10 interesting things you should know about the mother of modern African literature

16:41 - 13 January 2016

Flora Nwapa

Do you know that it was on this day in history that Flora Nwapa, mother of modern African literature was born?

Did you know:

1. She is the Mother of modern African literature

In 1966, Flora Nwapa made history as the first African woman to publish in English with the publication of her debut novel, Efuru. She is often described as the Mother of modern African literature.

2. First female Minister in Nigeria

She is the first female Minister (also called Commissioner or State Secretary then) of Health and Social Welfare for what was then the East Central State (now Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states) from 1970 to 1971.

3. She was a teacher to the core

Despite her busy schedule, not at one time did she resign from her work as an educator. She continued to teach across the globe. She taught at Trinity College, New York University, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Ilorin etc.

4. One of the first African women publishers

Ultimately, Flora Nwapa was dissatisfied with distribution efforts of the publisher for her two books and courageously decided to venture into publishing herself. She set up Tana press in 1974 which published adult fictions. All her subsequent adult fictions were published by Tana. Between 1979 and 1981 she published eight volumes of adult fictions.

5. Giving back

Nwapa also is known for her governmental work in reconstruction after the Biafran War. In particular she worked with orphans and refugees who were displaced during the war. She painstakingly did the tracing of individual families on an immense scale.

6. She encouraged her sons to do house chores

A stout defender of women, she encouraged her sons to help out with the household chores, especially when she had to combine her role as a cabinet minister, writer, teacher, mother and wife.

7. She did not fight her husband when he married other wives

Her husband, Nwakuche would later go on to marry younger women after she had helped him become a successful businessman but she remained his first and most senior wife.

8. She was a 'Womanist' not a 'Feminist'

Flora Nwapa never saw herself as a feminist but preferred to be described as a ‘womanist’. In her books, she projected women as self-reliant and hardworking.

9. She was best friends with Chinua Achebe

Interestingly, one of those who gave her undiluted support was one of Africa’s finest writers and the master storyteller himself, Albert Chínụ̀álụmọ̀gụ̀ Àchèbé. When Flora Nwapa finished the manuscript of her first novel, gave him and he went through it. He loved what he read, gave it a title and returned it to her with some money for her to send to Heinemann in London for publication.

10. Died October 16th I993

Flora Nwapa died in Enugu aged 62, at her funeral, the late environmentalist, great writer and activist, Kenule Saro-Wiwa said of her: “Flora is gone and we all have to say adieu. But she left behind an indelible mark. No one will ever write about Nigerian literature in English without mentioning her. She will always be the departure point for female writing in Africa. And African publishing will forever owe her a debt. But above all, her contribution to the development of women in Nigeria, nay in Africa, and throughout the world is what she will be best remembered for.”