Chapter summaries Cursed Daughters Oyinkan Braithwaite

Cursed Daughters Chapter 69: chapter V Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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

It is a Saturday, and the salon is crowded. Ebun arrives with her daughter Eniiyi, who dislikes hair days. Ebun requests Fara, a gentle hairdresser who never gossips. While waiting, Eniiyi draws. Ebun observes the salon activity. Then Amara walks in—dressed in expensive silk, carrying a Hermès bag, and commanding attention. Ebun is shocked and tries to blend in, but their eyes meet. They exchange brief, strained pleasantries. Amara asks if Ebun has a daughter; Ebun avoids looking at Eniiyi. Amara is called to her appointment, and Ebun resolves to find a new salon to avoid future encounters.

Key Events

  • Ebun and Eniiyi arrive at a packed salon on Saturday.
  • Ebun asks for hairdresser Fara, appreciating her quiet, professional manner.
  • Eniiyi occupies herself with pencils and paper while they wait.
  • Amara enters the salon, visibly wealthy and well-known by the staff.
  • Ebun tries to avoid Amara but is spotted.
  • The two women exchange awkward greetings; Amara asks about Ebun’s child.
  • Ebun deflects, making sure not to draw attention to Eniiyi.
  • Amara is called away for her hair appointment.
  • Ebun decides she and Eniiyi must switch salons to avoid Amara in the future.

Character Development

  • Ebun: Shows deep anxiety and avoidance when confronted by Amara. Her desire to hide Eniiyi from Amara suggests a guarded past or unresolved conflict. She prioritises her daughter’s safety or secrecy over comfort.
  • Eniiyi: Remains patient and self-sufficient, drawing while waiting. Her presence is a source of vulnerability for Ebun.
  • Amara: Appears confident, wealthy, and socially adept. Her polite but distant interaction with Ebun hints at a history that neither woman wishes to revisit.
  • Fara: The hairdresser is a brief figure of comfort for Ebun—gentle, non-judgmental, and focused on her work.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Social class and appearance: Amara’s silk attire, Hermès bag, and the staff’s deference mark her as wealthy, contrasting with Ebun’s desire to blend into the wall.
  • Avoidance and unresolved past: Ebun’s panic at seeing Amara and her determination to change salons symbolise her reluctance to confront whatever history exists between them.
  • Motherhood and protection: Ebun’s instinct to shield Eniiyi from Amara’s gaze underscores the protective role she plays as a mother.
  • Salon as a liminal space: The crowded, claustrophobic salon becomes a setting where social roles and hidden tensions surface.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 69 introduces a concrete threat to Ebun’s carefully maintained routine. The chance encounter with Amara forces Ebun’s past into her present, raising questions about the nature of their relationship and why Ebun feels the need to hide her daughter. It sets up potential conflict and deepens the reader’s understanding of Ebun’s fears and vulnerabilities. The decision to abandon a beloved hairdresser shows how far Ebun will go to protect her private life.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Ebun specifically request Fara as her hairdresser?
    Ebun likes Fara because she is gentle and quiet; unlike other hairdressers, Fara never shares stories about failed marriages or economic complaints. Fara’s focus on hair provides Ebun with a rare moment of peace.

  2. What is Ebun’s immediate reaction upon seeing Amara?
    Ebun is shocked and rooted to the spot, unsure whether to run or hide. She tries to blend into the wall and later considers smuggling Eniiyi out of the salon unnoticed.

  3. Why does Ebun decide they must change salons?
    After the awkward encounter, Ebun realises that if Amara has started coming to this salon, she and Eniiyi will need to go elsewhere to avoid future meetings. She will miss Fara but sees avoidance as necessary.

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