MADOLYN CHUKWU

From the heartland of Igboland in Nigeria, Madolyn Chukwu has her own literary Club, and she enjoys reviewing books, especially those written by women.

Q: I have been reading some of your reviews, comments on books here and there; and they are quite impressive, if rather startling.  For the benefit of readers, let me reproduce 2 or 3 excerpts from your reviews here....

‘The first time I read a Flora Nwapa novel - this one - I was incredibly excited. I was already aware of Achebe, but my gut feeling told me that this woman was a better writer! Maybe it was a case of woman to woman...but further studies showed me that the world at large (men of course) considered Achebe to be a much better writer. For me it was like a case of "419" - West Africans would realise what I mean. Or maybe there should be a law banning men from pronouncing on, criticising works by women? Even now I do not think it is sour grapes. Nwapa did show the world in her novels of many decades ago that she is a magnificent writer. Just try to read her works and juxtapose them with how Achebe projects women in his novels...no contest at all, I think . Buchi Emecheta too and her very powerful novels...she even published more of such works than Achebe. Don't get me wrong I have the utmost respect for Achebe. But he was a literary genius, just like Nwapa and Emecheta. He might even have helped Nwapa in getting published...but my point is that Nwapa's books, characters, delineation of women should be treasured too...penned by an insider! ‘

(Her review of Nwapa’s EFURU)

It is very unfortunate that the young child, baby here, is cruelly deprived of a mother to bring it up. People, mainly men, seem carried away by the character of John in this novel, thinking he is some sort of unlucky, good person - the truth for me seems to be that he is an unserious, unfocused, immature individual. If he can bring a child to the world, why can't he go out and work? He never shows any real inclination to get things done, only to criticise and indulge in needless self-pity. Again, we have only his word for it that the mother of their child had a bad character; so what attracted him to her? If she had other boyfriend/s who could help her financially, was she not driven to it by the useless John who can not be relied upon? Don't let me start…

(Her take on Bolaji’s People of the Townships)

‘This is a very powerful novel, even after some 200 years of publication I think. It is no surprise that it is considered a classic.  What strikes me is that despite it being a conservative, restrained era, Jane 's emotions are so powerful. Consistently, we see her thinking along the lines: 'I might not be a striking beauty, I might be poor and plain, but I am a human being too, a woman with emotions, and I deserve to be loved purely' Such emotions! My mind goes to a brilliant modern African novelist like Buchi Emecheta and one sees how powerful the emotions are there too in her works.  You can even imagine the female protagonist thinking later, 'Oh these emotions are just too raw, I come across as a too passionate person, even harsh' . But of course all this is part of being a woman. Eternal woman.’

(Her comment on Bronte’s Jane Eyre)

Would you say that as a woman, you can be controversial?

CHUKWU: I prefer to say I am just being myself; trying to be candid from my own perspective.  Women are no longer afraid to express themselves, though they might be stepping on the toes of men. Take a popular woman columnist like Abimbola Adelakun eg, I have heard men say that they dislike her views, she is confrontational, rude etc ... but all agree that she is a great intellect; very well read, great vocabulary etc. I think it is her being a woman that disturbs many.

Q: To paraphrase the pioneering female novelist, Flora Nwapa, Women are different?

CHUKWU: Very much so. But deep-seated attitudes are difficult to change, so one can still see that so many men still want to suppress women and their voices. We are talking literature now, why would men want to believe they are better writers than women? Do they have the perspective to judge women's writing? Are women not better writers than men? Look at Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - she is probably the most important and most talented writer in Africa now. Will men accept that? But even globally, look at awesome female writers in the western world - like Barbara Taylor Bradford, Danielle Steele, or Anne Rice. Their achievements are phenomenal in Writing. 

Q: Africa can not compare. It appears fewer women are reading and writing (books) now. New voices are rare... 

CHUKWU: We should encourage those who are emerging in Africa. Countries like Nigeria, Ghana, SA and Zimbabwe have produced great female novelists for decades.  I am excited when I hear about younger female writers, though to get their works might not be easy. For example, MatshidisoTaleng of South Africa, after hearing about her I read about her works a bit on the internet. So, new writers will always emerge, even within Africa. It's not all gloom or doom.