Four and a half decades ago, in 1979, two literary giants from Africa published works that would forever change the landscape of feminist writing on the continent. Nigeria's Buchi Emecheta released The Joys of Motherhood, while Senegal's Mariama Bâ gave the world So Long A Letter. These novels, now considered foundational texts, emerged from authors who were true sisters under the skin, united in their fearless exploration of womanhood in post-independence societies.
Parallel Lives, Shared Struggles
The remarkable similarities between Buchi Emecheta and Mariama Bâ's personal journeys deeply informed their writing. Both women lost their mothers at an early age and were cherished by their fathers. As gifted students, they each faced the formidable task of persuading skeptical elders to allow them, as girls, to complete their education. Their adult lives were marked by unhappy marriages which they eventually escaped to pursue independence, with Emecheta raising five children and Bâ raising ten.
Their literary work is profoundly autobiographical, drawing lyrical power from their lived experiences. They employed traditional Igbo and Wolof storytelling modes to craft narratives that were pioneering in African feminist literature. Interestingly, both authors initially rejected the "feminist" label, distancing themselves from Western feminism which they felt failed to understand or represent their specific struggles.
Divergent Paths to a Common Goal
Despite their profound similarities, significant differences defined their individual paths. Buchi Emecheta hailed from a working-class background and faced financial hardship well into her thirties. She spent most of her life in exile in England, published her first novel at age 30, and produced over 15 more works. The Christian Emecheta never remarried after her divorce.
In contrast, Mariama Bâ was born into a wealthy Senegalese family. Her father and her husband of 25 years both served as government ministers. Bâ lived her entire life in Senegal, was married and divorced three times as a Muslim, and published her first groundbreaking novel, So Long A Letter, at the age of 50. She completed only one other novel before her untimely death at age 52, while Emecheta lived to 72.
Literary Swords Against Patriarchy and Oppression
Through their iconic protagonists—Nnu Ego and Ramatoulaye—Emecheta and Bâ painted heart-wrenching portraits of women trapped in miserable marriages, enduring suffering for their children under the weight of societal pressure. Both novels serve as powerful critiques of patriarchy, antiquated customs, and the oppressive roles played by imported Abrahamic religions—Christianity and Islam—in reinforcing a repressive status quo.
The writers mocked older men taking younger wives and documented the erosion of indigenous cultures by Western modernization. Yet, they were careful to illustrate that the male characters in their stories were also victims of larger structural forces embedded in colonialism and patriarchy. Their feminism was firmly situated within anti-colonial struggles, advocating for a societal restructuring where women could be genuine partners to men, with equal rights and opportunities in both private and public spheres.
Ultimately, both Buchi Emecheta and Mariama Bâ used their pens as swords to challenge deep-seated misogyny. Their seminal 1979 works remain eloquent cris de coeur, encouraging women to break free from intolerable traditions to discover the true joys of motherhood and marriage. Their legacy, 45 years on, continues to inspire and liberate.
