African Writers Series

Set in the early 1900s, in colonial Nigeria, The Slave Girl tells the story of `twice-born' Ogbanje Ojebeta who, following the death of her parents is betrayed by her older brother and sold into domestic slavery. She finds solace among her fellow slaves but learns the painful lessons of what it means to be owned by another. As she grows into a woman she longs for freedom and for a family of her own. She realises that she must ultimately decide her own destiny, and when the opportunity arises, makes a choice that we as modern readers might find surprising.

Gwendolen

by Buchi Emecheta

Published 23 November 1989

Joys of Motherhood

by Buchi Emecheta

Published April 1979

Nnu Ego is a woman who gives all her energy, money and everything she has to raising her children - leaving her little time to make friends.

Destination Biafra

by Buchi Emecheta

Published 29 October 1981

The Bride Price

by Buchi Emecheta

Published 1 January 1976

First edition hardback

Kehinde

by Buchi Emecheta

Published 1 March 1994

Kehinde is a Nigerian woman, unsure of herself, not quite certain she has the right to be happy. With her husband, Albert, she has made a home in London, and has a promising career when Albert decides they should return to Nigeria. Kehinde is loath to do so, and joins him later, reluctantly, only to discover that he has taken a second, younger wife. Her years in England have left Kehinde unwilling and unprepared to reembrace Nigerian social mores; and unable to accept the situation, she returns to London.

In the Ditch

by Buchi Emecheta

Published 6 July 1972

A lone Nigerian mother is determined to carve a place for herself against all odds.

AWS Classics The Joys of Motherhood

by Buchi Emecheta

Published 1 March 1994

The Joys of Motherhood tells the moving story of Nnu Ego, a West African woman devoted to her children, giving them all her life - with the result that she finds herself friendless and alone in middle age. The Joys of Motherhood is a powerful commentary on polygamy, patriarchy and women's changing roles in urban Nigeria.