One Is Enough

Flora Nwapa (1931 to 1993) was a Nigerian author recognized as the mother of modern African Literature and the first African woman novelist published in English. She founded Tana Press in 1974 and focused her writing on the elevation of women in Africa and increasing their self-worth within male-dominated societies, as noted by Flora Nwapa - Wikipedia.

One Is Enough (1981) follows the protagonist Amaka, who begins the narrative as an oppressed and childless woman humiliated by her in-laws in an abusive partnership. The story tracks her quest for independence and self-discovery as she moves from her hometown to Lagos in search of a freer and more successful life, as described in The Works of Flora Nwapa, Mother of Modern African Literature.

The novel addresses the practice of polygamy and explores the experiences of women in post-colonial Nigeria within a traditional Igbo culture affected by British colonialism. According to The New African Woman: The Quest for an Independent Self in Flora Nwapa, Amaka ultimately triumphs by becoming both a mother and a successful businesswoman.