B for Boy

Amaka Okoli is a devoted wife to Nonso, and a loving mother to their daughter, Ijeoma. She is six months pregnant, and has a demanding job that she loves. Amaka is happy. Then Mama, her mother in-law, tells Amaka that her current pregnancy had better be a boy to carry on his father’s name. Amaka, who had earlier refused an ultrasound, has one. It’s a boy! A few days later Amaka loses the baby. Amaka says nothing about the stillbirth to anyone. Instead she fakes being pregnant.