Latest News

Buchi Emecheta is a Nigerian writer whose works are known for exploring African themes, especially as pertains to women. Her narratives are often marked by honesty and emotional vividness. This article explores the life of Buchi Emecheta and provides a list of the books written by Buchi Emecheta.

About Buchi Emecheta

Florence Onyebuchi Emecheta (often called Buchi Emecheta) was born on July 21, 1944, in Yaba near Lagos, Nigeria, to Igbo parents, Jeremy Nwabundinke and Alice Okuekwuhe Emecheta, originally from Umuezeokolo Odeanta village in Ibusa, Delta State. For the prevailing gender bias in her community, Emecheta, while growing up, was confined to home chores while her younger brother pursued education. However, her childhood was enriched with tales of her people and culture narrated by her grandmother. These narratives sparked her passion for storytelling, prompting her to yearn for education. After much persuasion, she commenced schooling at Ladilak School and later Reagan Memorial Baptist, an all-girls school. 

At nine, her father passed away from complications stemming from a wound contracted in the swamps of Burma, where he served for Lord Louis Mountbatten in the British forces.

Following her father’s demise, her mother struggled to provide, leading to family separation. Emecheta moved in with her mother’s cousin in Lagos, while her younger brother went to live with her father’s brother.

Subsequently, Emecheta secured a scholarship to Methodist Girls’ High School, which she attended until age 16. Although she aspired to further her education at the University of Ibadan, her plans were thwarted when she got betrothed at 11 to Sylvester Onwordi, with whom she had four children. 

Her husband pursued studies at London University, while Emecheta, remaining in Lagos, worked at the American Embassy for two years to support her children. In 1962, she relocated with her children to London to join her husband, where they had their fifth child – Chiedu. The first four children are Ikechukwu, Chukwuemeka, Obiajulu, and Chiago.

In London, Emecheta worked as a librarian at the British Museum, nurturing her dream of becoming a writer since childhood. However, her husband, suspicious of her aspirations, destroyed her first manuscript. This event, compounded by marital discord and occasional violence, led to their separation. 

Despite adversities as an African single mother in Great Britain, Emecheta persisted, attending classes at the University of London and earning an honors degree in sociology in 1974. She candidly shared her struggles in her autobiography “Head Above”. In her words, “As for my survival for the past twenty years in England, from when I was a little over twenty, dragging four cold and dripping babies with me and pregnant with a fifth one – that is a miracle.”

As her literary works gained global acclaim, Emecheta embarked on lecturing tours in U.S. universities and served as a visiting professor in Nigeria. In 1982, alongside her son Sylvester, she established Ogwugwu Afor, a publishing company, releasing her novel – Double Yoke 1982 under its banner.

Tragically, in 2010, Emecheta suffered a stroke and passed away at her London residence on January 25, 2017. Her writings, reflecting her life experiences, remain a powerful testament to her advocacy for human rights for African women.

Buchi Emecheta’s books are celebrated for exploring themes such as gender, race, identity, and the immigrant experience, particularly through the lens of African women. Her narratives often delve into the complexities of womanhood, the challenges of societal expectations, and the quest for personal and cultural liberation.

One of her most renowned works, “The Joys of Motherhood,” offers a poignant portrayal of the struggles and sacrifices endured by Nigerian women in the face of traditional patriarchal structures. Through the protagonist, Nnu Ego, Emecheta examines the paradoxes of motherhood and the clash between tradition and modernity.

Similarly, “Second-Class Citizen” and “The Bride Price” shed light on the themes of oppression and resilience, depicting the journey of Nigerian women striving for self-dependence and fulfillment amid cultural limitations.

Emecheta’s writing is marked by its raw honesty and emotional vividness, drawing readers into the lives of her characters with deep storytelling and nuanced characterization. Her narratives often challenge dominant narratives and shed light on marginalized voices, offering a window into the diverse experiences of African women.

In all, Buchi Emecheta’s books serve as powerful testimonies to the strength, resilience, and humanity of African women, leaving a lasting impact on readers around the world.

Books Written by Buchi Emecheta

Here are some of Buchi Emecheta’s famous books: novels, essays, commentaries, poems, and short stories:

1. In the Ditch (1972)

2. Second-Class Citizen (1974)

3. The Bride Price (1976)

4. The Slave Girl (1977)

5. The Joys of Motherhood (1979)

6. Destination Biafra (1982)

7. Double Yoke (1982)

8. The Rape of Shavi (1983)

9. The Moonlight Bride (1986)

10. Our Own Freedom (1988)

11. Kehinde (1994)

12. The New Tribe (2000)

13. The Family (2004)

14. In the Ditch (2010, revised edition)

15. Second-Class Citizen (2010, revised edition)

16. The Bride Price (2010, revised edition)

17. The Slave Girl (2010, revised edition)

18. The Joys of Motherhood (2010, revised edition)

19. Head Above Water (2004, autobiography)

20. The Autobiography of Buchi Emecheta (2010, revised edition) – a compilation of “Head Above Water” and “In the Ditch”

21. Gwendolen (1989)

22. The Family (1990)

23. Adah’s Story (1996)

24. Naira Power (2002)

25. The Wrestling Match (2003)

26. The Bride Price/The Slave Girl (2004, omnibus edition)

27. The Sword and the Flute (2005)

28. New Sister and Other Stories (2005)

29. Nowhere to Play (2006)

30. The New Tribe (2007, revised edition)

31. Joy of Motherhood (2008, abridged edition)

32. The Moonlight Bride and Other Nigerian Folktales (2008)

33. Gwendolen (2010, revised edition)

34. Adah’s Story (2010, revised edition)

35. Naira Power (2010, revised edition)

36. The Wrestling Match (2010, revised edition)

37. The Bride Price/The Slave Girl (2010, revised edition)

38. The Sword and the Flute (2010, revised edition)

39. Nowhere to Play (2010, revised edition)

40. The New Tribe (2010, revised edition)

Further Reading

Motherhood

Nigeria Independence

What is Bullying?