5 Nigerian Writers who fight for Gender Equality with Their Books

Every culture’s survival is often hinged on what its literature contains. Nigeria is no different, as the African giant has produced some of the most iconic female writers. Not only have these icons served us with incredible works, they have also used their writings to push back against the issues many women face.

Here are five female authors who have used their books to speak out against gender inequality:

Lola Shoneyi

Lola’s debut bestseller “The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives” explored polygamy and the toll it takes on women.  A poignant quote from the book sums it up perfectly, saying, “A real woman must always do the things she wants to do, and in her own time too. You must never allow yourself to be rushed into doing things you’re not ready for.”

Sadly, polygamy and child marriage rates are very high in Africa and have been a severe problem in the struggle against gender inequality. In Nigeria alone (64.0%) child marriages took place in 2019 according to a report by International Health and Human Rights. Child brides are prone to domestic violence and are less likely to participate in family decision making due to immaturity and lower socioeconomic status a sad reality. 

Ouida Books

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Often called “the 21st-century daughter of Chinua Achebe,” Adichie’s pedigree has repeatedly shone through in her work. Her feminist convictions are globally recognized, so much so her name has become a pop-culture staple. 

In the critically acclaimed We Should All Be Feminist, she explains the need to change social beliefs and gender constructs that promote the disparity between men and women. Two other books, Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus, both craft the reality of women’s struggles in a patriarchal society and how they struggle to overcome them succinctly.

Sefi Atta

In Everything Good Will Come, Attah addresses women’s struggles as they try to defy the traditional Nigerian system. The same system often frowns on their freedom and leaves them with little or no control over their lives. Often juxtaposed with Half of a Yellow Sun and Under the Udala Trees, it’s a beautiful piece of art. One of the main factors militating against the freedom and equality of women’s rights in Africa remains the adherence to archaic laws and customs. These traditional systems prevent ladies from seeking formal education or even aspiring to being anything but wives. Her book focuses on the class struggle.

brittle paper

Buchi Emecheta

If you are an avid reader of Emecheta’s work, you will notice that over 20 of her books focus on feminism and childhood slavery. Perhaps the most outstanding on the subject remains Second Class Citizen, which shows a struggle for dominance between two genders. It also shows the gender differences in two parts of the world. 

In Buchi’s words,  “God, when will you create a woman who will be fulfilled in herself, a full human being, not anybody’s appendage? “

Ayobami Adebayo

The 33-year-old Baileys Women’s Prize winner has used her talent to significant effect. Her book Stay with Me talks about childlessness, child loss (trigger warning), the societal pressures of having children, male and female gender roles in raising a child, and phantom pregnancies. She also explores polygamy, adultery, male impotence and the “blame” of impotence put on the mother. 

The author decided one day that she wanted to cover many issues two partners could potentially have when it comes to having a child. One of the realities of our society is where the pressure falls only on the woman to bear a child, give birth to a particular sex or even when a miscarriage happens. Sadly, inequality in marriages is the reality we face in Africa, and Adebayo does well to use her book to address it. This struggle shouldn’t be one-sided. It’s something that the two parties (man and woman) should face together.