- Some Nigerian novels focus on women’s struggles, identities, and societal roles, offering diverse narratives of womanhood in modern contexts
- These books explore themes of gender inequality, motherhood, identity, sexual violence, and marriage issues, reflecting the evolving roles of women in Nigerian and diaspora settings
- TheRadar has compiled a list of some Nigerian novels that focus on women
Nigeria, known for its rich and diverse literary tradition, has been home to some of the most poignant and powerful stories centred around women.
These narratives explore the complex lives of Nigerian women and reflect the country's social, political, and cultural dynamics. Through literature, Nigerian authors have given voice to women's experiences, challenges, and triumphs, revealing the universal and specific aspects of their lives.
In recent years, the focus on women-centred narratives in Nigerian literature has gained prominence, with classic and contemporary works shedding light on women's roles, struggles, and resilience in a male-dominated society.
Here are some recent Nigerian books that place women at the centre of their stories:
10 books about Nigerian women
1. “Stay with Me" by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀: ‘Stay with Me’ focuses on the emotionally charged life of Yejide, a woman facing societal pressure to bear children in her marriage. Set in Nigeria during the political upheavals of the 1980s, the novel is a poignant exploration of marriage, fertility, and grief. Adébáyọ̀ expertly portrays the impact of societal expectations on women and how the pressure to meet those expectations can fracture both women and their relationships.
Through Yejide's journey, Adébáyọ̀ challenges traditional narratives around motherhood, fertility, and identity in Nigerian culture. The novel is a profoundly moving meditation on love and loss, portraying a woman’s emotional and physical struggles in a patriarchal society.
2. "The Girl with the Louding Voice" by Abi Daré: ‘The Girl with the Louding Voice’ is a powerful story of resilience and the fight for self-determination. The novel follows Adunni, a 14-year-old Nigerian girl who dreams of receiving an education and escaping her fate of early marriage and servitude. Told in Adunni’s distinct voice, which combines broken English with lyrical prose, the novel captures the essence of her character's hope, courage, and indomitable spirit.
Daré sheds light on the challenges faced by young girls in Nigeria, including child marriage, domestic abuse, and lack of access to education. Adunni’s struggle to find her "louding voice" is a metaphor for her fight to be heard and to break free from societal constraints.
3. "Everything Good Will Come" by Sefi Atta: This novel follows Enitan, a young woman growing up in post-independence Lagos. It navigates Enitan's evolution as she confronts gender, societal expectations, and political unrest in Nigeria. Atta explores the constraints placed on women in both traditional and modern settings and how women navigate these challenges.
The novel highlights the complexities of female friendship, motherhood, and the desire for self-assertion in a patriarchal society. Enitan’s growth and determination to claim her space in a world that seeks to limit her make “Everything Good Will Come” a significant feminist novel that resonates with the realities many Nigerian women face.
4. "Ordinary People" by Diana Evans: While set in London, the novel speaks deeply to the Nigerian diaspora and the emotional realities of women’s lives. The book follows two couples, one of Nigerian descent, navigating the complexities of marriage, parenthood, and individual identity. Melissa, one of the central female characters, struggles with her sense of self after motherhood, dealing with postpartum depression and a growing distance from her partner.
Evans offers a nuanced look at the intersections of race, gender, and family life, making ‘Ordinary People’ a powerful exploration of women's internal and external conflicts, particularly those of African descent, faced in modern relationships and societies.
5. "A Broken People’s Playlist" by Chimeka Garricks: ‘A Broken People’s Playlist’ is a collection of short stories that span different perspectives. Many of the stories feature female protagonists whose lives are filled with emotional complexity. This collection, while not exclusively centred on women, offers profound insights into the inner lives of Nigerian women navigating love, loss, and healing.
The story "Lost Stars" features a female character grappling with the loss of her child, while "Happy Song" deals with the lingering trauma of sexual violence. Garricks’ writing captures the emotional depths of his characters and portrays women in all their complexity, making this collection a significant contribution to Nigerian literature focused on women’s experiences.
6. "Vagabonds!" by Eloghosa Osunde: Vagabonds is a powerful and experimental novel that explores the lives of queer Nigerians, particularly women and those marginalised by society. Through a blend of magical realism and raw social commentary, Osunde paints a vivid picture of Lagos as a city that liberates and entraps its inhabitants. The novel follows various characters, vagabonds in different forms, who navigate the complexities of identity, love, and survival in a city that often silences or erases their existence.
Vagabonds is an essential narrative for understanding the intersection of gender, sexuality, and social injustice in modern Nigeria.
7. "Under the Udala Trees" by Chinelo Okparanta: Under the Udala Trees is a compelling novel that addresses the intersection of gender, sexuality, and religion in Nigeria. The story follows Ijeoma, a young girl displaced by the Nigerian Civil War, who finds herself in a same-sex relationship in a society that strongly condemns homosexuality. As she matures, Ijeoma navigates the challenges of love, faith, and self-acceptance in a world that demands conformity.
Through Ijeoma’s journey, the novel not only critiques the societal and religious pressures placed on women but also highlights the struggle for freedom and love in the face of overwhelming adversity.
8. "My Sister, the Serial Killer" by Oyinkan Braithwaite: This darkly comic thriller centres on the bond between two sisters, Korede and Ayoola, in Lagos. Ayoola is beautiful, charismatic, and a serial killer. Korede, the elder sister, is pragmatic and dutiful, often cleaning up after Ayoola’s murders and covering for her sister’s crimes. The novel delves into themes of sibling rivalry, loyalty, and the expectations placed on women in Nigerian society.
Braithwaite’s novel is a fresh and engaging take on the psychological thriller genre with a feminist twist. It explores the dynamics of sisterhood and the complex moral choices women must navigate. It offers readers a fast-paced, clever narrative that sheds light on the pressures and contradictions of modern womanhood in Nigeria.
9. "Ogadinma: Or, Everything Will Be All Right" by Ukamaka Olisakwe: ‘Ogadinma: Or, Everything Will Be All Right’ is a poignant coming-of-age story set in 1980s Nigeria. It follows Ogadinma, a young woman who endures physical and emotional abuse in her relationships and battles societal expectations as she seeks to reclaim her voice and agency. After being sent away from home for getting pregnant, she enters into a marriage that proves abusive and restrictive, forcing her to navigate patriarchal structures that limit her choices.
The writer vividly captures the struggles of Nigerian women, particularly those who find themselves trapped in oppressive marriages and societal norms. Ogadinma’s journey of survival and self-discovery is a powerful narrative of resilience and the quest for independence in a patriarchal world.
10. "Daughters Who Walk This Path" by Yejide Kilanko: The novel explores sexual violence, trauma, and healing. It tells the story of Morayo, a young girl growing up in Ibadan whom a family member sexually abuses. As she struggles to process this trauma, she finds support in her older cousin, who has faced similar abuse.
The novel addresses the silence around sexual violence in Nigerian society and how women are often expected to endure suffering in silence. It sheds light on Nigerian women's challenges and offers hope and healing through the power of shared stories and support.
These ten books represent a diverse and compelling array of voices in contemporary Nigerian literature, all centred around the lives and experiences of women.
From issues of identity, sexuality, and gender roles to the trauma of violence, these works tackle complex themes with nuance and emotional depth. Together, they highlight Nigerian women's resilience, strength, and agency, offering readers within Nigeria and worldwide an insightful, moving, and necessary perspective on the female experience in modern society.
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These films serve as a powerful artistic medium, preserving timeless records of societal experiences while reflecting the evolution of culture, values, and ideologies.