The First English Novel from an African Female: "Efuru" by Flora Nwapa

Scholarly Essay from the year 2013 in the subject Cultural Studies - Black Studies, grade: -, -, language: English, abstract: The novel 'Efuru' is written by Flora Nwapa in the year 1966. Nwapa is the first female writer in English in Nigeria. It is Nwapa who opened up opportunities for other women writers of the future. She showed deep understanding with ordinary Igbo women of her indigenous tribe, trapped in local social situations over which they could exert little control. The male writers earlier had not explicitly represented about the female Igbos. If they had ever done so, it was done in very partial manner and andocentric. It was stereotypical representation. The reality of the Igbo women was first presented by Flora Nwapa. Her novel 'Efuru' presents the rural Igbo woman. Economic independence of the rural Igbo woman is one of the themes in the novel. The most important institutions of family and marriage are brought in focus. The 'episteme' of the male writers available to readers then, concentrated upon the impacts of the political transformations upon people as the themes, due to recent change of power from the British to the Nigerians. It was at that time just after six years of Independence that Nwapa quickly took up the social issues relating to the Igbo women. The social issues combined the marriage, economic and religious aspects of the Igbo woman. Efuru is the protagonist in the novel. She goes through two marriages. But both her marriages end due to her childlessness. Even her immediate society refuses to be kind to her. Stunned Efuru starts taking refuge in the company of one of the Igbo Goddesses or Mami Wata, named Uhamiri. She becomes a selected worshipper of the Mami Wata. The sub-divisions in the article will show how marriage fails to stable Efuru and an ancient religion comes to give some relief to Efuru. Key Words Nwapa; Efuru; Mami Wata; Childlessness; Igbo; Economic; Nigeria