You probably know her as the author of ‘Joys Of Motherhood’, but she had so many other novels under her name.
Born July 21, 1944, Buchi’s writing has brought to focus, the oppression of women in a largely patriarchal society.
She also wrote about the discriminatory treatment of black people in Britain in her book ‘Second Class Citizen’ (1974).
The New York Times described the book as ‘completely engrossing’.
Though she authored over 20 books, most of them based on revealing the inequality in gender roles in Africa as well as the ills of child slavery, Buchi never described herself as a feminist.
She was awarded many honors including the Order of the British Empire(OBE) in 2005.
Buchi Emecheta died on January 25, 2017 at the age of 72, in her London home. She had lived there since 1960.
Her novel, ‘Joys of Motherhood’ (1979) which describes the pains and sorrows of a woman with many kids, who sadly died alone, remains one of the foremost references to gender roles in Nigeria and beyond.
She can’t hear it now, but one feels an overwhelming urge to say ‘Thank you’. Thank you for being a great woman. Thank you for being an exceptional writer. Thank you for your legacy.
