(device clatters) (device clicks) (device clatters) (dramatic music) - I'm Bisi Adjapon.

And this is The Teller Of Secrets.

The story about a young girl trying to find her way in a man's world.

(soft music) In a book it's about a young girl.

It's really an emotional and sexual coming of age within a patriarchal society and how she navigates that.

And this is a very strong, intelligent, precocious girl who is quite amusing to watch, but also, you know there are parts that are very painful but she does make us feel very human and shows what it is like to be a woman.

In her world, women are like second class citizens.

(funky music) - And I think you do that beautifully in the novel so that we feel for her.

You know, we feel like, we feel sad for her and we feel frustrated along with her.

- I want to show that a woman can be flawed because you almost always swimming against the tide, right?

And sometimes you don't succeed, but the idea is never to give up and I want, so I created Esi to be this flawed character who was volunteering her independence and yet sliding into this kind of pity situation.

I wanted to show that a woman could be very strong and high shameful secrets, like.

(funky music) - Bisi thank you so much.

And thank you so much for talking to us today, and thank you for watching "A Word on Words."

For more of my conversation with Bisi Adjapon, go to awordonwords.org.

I'm Alka Joshi, keep reading.

(funky music) - But I myself, I am from both countries and I've always been fascinated by the way I grew up.

In Nigeria, I was always defending Ghanaians.

And then in Ghana, I was always defending Nigerians.

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