Buchi Emecheta Dies at 72

Renowned literary icon, Florence Onyebuchi '"Buchi" Emecheta who championed female writing in Nigeria has died. Emecheta whose works comprised of children and adult's fiction passed away in her sleep in a London care home on Wednesday.

Her writings tackled so many societal issues like domestic abuse and single motherhood. Amongst her 20 novels are The Joys of Motherhood, (a narrative highlighting changing values, children upbringing and the Igbo tradition), Second-Class Citizen and The Bride Price.

The novelist whose works are taught in schools in Nigeria is also regarded to be championing women and girls issues in her writings. Though regarded as a feminist, the author rejected this description. In her words. “I work toward the liberation of women but I’m not feminist. I’m just a woman,”.

I was at a Black History Month event in 2015, when I watched a clip Ama Aidoo Ata talked about how Buchi Emecheta's writings influenced her own writings too. She will be greatly missed.