Flora Nwapa
Encyclopedia
Florence Nwanzuruahu Nkiru Nwapa (January 13, 1931 – October 16, 1993) was a Nigeria
n author best known as Flora Nwapa. Her novel Efuru
(1966) is among the first English language novels by a woman from Africa.
Nwapa, born in Oguta
, was the forerunner to a generation of African women writers. Whilst never considering herself a feminist, she is best-known for recreating life and traditions from a woman's viewpoint. In 1966 her book Efuru became Africa's first internationally published female novel in the English language (Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd). She has been called the mother of modern African literature. Later she went on to become the first African woman publisher of novels when she founded Tata Press.
She also is known for her governmental work in reconstruction after the Biafran War
. In particular she worked with orphans and refugees. Further she worked as a publisher of African literature and promoted women in African society. Flora Nwapa died on October 16, 1993 in Enugu, Nigeria.
Short stories/poems
Children's books
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n author best known as Flora Nwapa. Her novel Efuru
Efuru
Efuru is a novel by Flora Nwapa which was published in 1966, making it the first book written by a Nigerian woman to be published. The book is about Efuru, an Ibo woman who lives in a small village in colonial West Africa...
(1966) is among the first English language novels by a woman from Africa.
Nwapa, born in Oguta
Oguta
Oguta is a city on the east bank of Oguta Lake in southeast Nigeria. Oguta was one of the first territories used by the British to advance into the Igbo hinterland...
, was the forerunner to a generation of African women writers. Whilst never considering herself a feminist, she is best-known for recreating life and traditions from a woman's viewpoint. In 1966 her book Efuru became Africa's first internationally published female novel in the English language (Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd). She has been called the mother of modern African literature. Later she went on to become the first African woman publisher of novels when she founded Tata Press.
She also is known for her governmental work in reconstruction after the Biafran War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
. In particular she worked with orphans and refugees. Further she worked as a publisher of African literature and promoted women in African society. Flora Nwapa died on October 16, 1993 in Enugu, Nigeria.
Books
Novels- EfuruEfuruEfuru is a novel by Flora Nwapa which was published in 1966, making it the first book written by a Nigerian woman to be published. The book is about Efuru, an Ibo woman who lives in a small village in colonial West Africa...
(1966) - Idu (Heinemann African Writers Series, No.56, ISBN 0435900560; 1970)
- Never Again (1975)
- One is Enough (1981)
- Women are Different (1986)
Short stories/poems
- This is Lagos and Other Stories (1971)
- Cassava Song and Rice Song (1986)
- Wives at War and Other Stories (1980)
Children's books
- Emeka, Driver's Guard (1972)
- Mammywater (1979)
- Journey to Space (1980)
- The Miracle Kittens (1980)
- The Adventures of Deke (1980)
Further reading
- Feml Nzegwu, Love, Motherhood and the African Heritage: The Legacy of Flora Nwapa, African Renaissance Foundation (paperback 2003), ISBN 1903625092
- Marie Umeh, Emerging Perspectives on Flora Nwapa: Critical and Theoretical Essays, Africa World Press (1998), ISBN 0865435154