Efuru

Efuru (1966) describes the life of an independent-minded Ibo woman in a small village in colonial West Africa. The narrative follows the protagonist's experiences with youth, marriage, and motherhood, specifically highlighting her struggle to successfully raise children. Facing loneliness and childlessness, Efuru seeks guidance from Uhamiri, the lake goddess of her tribe, to discover her higher calling. The novel serves as a realistic exploration of gender issues within a patriarchal society and the impact of colonialism on a Nigerian nation.

Flora Nwapa (1931 to 1993), born Florence Nwanzuruahu Nkiru Nwakuche\u2013Nwapa, is recognized as the Mother of Modern African Literature according to Flora Nwapa: Mother of Modern African Literature. As a forerunner to a generation of African women writers, she became the first African woman to publish a novel in the English language. Her debut novel, Efuru, was published in 1966 as part of Heinemann's African Writers Series, marking it as the first book written by a Nigerian woman, and any sub-Saharan African woman, to be published internationally as noted in Efuru - Wikipedia.