On Saturday, I was invited to a roundtable by the Nigeria Literary Society (NLS) with the delectable Nollywood icon Hilda Tamunonengiyeofori Dokubo. This was the closest I had ever physically been to afford me a one-on-one chat with her.

Whenever I saw her around “we Pitakwa” she was always “that girl” who was unarguably a huge star yet you could comfortably walk up to her and ask her for directions if you lost your way. No airs whatsoever despite the stardom she attained decades ago as a child star on television and to date as one of the most recognizable stars in the Nollywood sphere, Hilda is one of the most down-to-earth Nigerian celebrities I have seen.

Her debut book, The Waterside Girl, though categorized as a memoir, cleverly interweaves a lot of philosophy and strong, unmissable motivational discourse that leaves the discerning reader eager to introspect, logically examine their own mistakes, and elevate the quality of their own life.

The undiscerning person might think Hilda bared it all in her book but I was not deceived. She tactfully “told it all” without revealing intricacies. I did not have to ask the question as she explained that her manuscript was lost four times. Her son felt uncomfortably exposed by the original manuscript and what we have is still an interesting watered-down version.

Make no mistake about it, Hilda is one tough cookie dough who was battered down by the untimely exit of a father who provided the luxuries of a privileged life but her tough-as-nails mother held a steel cookie cutter, shapened Hilda and unsparingly baked her at scorching degrees of heat into a scrumptious pastry we all bite with relish. A divinely orchestrated mentor in the person of Amatu Braide, (in my opinion, the most notable figure in the book), coaxed Hilda to fully manifest her talent and become the person we know today.

She self admittedly made her mistakes; teen pregnancy, failed marriage, poor choices in relationships, turbulence in parenting, and more but her turnaround and astounding comeback as a women’s advocate, community leader, political figure and fierce disciplinarian is a testament to achieving the extraordinary and defying life’s unpredictable twists with resilience and determination.

The Waterside Girl might be her debut publication but Hilda is not a rookie to the art of writing. I know a writer when I read one. I was not surprised to hear a sequel is in the works. This was one of the questions Hilda provided answers to before I got around to asking.

SIDENOTE: She loved my book “How The Tortoise Broke Its Shell (An African Folktale” and remarked that she’d be interested in creating a children’s version of The Waterside Girl. I say “Bring it on Hilda!”

I think Hilda’s book deserves more publicity and promotion than it has received. I’d like to see it have a 5-star rating on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Waterstones, and other international platforms. I UNRESERVEDLY RECOMMEND IT.

Request a copy from Hilda Dokubo‘s team or the Nigeria Literary Society (NLS). This hardbound book with its vintage feel cover of Hilda’s morning face in an earthen sepia tone will keep you flipping through its pages till the end. Then you rewind.