The Joys of Motherhood...a graceful, touching, ironically titled tale. - John Updike A new edition of her classic novel to coincide with the publication of her other works in the African Writers Series. Nnu Ego is a woman devoted to her children, giving them all her energy, all her worldly possessions, indeed, all her life to them -- with the result that she finds herself friendless and alone in middle age. This story of a young mother's struggles in 1950s Lagos is a powerful commentary on polygamy, patriarchy, and women's changing roles in urban Nigeria. |
Contents
The Mother | 7 |
The Mothers Mother | 10 |
The Mothers Early Life | 29 |
First Shocks of Motherhood | 40 |
A Failed Woman | 56 |
A Man is Never Ugly | 63 |
The Duty of a Father | 72 |
The Rich and the Poor | 82 |
Sharing a Husband | 126 |
Men at War | 141 |
A Good Daughter | 151 |
Women Alone | 156 |
The Soldier Father | 170 |
A Mother of Clever Children | 188 |
A Daughters Honour | 198 |
The Canonised Mother | 212 |
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Common terms and phrases
Adaku Adankwo Adim Amatokwu army asked baby bride price brother brought called Carter Bridge child clothes compound cooking Cordelia cutlass daughter of Agbadi dead Dr Meers Dumbi Ebute Metta Ego's eyes father felt Fernando Po friends girls give go back guitar happy Hausa head heard husband Ibuza Idayi Iyawo Itsekiri Kehinde knew Lagos lappa laughed leave live look Mama Abby marry morning mother never Nigeria night Nnaife Nnaife's Nnamdio Nnu Ego Nwakusor Nwokocha Agbadi Ogboli Okpo Oshia Owulum palm wine pounds pregnant realised school fees screamed senior wife shouted slave sleep smiled sons soon sorry stall started stay stop sure Taiwo talk tell things thought told Ubani veranda voice wait wash watching wives woman women worry Yaba Yoruba young