Re-writing motherhood in Flora Nwapa ' sEfuru

Abstract

AbstractIn the critical commentary about African women ' s writings, FloraNwapa ' sEfuruhas become the quintessential novel that ostensibly privileges thediscourse of motherhood. In response to this critical position this paper examinesNwapa ' s debut novel, and the potential connection between femaleobjectification, heterosexuality, motherhood, and patriarchal domination. Readingthe novel through the prism of Adrienne Rich ' s idea of "compulsoryheterosexuality," it observes that even though motherhood is central to Africancommunities and literary production, uncritical internalization of it helps toperpetuate heterosexual power, which objectifies women as targets of male sexualfantasy. The paper argues that the centrality of motherhood to Efuru mightsuggest its supremacy and consequently, women ' s fulfilment, but the subliminaltext of the novel is that motherhood is not necessarily always biological, and thatwomen can find fulfilment in their social and sexual relationships as well as intheir material wealth. Therefore, Efuru is radical in its own way, in the sense thatit dares to create a women-centred space, which not only subtly challengespatriarchal social production, but also their representation as signifier andembodiment of male libidinal energy.Keywords:Objectification, Homoeroticism, Heterosexuality, Motherhood, Material wealth