83rd birthday of Flora Nwapa

(Born 13 January 1931, Ugwuta, Igboland)

First continental African woman published novelist (Efuru, 1966, and, soon after, Idu, which she begins to work on at the onset of the Igbo genocide and later publishes in 1970) whose landmark work as well as that of sociologist Kamene Okonjo’s open up the expanse of possibilities in Igbo Women/African World Studies within which the subsequent scholarship, practice, artistry and writings of especially the following have richly flourished: Adaora Lily Ulasi, Felicia Ekejiuba, Zulu Sofola, Helen Chukwuma, Phanuel Egejuru, Buchi Emecheta, Osonye Tess Onwueme, Obioma Nnaemeka, Onyeka Onwenu, Ada Udechukwu, Genevieve Onyuike,  Chinyere Kalu, Felicia Eke, Anthonia Kalu, Joy Ogwu, Ifi Amadiume, Nkiru Nzegwu, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Catherine Acholonu, Ama Ogan, Gloria Chuku, Stella Chinyelu Okoli, Ijeoma Uchegbu, Irene Iroche, Evelyn Oputu, Ifeoma Okoye, Chi-Chi Nwanoku, Rose Adaure Njoku, Chris Anyanwu, Obiageli Ezekwesili, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Arunma Oteh, Viola Onwuliri, Francisca Okeke, Stella Oduah, Amaka Igwe, Juliana Onwumere, Eucharia Nwaichi, Maureen Ngozi Eke, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Ada Uzoamaka Azodo, Okwuonicha Nzegwu, Carole Ijeoma Njoku, Ngozi Onwurah, Chinelo Achebe-Ejueyitche, Adaeze Ifezulike, Unoma Azuah, Nnenna Okore, Chinasa Ogbuagu, Obiageli Okigbo, Chi Onwurah, Nwando Achebe, Gloria Ernest-Samuel, Joanna Chikwe, Amara Okereke, Chinelo Okparanta, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Amaka Osakwe, Amara Enyia, Chioma Okereke, Chinwe Ozoegwu, Adaora Udoji, Uzoamaka Maduka, Ogo Offodile, Chinyelu “ChiChi” Offodile

Twitter @HerbertEkweEkwe