Women & Business

By Fadeke Banjo

The early Nigerian literacy scene was largely dominated by male authors such as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, and Gabriel Okara, who rose to prominence between the 1950s and 1970s. However, the contributions of Nigerian women authors, though often overlooked, have had a profound impact on both society and the literacy scene in the West African country, and globally, for decades.  

Pioneers like Flora Nwapa, Buchi Emecheta, and Balaraba Ramat Yakubu, challenged the status quo through their storytelling, fearlessly discussing social issues affecting women in their communities, such as child marriage, women’s education, and financial independence. They laid the foundation for contemporary writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Abi Daré, and Tomi Adeyemi — who explore and express the diverse experiences of Nigerian womanhood, while also addressing pressing social issues like women’s rights, gender oppression, sexuality, identity, and women’s bodily autonomy — to build a substantial literary landscape upon. Their works often have strong female protagonists and heroines in their novels, empowering women to recognise the significance of their voices and to challenge patriarchal norms.

Today, Nigerian female writers are continuing a legacy of creating literature as a social movement, calling for justice while also highlighting the realities that women in the country face. Their work is making significant contributions at home and globally, driving essential conversations about women’s rights and representation at every level. With that said, here are six Nigerian women authors you should add to your bookshelf.

1. Flora Nwapa 

Florence Nwanzurahu Nkiru Nwapa — more commonly known as Flora Nwapa,  is celebrated as the mother of modern African literature and has inspired a generation of female writers in Nigeria. Her work confronted and reshaped the stereotypical narratives of African women in a predominantly male literary landscape.

At 35, Nwapa released her first globally acclaimed novel Efuru, which was published in 1966. This book was the first internationally published work by a Nigerian woman in the English language. The novel tells the story of a young wife named Efuru, who embarks on a journey to carve out her independence in the face of traditional beliefs of Igbo society.

Her novels serve as a powerful counter-narrative to the stereotypes perpetuated by male authors on African women, instead celebrating the success and resilience of African women. In Nwapa’s novel One is Enough, Amaka embarks on a journey of self-discovery after her husband reveals his intention to take another wife after six years of marriage, leaving her heartbroken. Choosing to leave the security of her home. She moves to Lagos to pursue her dream of becoming a successful businesswoman, the plot unfolds from there.

In 1974 the late author established Tana Press, becoming the first African woman to own an independent publishing press.

2. Balaraba Ramat Yakubu 

Balaraba Ramat Yakubu is a prominent writer in northern Nigeria, and the first female Hausa language author to have her work translated into English. She is also one of the pioneers of the literacy subgenre and movement referred to as “Littattafan Soyayya,” which translates to  “love literature” or “books of love” from Hausa.
Yakubu’s life experiences have greatly influenced her writing. During her childhood, she was married off as a child bride at ages 12 and 15, with both marriages ending in divorce and her returning to her family home. Yakubu remained determined to pursue her education. With her mother’s support, she attended adult education classes while secretly learning to read and write.

Her book Wa Zai Auri Jahila (which translates to ‘Who Will Marry an Ignorant Woman’) published in 1990, is inspired by her experiences as a child bride survivor. It tells the story of a 13-year-old girl forced to marry an older man who, like Yakubu, ultimately finds empowerment through education. The book critiques child marriage and advocates for girls’ education, highlighting issues that were prevalent during Yakubu’s childhood in Kano, Nigeria. Now 67, Yakubu continues to advocate against injustices faced by women in northern Nigeria. As a strong advocate for women’s rights in the region, she also coordinates trauma counselling at the Murtala Mohammed Foundation.

3. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a highly acclaimed Nigerian author and feminist. Her compelling storytelling and advocacy for gender equality have garnered her worldwide recognition. Through her influential work, such as Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and Purple Hibiscus, she has inspired millions around the globe.

Adichie’s second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, which was published in 2006, delves into various themes and topics such as race, culture, colonialism, war, and politics to name a few. The novel was later adapted into a film in 2013, starring Thandiwe Newton, Genevieve Nnaji, John Boyega, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

In her novels, Adichie explores social equity-related themes while also exploring the human condition. Her books often feature complex female characters that are multi-dimensional and outspoken, that challenge gender stereotypes.

Adichie delivered her now-iconic TED talk titled: “We Should All Be Feminists,” where she shared her vision for a more equitable world. Beyoncé sampled Adichie’s feminist speech in her 2013 single “Flawless.” Additionally, the speech was later adapted into a book with the same title, in 2014. In 2015, this book was given to every 16-year-old high school student in Sweden. The speech and book have helped spark important conversations about equality and feminism.

4. Abi Daré

Abi Daré is a globally recognised Nigerian-British author, originally from the vibrant city of Lagos, Nigeria, but raised in Essex, England. Her first novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice was published in 2020 to critical acclaim and put Daré on the map.

This coming-of-age novel follows Adunni, a 14-year-old girl from a poor family, in a small town near Lagos. Despite her desire to pursue an education, her family’s financial hardship holds her back. Her situation worsens when her father removes her from school and arranges for her to be the third wife to an older man. This unfortunate marriage leads to abuse, prompting her to escape to Lagos. There, she finds employment as a housemaid for a rich family. Sadly in this household, she experiences abuse and exploitation. Despite these challenges, Adunni remains determined to receive an education, believing that knowledge is her path to freedom from oppression.

The inspiration behind the book came to Daré after she read a news article about a young maid who suffered at the hands of her employer. As well as drawing from her own experiences living in rural Nigeria and inspired by her daughters, Daré dedicated three years to writing this powerful novel. In this novel, she chose to incorporate elements of Pidgin English to authentically capture her characters’ voices.

When she is not writing, Daré is a strong advocate for girls’ education and inspiring the next generation of Nigerian women authors. In 2023, she founded the Louding Voice Education and Empowerment Foundation, a non-profit which provides scholarships to girls in rural Nigeria.

5. Tomi Adeyemi 

Popular fantasy storytelling has been shaped by white people and white characters. Consider The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter and Twilight. Yet, fantasy and mythology extend far beyond Western cultural boundaries. For instance, Nigeria has a vibrant literacy heritage, deeply rooted in folklore and mythology.

One prominent author in this space is Tomi Adeyemi, a Nigerian-American writer known for bringing West African mythology to the fantasy genre. Her debut novel, Children of Blood and Bone, published in 2018 when she was 24, became an instant bestseller and blossomed into a trilogy. The Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, which also includes Children of Virtue and Vengeance and Children of Anguish and Anarchy, has sold three million copies and spent 175 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list.

In 2022, Paramount announced a film adaptation deal with Adeyemi for the series to be turned into three films. The first film, based on Children of Blood and Bone (the first book from the trilogy), is set to be released on Jan. 15, 2027, with a star-studded cast.

The young adult fantasy novel is set in the mythical African Kingdom of Orïsha and follows a 17-year-old headstrong female protagonist named Zélie Adebola. Zélie’s quest is to restore magic to the land of Orïsha and overthrow its oppressive rulers. 

Adeyemi was sparked by her Nigerian roots and a fellowship trip to Brazil, where she studied West African culture and mythology to kick off the series. In a local gift shop, she saw beautiful depictions of African gods and goddesses. This experience was pivotal in shaping her novel.

Through her novels, Adeyemi bravely addresses challenging topics such as police brutality, the politics surrounding black hair, racism, colonialism, gender-based violence and social justice. They also take inspiration from the events of the Black Lives Matter movement in the US.

6. Chinelo Okparanta

Chinelo Okaparanta’s interest and confidence in writing at a young age was bolstered when she won a citywide essay contest in Boston at just 11 years old.

As an adult, she dove into fiction writing and honed her skills through creative writing classes in graduate school at Rutgers University.

Okparanta is renowned for her novels, including,  Runs Girl, Happiness, Like Water, Under the Udala Trees and Harry Sylvester Bird. She has received numerous awards such as the O. Herney Award in 2014 and the Lambda Literacy Award, which she won twice.

Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Okparanta lived there until she was 10 years old when her family immigrated to the United States. This duality of homeland influences her novels. For instance her books, Under the Udala Trees and Happiness, Like Water are primarily set in Nigeria, while Harry Sylvester Bird is mainly set in rural Pennsylvania and New York.

Under the Udala Trees follows Ijeoma, a Christian Igbo girl who, after her father died in the Biafran War, is sent to live with a family friend. There she meets Amina, a Muslim, orphan Hausa girl, they form a friendship that quickly grows into romance. When their relationship is discovered they are forced to separate and confront the harsh realities and challenges posed by societal taboos at the time against LGBTQ+ love.

This novel sheds light on Okaparanta’s ongoing commitment to highlighting the lives of the LGBTQ+ community in her home country Nigeria, particularly in light of the 2014 Nigerian law signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan, which criminalized same-sex relationships.

Past and Present Nigerian women authors have significantly impacted the literature scene both in Nigeria and globally by examining womanhood and addressing social issues that keep the world from achieving true gender equality. Supporting and engaging with their works fosters critical dialogue on women’s rights and representation, a discussion that’s more pertinent than ever right now.

Credit: Global Citizen