EFURU. By Flora Nwapa
WEDLOCK OF THE GODS. By Zulu Sofola
Notes by Madolyn Chukwu
The first time I read a Flora Nwapa novel - this one - I was
incredibly excited. I was already aware of Achebe, but my gut feeling told me
that this woman was a better writer! Maybe it was a case of woman to
woman...but further studies showed me that the world at large (men of course)
considered Achebe to be a much better writer. For me it was like a case of
"419" - West Africans would realise what I mean. Or maybe there
should be a law banning men from pronouncing on, criticising works by women? Even
now I do not think it is sour grapes. Nwapa did show the world in her novels of
many decades ago that she is a magnificent writer. Just try to read her works
and juxtapose them with how Achebe projects women in his novels...no contest at
all, I think . Buchi Emecheta too and her very powerful novels...she even
published more of such works than Achebe. Don't get me wrong I have the utmost
respect for Achebe. But he was a literary genius, just like Nwapa and Emecheta.
He might even have helped Nwapa in getting published...but my point is that
Nwapa's books, characters, delineation of women should be treasured
too...penned by an insider!
Our pioneering women writers like this inspire me…they are
literary legends. I do not understand why Zulu Sofola and Nwapa had to die rather prematurely. Come
to think of it, so did Ghana’s Efua Sutherland too. But they all made their
mark as literary pioneers. Sofola’s poignant Wedlock of the gods is another excellent work of imagination here;
gripping drama
