The Joys of Motherhood

Buchi Emecheta’s powerful novel, The Joys of Motherhood, narrates the tragic life of Nnu Ego, an Ibo woman who trades the traditions of her village for the demanding, lonely reality of Lagos life. Driven by the ultimate cultural pressure to bear many children, especially sons, Nnu Ego dedicates her entire existence to her offspring, enduring poverty and her husband's abandonment. Against the backdrop of a changing Nigeria and the impact of World War II, the novel fiercely questions whether motherhood, in a patriarchal system, is a joy or a burden, revealing the profound personal sacrifice of a woman who ultimately finds herself alone. This profound work is a searing critique of traditional and colonial-era gender expectations.