgin'' is an example of one such work; Adebowale believes that Nigerian writers and artists have a duty to examine and reflect on traditional Nigerian life.

Film adaptation

Tunde Kelani Tunde Kelani (born 26 February 1948), popularly known as TK, is a Nigerian filmmaker. In a career spanning more than four decades, TK specialises in producing movies that promote Nigeria's rich cultural heritage and have a root in documentation ...

wrote the screenplay and directed a 95-minute film version, titled '' The Narrow Path'', filmed and released on May 12, 2006. The film starred Sola Asedeko, Ayo Badmus and

Khabirat Kafidipe Kabirah Kafidipe is a Nigerian film actress, director and producer. She is popularly known as “Araparegangan” for her role in '' Saworoide'', a 1999 Nigerian film produced and directed by Tunde Kelani. Early life Kafidipe was born on July ...

while the sound track was written and produced by Beautiful Nubia. The film was edited by Mumin Wale Kelani and Frank Efe Patrick and the costume was designed by Abiola Atanda Much of the dialogue and narration is taken directly from the novel. The film is considered faithful to the book in spite of the latter's non-traditional narrative.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Virgin, The Nigerian novels adapted into films 1985 Nigerian novels Nigerian English-language novels