Chapter summaries Cursed Daughters Oyinkan Braithwaite

Cursed Daughters Chapter 68: The Curse and the Fatherless Question

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary (Chronological)

The chapter opens with Kemi telling her granddaughter Eniiyi that she will meet a man who will take care of her and her children, thereby breaking the family curse. Eniiyi asks if Kemi will also get married again. Kemi deflects, saying they need to focus on Eniiyi.

Ebun enters Kemi’s bedroom, feeling like a ghost in her own home because she cannot trust her mother and aunt. Eniiyi is lying on the bed playing Snake on a phone Kemi gave her against Ebun’s wishes. The dog Sango dozes at the foot of the bed. Ebun glares at her mother and demands to know what she is talking about. Kemi insists Eniiyi needs to learn about the curse eventually. Ebun accuses them of confusing Monife with such talk. Kemi dismisses Ebun’s tone as disrespectful.

Ebun turns to Eniiyi and tells her to ignore the curse and focus on school, friends, and being helpful. Eniiyi admits her grandmother said she doesn’t have a daddy because of the curse. Ebun is shocked. Kemi denies wording it that way but suggests it is time to explain. Eniiyi then directly asks, “Who’s my daddy?”

Ebun has long prepared answers to this question, even considering telling the truth. She had assumed Eniiyi would ask once she started school and saw other children with two parents, but her daughter never brought it up—not during Father’s Day activities, sports day sack races, or parent-teacher meetings. Ebun was grateful and didn’t question her luck.

Now Eniiyi, eight years old, tall, with ten braids pulled into a bun, stares at her mother patiently. Ebun asks why she is asking. Eniiyi says she wants to meet him. Ebun insists she doesn’t need a father; she has her and the grandmas. Eniiyi counters that everyone at school knows their father, and she wants to know hers. Ebun asks if she lacks anything. Eniiyi replies, “Yes. I am. A daddy.”

Ebun points out she did fine without a dad. Kemi reminds Ebun that she did have a father, even if not present. Ebun argues it would have been less painful to have none at all. Eniiyi replies that Ebun doesn’t know what that’s like, so she can’t say. Then Eniiyi leaves the room, followed by Sango.

Ebun is stung. She wonders if she made the wrong choices, but she made them with the knowledge she had at the time. If the curse is real, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. Kemi suggests it is time to name the man, using her gentle, manipulative tone. Ebun refuses. Kemi argues it is not normal for a child not to know her father. Ebun reveals that the man is dead. Kemi pauses and asks, “Is he?” Ebun does not bother to respond.

Key Events

Kemi tells Eniiyi about the family curse and a future man who will break it.
Ebun catches them and accuses Kemi of filling Eniiyi’s head with nonsense.
Eniiyi reveals she has been told she has no father because of the curse.
Eniiyi directly asks Ebun who her father is.
Ebun deflects, but Eniiyi persists.
Eniiyi leaves the room after telling Ebun she cannot understand her position.
Ebun discloses that Eniiyi’s father is dead.
Kemi questions whether the father is truly dead.

Character Development

Ebun – Continues to struggle with trust toward her mother and aunt. Her protective instincts clash with her inability to stop the spread of the curse narrative. She is forced to confront Eniiyi’s direct questioning and reveals the father’s death, though it is unclear if she is telling the truth.
Kemi – Uses gentle manipulation to push for disclosure. She maintains control of the conversation and challenges Ebun’s claim that the father is dead, hinting at a larger secret.
Eniiyi – Shows maturity and fearlessness by demanding knowledge about her father. She rejects Ebun’s attempts to minimize her need and insists on the truth. Her parting words reveal empathy for her mother’s experience.
Monife (mentioned) – Referenced as someone whom the previous generation “confused” with similar talk, drawing a parallel to Eniiyi’s situation.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The Curse as a Frame for Absence – Kemi uses the curse to explain why Eniiyi has no father. The curse becomes a catch-all justification for family dysfunction and missing parents.
The Burden of Secrets – Ebun’s refusal to name the father and her mother’s probing show how family secrets poison trust. The chapter centers on the act of withholding versus revealing.
Parental Legacy – Ebun’s own father was absent, and she argues it was more painful than having none. Yet Eniiyi pushes back, claiming Ebun cannot fully understand her pain. The cycle of absent fathers continues.
Manipulation through Language – Kemi’s gentle tone is described as one she uses to manipulate stubborn men and soothe stubborn sons. She tries the same tactic on Ebun, who resents it.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter forces the central question of Eniiyi’s paternity into the open. It also deepens the mystery around the “family curse” and Ebun’s past choices. The final line—Kemi asking “Is he?”—casts doubt on Ebun’s claim that the father is dead. This unresolved tension sets up future revelations and underscores the theme of fractured trust between mother and daughter.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Ebun initially try to deflect Eniiyi’s question about her father?
Ebun has long avoided the topic, feeling grateful that Eniiyi never asked. She believes she can protect Eniiyi by not naming a man she considers dead, and she resents her mother for forcing the issue.
What does Kemi’s reaction to the news of the father’s death reveal?
Kemi’s pause and question—“Is he?”—suggest she either doubts the truth of Ebun’s statement or knows something Ebun is hiding. It implies the father may still be alive, increasing the narrative mystery.
How does Eniiyi’s character contrast with Ebun’s?
Eniiyi is described as fearless, light, and playful—qualities Ebun has struggled to attain. While Ebun avoided confrontation, Eniiyi directly demands answers. Eniiyi also shows empathy by telling Ebun she cannot understand her experience.