Chapter summaries Cursed Daughters Oyinkan Braithwaite

Cursed Daughters Chapter 7 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

Chapter 7 divides Ebun’s life into before Monife and after Monife. Before, Ebun lived a slow, dreary existence with her mother Kemi, who often left her alone for hours while pursuing husbands or selling jewellery. Friendless and uncreative, Ebun would wait in a state of inertia. Everything changed when Aunty Bunmi and her two children—sullen Tolu (16) and winsome Monife (15)—arrived with eight suitcases after being abandoned by their father. Initially hiding, Ebun eventually bonded deeply with Monife, who became her source of light. Monife taught her about beauty, puberty, and introduced playful games. But Ebun also witnessed Monife’s unpredictable bouts of depression—insomnia, loss of appetite, withdrawal. These episodes would pass, and Monife would return to her bright self. This chapter ends with Monife revealing the existence of a family curse.

Key Events

  • Ebun’s childhood is defined by loneliness and her mother’s long absences.
  • Aunty Bunmi, Tolu, and Monife arrive at the Falodun house after being abandoned.
  • Ebun initially refuses to greet them and hides in her room.
  • Over time, Ebun and Monife form a close bond; Monife becomes Ebun’s idol.
  • Monife teaches Ebun about menstruation and encourages pride in their dark skin.
  • Ebun witnesses Monife’s depressive episodes, which plunge the household into crisis.
  • Monife reveals the family curse to Ebun, a pivotal moment in the narrative.

Character Development

  • Ebun: Transforms from a passive, melancholic child into an active, devoted younger cousin. She begins to imitate Monife’s voice, writing, and dance, seeking identity.
  • Monife: Shows a dual nature—radiant and playful during good times, but withdrawn and silent during depressive episodes. Her openness about the curse foreshadows deeper trauma.
  • Kemi (Ebun’s mother): Remains a background figure, more focused on her own adventures than her daughter’s needs.
  • Tolu: Introduced as curt and dismissive, locking himself away; his trauma from abandonment is evident but unexplored here.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Loneliness vs. Connection: Ebun’s “state of inertia” before Monife contrasts sharply with the vibrant energy Mo brings. The chapter argues that human connection can revive a stagnant spirit.
  • Mental Health: Monife’s unpredictable “bursts of sadness” are presented as a recurring, uncontrollable force that affects everyone. The family curse may be a metaphor for inherited mental illness or trauma.
  • Imitation and Identity: Ebun consciously copies Monife’s mannerisms and tastes, signaling her search for a self through another. This mirrors how children absorb traits from those they love.
  • The Family Curse: First mentioned here as a secret passed between cousins, suggesting a legacy of suffering that shapes the story’s conflict.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter establishes the emotional foundation for Ebun and Monife’s relationship, which is central to the novel. It also introduces the family curse—a key plot device that will likely drive subsequent events. By showing Monife’s depressive episodes alongside her radiance, Braithwaite complicates the idea of a “cursed daughter,” hinting that the curse may be psychological rather than supernatural. The contrast between before and after Monife highlights how drastically a single person can change a life—and how fragile that change can be.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. How does the chapter contrast Ebun‘s life before and after Monife?
    Answer: Before Monife, Ebun is described as a “thin, melancholic child” who spends hours in inertia, waiting for her mother. After Monife arrives, Ebun becomes animated, learning to play, imitate, and care for another person. Mo acts as a catalyst, making Ebun’s heart “start beating again.”

  2. What is the significance of Ebun’s imitation of Monife?
    Answer: Ebun’s imitation—copying Mo’s voice, writing style, and taste in music—shows her desperate need for identity and belonging. Because Monife is the first person to truly love her, Ebun absorbs everything about her, making self-definition almost impossible until she understands the curse.

  3. How does the family curse first appear in this chapter, and what might it represent?
    Answer: Monife tells Ebun about “the family curse” at the chapter’s end, without details. Given Mo’s depressive episodes, the curse likely symbolizes inherited trauma or mental illness. It transforms from a vague family rumor into a personal revelation that Ebun must navigate.

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