When we think about the countless women writers today, it is hard not to wonder who the first woman to boldly pick up a pen, share her stories, and become known as a writer was? Who was that woman who refused to be silenced, even when society may have tried to stifle her voice?
Today, women writers tell stories of love, war, culture, despair, and everything in between. These stories have shaped literature across genres, touching hearts and empowering minds. But who paved the way?
From Nigeria, that woman was Florence Nwanzuruahu Nkiru Nwapa, famously known as Flora Nwapa. She made history as the first Nigerian female author, with her groundbreaking debut novel, Efuru, published in 1966. This accomplishment earned her the title of the first African woman to publish a book in English, giving her legacy as the “mother of modern African literature.”
Born in 1931 into the family of Martha Nwapa in Oguta, Enugu State, Florence was the eldest of six children. She married Chief Gogo Nwakuche and had three children. Her literary journey began with the manuscript of Efuru in 1962, which she sent to Chinua Achebe, the author of Things Fall Apart. Achebe, impressed by her work, encouraged her by providing both a letter of praise and financial support to submit her manuscript to Heinemann in England.
Flora’s writing gave a voice to African women, presenting their lives and struggles through an authentic lens. Though she never identified herself as a feminist, her work undeniably championed women’s narratives. She explored the roles and resilience of women in Igbo society, narrating from their unique perspective. One of her later works, Women Are Different (1986), delves even deeper into these themes.
Flora Nwapa’s legacy continues to inspire generations of writers, proving that stories—especially those told with courage and conviction—have the power to shape cultures and histories. She was a pioneer who showed that women’s voices not only belong in literature but are essential to its evolution.
