‘A Broken People’s Playlist’ by Chimeka Garricks: Let the music speak

Music has been my anchor through life's ups and downs. It has lifted my spirits, much like it does for many, whether in moments of joy, sorrow, or uncertainty. Music is a universal language that brings us together, offering comfort and strength when needed. Chimeka Garricks's A Broken People’s Playlist is a testament to this connection, telling stories inspired by songs that touch the complexities of human experience.

A Broken People’s Playlist is a collection of 12 short stories set in Nigeria, exploring themes such as grief, loss, infidelity, love, relationships, abuse, and redemption. The stories are narrated in the first and second person, bringing well-developed characters with emotional resonance to life. Readers can empathise with their journeys as they navigate complex life realities.

The first story, Lost Star, is about the love between Sira and Kaodini and the devastating effects of losing someone you love—someone you have spent your whole life with. Someone who knows all the unfiltered versions of yourself—the versions that no one else knows about you. Garricks captures the bittersweet nature of love and timing with poignant precision.

Sometimes, luck and timing are all it takes for love to happen. Sometimes, the timing is not right when you meet the right person. And sometimes, you don't have the right person when the time is right. This is the case for Sira and Kaodini. When the time is finally right for both of them, as always, life has other plans.

“Today, they even asked me why I love you. And I sighed and said, because even if we were never meant to be, you were always home to me.”

Lost Star also addresses domestic abuse and standing up for oneself. Garrick demonstrates how witnessing abuse in one's own family affects how one sees and experiences it when it happens in one's adult life. “Then he slapped me. I was used to my father beating my mother. He did it with almost a nonchalant ease that came from regular practice and confidence in her perpetual surrender. But I am not my mother. I slapped Victor so hard, my wrist almost dropped, and the pain jolted up my arm.”

Abuse, a recurring theme, is explored with sensitivity and nuance. Garrick highlights the complex emotions that keep people in abusive relationships. We often question, “Why don’t you just leave?” But what people do not talk about is the fact that these people were once in love, or they still are in love with their partners, who turned out to be their abusers along the way.

They have shared the ups and downs in their lives. They were once the happiest together. And perhaps deep down, they hope those happy moments will come back if they are only patient enough, so they stay. Hoping. And they hope some more.

“I understood that despite fighting the man almost every day of her marriage, despite having to put up with his women and first-class bullshit, despite his lack of financial support and interest in his children, she loved him. God Almighty, she loved that man. And I remember thinking that if someone could ever love me with half of that, I'd have been blessed with something indescribably precious.”

Garricks critiques societal hypocrisy, particularly in how we treat the living versus the dead. In the story Hurt, Dami, facing an inoperable brain tumour, holds a living funeral to hear the kind words typically reserved for after death. This story reminds us of celebrating life and acknowledging each other while we are still here.

“You know all those things you are going to say about me when I die? I’m throwing a funeral, so you can tell me yourself.”

I Put a Spell on You explores the dynamics of friendship and infidelity among men navigating adulthood. Garricks portrays the normalisation of cheating in a way that critiques societal attitudes towards fidelity and the consequences of such actions.

The surprising thing is that, just as in real life, these men would not wish their type on their daughters and their loved ones; these friends pray that it does not happen to their daughters.

“And if it’s a girl?” Buddha said. May God keep her far away from men like us.”

But just because you can do something should be why you do it.

A Broken People’s Playlist is a story about broken people searching for redemption and rediscovery. The characters' raw and relatable emotions resonate deeply and reflect everyday struggles. Garricks’s ability to weave profound themes with personal narratives makes this book compelling. It’s a journey of self-discovery for anyone feeling stuck, offering solace and a thought-provoking playlist as a bonus.

Jane Shussa is passionate about books, coffee, nature, and travel. She serves as a Senior Digital Communications Officer for Twaweza East Africa.