Idu

Idu centers on the lives of a young woman named Idu and her husband, Adiewere, in a traditional Nigerian village. The narrative explores their deep devotion to one another and their struggle as a childless couple within a society that prioritizes motherhood over marital bonds. Their path is marked by economic prosperity and eventual hardship, including the selfless sacrifice of their wealth to assist Adiewere's brother, Ishiodu. As societal pressure regarding their childless state mounts, Idu eventually encourages her husband to take a second wife. The dynamic shifts dramatically when Idu announces a pregnancy, leading to the departure of the second wife and highlighting the complex intersection of personal relationships and communal expectations. The novel is sometimes viewed as controversial due to its examination of the protagonist's profound reliance on her spouse.

Flora Nwapa (1931 - 1993) was a pioneering Nigerian author recognized as a foundational figure in modern African literature. As the first African woman novelist published in English in Britain, she gained international acclaim for her 1966 debut, Efuru. Beyond her writing, Nwapa served as a tribal chief, holding the Ogbuefi title, and was an influential publisher who founded Tana Press in 1970. Her work consistently reflects Igbo traditions and the perspectives of women, while her life also included significant governmental contributions to post-Biafran War reconstruction, particularly in support of displaced orphans and refugees.