- Title: Nigerian writers remember pioneering novelist Buchi Emecheta, who died at 72.
- Date: 31st January 2017
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS AT A BOOK READING OF NIGERIAN WRITER BUCHI EMECHETA HAND SCROLLING THROUGH A PHONE PARTICIPANT TALKING VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANT READING OUT LOUD CLOSE UP OF EMECHETA'S BOOK: JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD (SOUNDBITE) (English) WRITER, INAJITE FEMUAYE, SAYING: "She is one of the icons of literature, of Nigeria literature, and then she was one of the first women to write a novel. And then she is a big, I say big proponent of women's rights through her books and most about her books were about her experiences. Even though when I read them as a child, I was really young when I read them, I didn't know that they were stories about her life. I just felt that oh, these are stories about what women go through, women I know, and this is someone bravely telling these stories. So that's why Buchi for me has always been an example of what a true strong African woman is." (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOUNDER, MAINLAND BOOK CAFE, AYOMIDE FADEYI SAYING: "I remember my first encounter with her book work was 'The Second Class Citizen" and I picked that up from my mother's collection of books, and I read it and I loved it, and I actually wanted more, then I stumbled on "The Joys of Motherhood." And I read both books and I thought oh, that was all the books by this person called Buchi Emecheta, only for me to discover recently that she actually had a lot of other titles." LAGOS, NIGERIA (JANUARY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VICTOR EHIKHAMENOR TAKING AND READING A BOOK FROM HIS BOOK SHELF (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARTIST AND AUTHOR, VICTOR EHIKHAMENOR, SAYING: "I think it will also have the positive impact on the younger generation now in the sense that they will now again try to read hard in that sense you know, like who is this woman that everybody is talking about you know international press, a whole lot of people that are familiar with her works are now talking about her works and all that. So there is going to be a form of resurgence of Buchi Emecheta's you know, works. What she has done in that field for Nigerian literature, for African literature, for world literature for that matter is really worth celebrating and especially the issue she was dealing with. Women issue, exile, you know writing from far and still looking inward.: LAGOS, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) BANNER READING (English): "KEEP CALM AND READ A BOOK" BANNER READING (English): "MAINLAND BOOK CAFE" PARTICIPANTS AT BOOK READING
- Embargoed: 14th February 2017 14:37
- Keywords: Buchi Emecheta Books Reading Literature Women emancipation
- Location: LAGOS, NIGERIA
- City: LAGOS, NIGERIA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Books,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA00161EV047
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A group of writers and book lovers recently came together in the Nigerian city of Lagos to pay tribute one of the country's renowned literary icons, who passed away on Wednesday (January 25) in the United Kingdom at the age of 72.
Known for championing women and girls rights in her writing, Emecheta's explored themes such as motherhood, female emancipation, life as a single mother, abuse of women and child slavery amongst others.
Despite the difficult subject matter she covered in her books, her works were widely read and were also part of the national curricula in Nigeria and several other African countries.
Born in Lagos, Emecheta moved to the United Kingdom in the 1960's with her husband and worked as a librarian. She later left her husband, after he refused to read her first novel and burnt the manuscript.
She began writing about her experiences in a regular column in the British New Statesman magazine, and the collection was later turned into an autobiography called "In The Ditch," about fictionalised portraits of young Nigerian woman struggling to bring up her children in London.
She went on to write other successful novels including "Second class citizen and "Joys of motherhood", a complex and authentic illustration of motherhood in Nigeria and Africa.
"She is one of the icons of literature, of Nigeria literature, and then she was one of the first women to write a novel. And then she is a big, I say big proponent of women's rights through her books and most about her books were about her experiences. Even though when I read them as a child, I was really young when I read them, I didn't know that they were stories about her life. I just felt that oh, these are stories about what women go through, women I know, and this is someone bravely telling these stories so that is why, Buchi for me has always been an example of what a true strong African woman is," said writer, Inajite Femuaye.
"I remember my first encounter with her book work was 'The Second Class Citizen" and I picked that up from my mother's collection of books, and I read it and I loved it, and I actually wanted more, then I stumbled on "The Joys Of Motherhood." And I read both books and I thought oh, that was all the books by this person called Buchi Emecheta, only for me to discover recently that she actually had a lot of other titles," said Ayomide Fadeyi, founder of a local book club.
Nigeria's award winning writer, Victor Ehikhamenor, famous for his short stories and poetry said that Emecheta's death has re-ignited interest in her books, especially amongst the younger generation.
"I think it will also have the positive impact on the younger generation now in the sense that they will now again try to read hard in that sense you know, like who is this woman that everybody is talking about you know international press, a whole lot of people that are familiar with her works are now talking about her works and all that. So there is going to be a form of resurgence of Buchi Emecheta's you know, works. What she has done in that field for Nigerian literature, for African literature, for world literature for that matter is really worth celebrating and especially the issue she was dealing with. Women issue, exile, you know writing from far and still looking inward.
In her illustrious career, Emecheta published 19 novels, one autobiography and often for several reputable publications. In 2005, she was bestowed with the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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