Navigating Constraints: Mobility, Agency, and Possibility in Nwaubani’s I Do Not Come to You by Chance
Conference: ISA 22nd Annual International Conference (2025)
Presenter(s): Mary J. N. Okolie
Abstract
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s I Do Not Come to You by Chance explores the interplay between mobility, agency, and possibility within contemporary Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges. This paper expands the concept of mobility beyond physical movement, incorporating economic and social transitions that reveal the promises and perils of navigating an inequitable world. It examines how the protagonist, Kingsley, navigates the constraints imposed by systemic poverty, familial obligations, and limited career opportunities, ultimately seeking upward mobility through morally ambiguous means. This paper situates I Do Not Come to You by Chance within broader discussions of globalization and mobilities, highlighting how the novel critiques systemic inequalities and the precarious nature of survival in neoliberal economies. By examining the intersections of mobility, agency, and possibility, this study reveals how individuals negotiate pathways toward self-determination within a world marked by profound structural barriers. It argues that the absence of legitimate avenues for upward economic mobility results in alternative routes with significant ethical costs.
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