Projection of Postcolonial African Woman’s Issues in Three Selected Novels by Flora Nwapa

Abstract

This research examines the postcolonial African woman’s issues addressed by Flora Nwapa in her three selected novels: Efuru (1966), One is Enough (1981), and Women are Different (1986). The research aims at investigating African women’s issues that are influenced by customs and traditions, both past and present and Nwapa how intends to create awareness in women by appealing to them realistically, thoughtfully, and emotionally through her writings to find suitable solutions. A qualitative descriptive research method and African feminism philosophy were used to explore the socio-cultural perceptions of African women. The research came out with a number of findings. The most prominent issues that face African women are: patriarchy, marriage, infertility, polygamy, female education, and financially independent woman. All in all, since women's roles are largely dictated by cultural expectations, the root cause of African women’s suffering is patriarchy.