SPOTLIGHT: Buchi Emecheta
Born on July 21, 1944, in Lagos, Nigeria.
She was the second of nine children and her parents were poor, but ambitious for their children’s education.
She attended a missionary school and later won a scholarship to attend the Methodist Girls’ High School in Lagos.
In 1960, she married Sylvester Onwordi and moved to London, where she had five children.
She worked as a librarian and wrote in her spare time, publishing her first novel, “In the Ditch,” in 1972.
Her novels explore the experiences of African women and the challenges they face in both African and Western societies.
She was a prominent voice in the feminist movement and her writing often addressed issues of gender, race, and class.
She received numerous awards for her writing, including the Jock Campbell Award and the OBE (Order of the British Empire).
She passed away on January 25, 2017, in London, England, at the age of 72.
Some of her works include “The Joys of Motherhood”, “Second Class Citizen”, “The Bride Price”, etc.
Buchi Emecheta’s lifestyle of creative writing and advocacy for women’s rights continues to inspire and influence writers and readers around the world.
THERE IS POWER IN WRITING. WIELD IT COURAGEOUSLY.
PS: Which of her works have you read?
What’s stopping you from publishing your own book too?