What is the importance of the first-person perspective in the novel, Under the Udala Trees?

The novel functions to bring a sense of humanity, immediacy, and empathy to issues of LGBT rights, especially in the context of Nigeria. Thus, the narrative uses Ijeoma’s perspective as a means of bringing a personal dimension to an issue that affects many people. Although Ijeoma’s story is fictional, the dynamics and types of events that constitute the story are based in reality and history. Thus, the specific perspective of Ijeoma’s story functions to represent the perspectives of the many real people who have faced oppression due to their sexuality.