Tiny Tales

The joys of motherhood is a gripping fascinating tale of a woman - Nnu Ego who gives everything away to the cultural responsibility of a woman needing to be fertile and produce sons.  The Joys of Motherhood is a fundamental text in the wider cannon of Nigerian postcolonial literature.  The story of Nnu Ego will stay with the reader for a long, long time. 

The author, one of Africa's most esteemed statesmen,a former head of state and president of Nigeria has also been a prolific author of books over the decades.  This was his first book, and from the initial publication, has remained very controversial. Sundry protagonists, critics et al seem to agree that the author hardly has a good word for other people, and apparently exaggerates his own deeds and "heroics". 

From the award winning creator of We Should All Be Feminists - the story is about the narrative of two Nigerians advancing in the U.S. also, the UK, bringing up widespread issues of race, having a place, the abroad experience for the African diaspora, and the quest for identity and a home. Ifemelu and Obinze are youthful and in love when they left military-administered Nigeria for the West. Delightful, confident Ifemelu sets out toward America, where regardless of her scholarly achievement, she is compelled to wrestle with being dark for the first time. Calm, smart Obinze had would have liked to join her, however with post-9/11 America closed to him, he rather dives into a risky, undocumented life in London. After fifteen years, they rejoin in a recently democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion for one another and for their country.

Chinua Achebe's 1964 novel Arrow of God depicts an Ibo pioneer as he defies the British directors and missionaries in his town. The novel spotlights on Ezeulu, who is the High Priest of Ulu. Ulu is the main divinity in the town of Umuaro, and he united six warring towns to create a strong community that shares fundamental beliefs however preserve local village traditions. Since Ezeulu is half god and half man, he battles to recognize what is human will and what is heavenly will. This contention becomes more relevant as new difficulties, in the form of British position and Christian religion, question the pecking orders and convictions whereupon the community was built.