The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta

 The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta

Hello. This blog is the part of thinking activity task of the unit The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta of the paper African literature. In this blog I will answer the questions and share the views.

Nnu Ego dies, at the end of the story, a lonely death “with no child to hold her hand and no friend to talk to her. She had never really made many friends, so busy had she been building up her joys as a mother” justify this statement by giving illustrations from the novel.

Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood tells the tragic story of Nnu Ego. She is  a Nigerian woman whose life is consumed by her pursuit of the traditional ideal of motherhood. Nnu Ego’s story begins in Ibuza. Her inability to bear children in her first marriage leads to rejection and shame. Her second marriage in Lagos provides her with children, but instead of joy, her life becomes a series of sacrifices, hardships, and disappointments. 

In the end, she dies alone, “with no child to hold her hand and no friend to talk to her.” This lonely death symbolizes the ultimate failure of her life-long struggle of motherhood. Her troubles in Lagos, as shaped by colonialism, economic hardship, and cultural expectations, highlight the harsh realities faced by women like her.

Nnu Ego’s Initial Troubles in Lagos :

When Nnu Ego arrives in Lagos, she is shocked by how different life is from her home village of Ibuza. In Ibuza, life was rooted in communal support and shared responsibilities. Women worked alongside men in farming and had the emotional support of their extended families. However, Lagos is an urban colonial city. It is a place where people live isolated lives, and there is little sense of community. For Nnu Ego, this shift is overwhelming. She finds herself alone with her new husband, Naife, who works as a servant for a British family. 

Naife’s job as a laundryman, which involves washing the clothes of white women, immediately lowers him in Nnu Ego’s eyes. She considers his work unmanly and feels humiliated to be married to someone in such a position. In Ibuza, a man’s strength and ability to provide were highly valued. Naife is neither physically strong nor a capable provider. His earnings are small and irregular. It forces Nnu Ego to take on the role of the primary breadwinner. 

This was not what she expected from marriage, and it adds to her struggles. She finds it difficult to adjust to a life where the husband’s role is diminished, and the wife has to shoulder the family’s financial burden. In Lagos, Nnu Ego’s troubles are amplified by the harsh economic conditions and the lack of traditional support systems.

The Economic Struggles of Motherhood : 

Nnu Ego’s ability to bear children brings her temporary joy, as she feels she has finally achieved her purpose as a woman. However, this joy is short-lived. The more children she has, the greater her financial burden becomes. Lagos does not offer the same opportunities for communal farming or support that Ibuza did. Instead, Nnu Ego must earn money by selling goods as a street vendor. This work is exhausting and provides only a meager income, which is barely enough to feed her growing family.

When Naife is conscripted into the British army during World War II, his absence leaves Nnu Ego solely responsible for their children. The small allowance she receives from the government during his absence is not enough to sustain the family. Nnu Ego works tirelessly, sacrificing her health and well-being to ensure her children have food and clothes.

Her children, instead of bringing her happiness, become a source of constant worry. She struggles to provide for their needs, often going hungry herself so they can eat. The article "Cultural Collision and Women Victimization in Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood" describes how the colonial system forced African women like Nnu Ego to adapt to an urban capitalist economy that undermined traditional family roles. In Ibuza, a woman’s work was valued and supported by the community. In Lagos, however, Nnu Ego’s efforts go unrecognized, and she is left to bear the burden alone.

Lack of Emotional Support and Isolation :

One of Nnu Ego’s greatest challenges in Lagos is her isolation. In Ibuza, women supported one another through communal activities and shared responsibilities. In Lagos, there is no such network. Women like Nnu Ego are isolated in their homes or forced to compete with one another in the marketplace. This lack of emotional support leaves Nnu Ego feeling lonely and overwhelmed.

Her relationship with Naife further adds to her isolation. Naife often spends money on alcohol and other frivolities, leaving Nnu Ego to fend for herself. She feels trapped in a marriage where she is the only one making sacrifices for the family. Nnu Ego also struggles to form friendships in Lagos. Her life revolves entirely around her children and her work. She has no time to build meaningful relationships with other women. 

Betrayal by Her Children : 

Despite all her sacrifices, Nnu Ego’s children do not provide her with the comfort and support she expects in her old age. She raises them with the hope that they will take care of her when she can no longer work. However, as they grow older, they become influenced by the colonial values of individualism and material success. They prioritize their own lives and ambitions over their responsibilities to their mother.

Her sons,  particularly Oshia and Adim who receive an education funded by Nnu Ego’s hard work, move abroad and rarely send money or letters. They fail to recognize the extent of her sacrifices and do not fulfill the traditional expectation of caring for their aging parents. Her daughters, who marry and move away, also leave her behind. Nnu Ego is left alone, with no one to rely on.

A Lonely Death : 

Nnu Ego’s death alone by the roadside is a powerful symbol of her life’s struggles. She spent her entire life working for her family, yet she is abandoned in her final moments. In Ibo culture, dying alone is considered one of the worst fates, reserved for outcasts and those who failed to fulfill their societal roles. Nnu Ego’s lonely death reflects the harsh realities of her life, where her sacrifices went unappreciated. Her dreams of a fulfilling motherhood were never realized.

Her death also highlights the devastating impact of cultural collision. Nnu Ego was caught between two worlds: the traditional values of Ibuza and the modern, colonial system of Lagos. She was unable to fully adapt to either, and this inability to reconcile the two cultures ultimately led to her downfall. 

Do you agree with the statement that “Emecheta attempts to expose the gender politics operating within indigenous Africa” in The Joys of Motherhood?

I agree with the statement that Emecheta exposes the gender politics in traditional African society. She shows how women’s roles were shaped by patriarchal systems. At the same time, Emecheta also critiques how colonialism made life even harder for women by taking away their support systems and economic independence. Through Nnu Ego’s story, Emecheta reveals the harsh realities faced by women.

Gender Politics in Traditional Africa : 

Emecheta shows how traditional Ibo society values women mainly for their ability to have children. Nnu Ego’s first marriage ends because she cannot conceive. Her husband and society see her as a failure. This shows how women’s worth is tied to motherhood. In Ibo culture, being a mother is the most important role for a woman. It gives her respect and status in the community. For Nnu Ego, this creates immense pressure. She believes that having children will make her happy and respected.

When Nnu Ego has children in her second marriage, she feels fulfilled. However, her joy is short-lived. Motherhood becomes a source of endless sacrifice and suffering. She has to work very hard to provide for her children. Emecheta shows how traditional gender roles place all the responsibility for raising children on women. Even when life becomes difficult, society expects women like Nnu Ego to accept their struggles without complaint. This reveals the gender inequality in traditional African society.

Adaku and the Food Strike : 

Adaku, Nnu Ego’s co-wife, represents a different response to the challenges faced by women. Unlike Nnu Ego, who sacrifices everything for her children, Adaku refuses to accept a life of endless struggle. When she realizes that her position as a wife does not bring her respect or financial stability, she decides to take control of her life. Adaku participates in a food strike, demanding more money from their husband, Naife, to support the family. However, when the strike fails, Adaku makes a bold decision to leave the household and pursue a life of independence. She chooses to earn money on her own terms and rejects the traditional expectations placed on women.

Adaku’s story highlights the lack of power women have within the patriarchal system. The title of “senior wife,” which Nnu Ego holds, is meant to give authority and respect. But in reality, it only brings more responsibilities without any real benefits. Nnu Ego herself reflects on this, saying that being a senior wife in Lagos means nothing compared to Ibuza, where it came with privileges like having her own hut. Adaku’s departure shows that women must sometimes reject tradition to find freedom, even if it means being ostracized.

Nnu Ego’s Mother, Ona : 

Ona, Nnu Ego’s mother, is another example of a woman navigating the gender politics of Ibo society. Ona’s name means “priceless jewel,” and she is treated differently because she is the daughter of a powerful chief, Agbadi. Unlike most women in her community, Ona is not forced into marriage. She has a unique position of autonomy, as her father allows her to remain unmarried while bearing children. However, this freedom comes with limitations. Ona’s value is still tied to her ability to produce heirs for her father’s lineage. She is pressured to bear a son, and her relationship with Agbadi is shaped by his desire for a male child.

Ona’s life reflects the contradictions faced by women in traditional Ibo society. Even when they have some power or independence, their worth is still measured by their roles as mothers. Emecheta uses Ona’s story to show how deeply rooted these gender expectations are, affecting even women who appear to have more freedom than others.

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References : 

“Cultural Collision and Women Victimization in Buchi Emecheta’s the Joys of Motherhood.” International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, vol. 5, no. 2, Jan. 2015, https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.5n.2p.117.

Emecheta, Buchi. The Joys of Motherhood. 1988.

Kapgate, Laxmikant H. “MOTHER’S INTRICACY IN BUCHI EMECHETA’S THE JOY OF MOTHERHOOD.” ResearchGate, May 2018, www.researchgate.net/publication/342465490_MOTHER%27S_INTRICACY_IN_BUCHI_EMECHETA%27S_THE_JOY_OF_MOTHERHOOD.

View of Class, Culture, and the Colonial Context: The Status of Women in Buchi Emecheta’s the Joys of Motherhood        | International Fiction Review. journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/IFR/article/view/7715/8772.