I wont forget a good literature ride I had in my form one in 1986 reading Flora's Efuru. It was a ride into African culture and the plights of women folks in Africa. Sadly, it has been difficult to make my children read African Writer Series. Perhaps there is need for a new generation of African author who will promote Africanism in literature in modern language and settings. You stood out FLORA NWAPA...even in death.

Florence Nwanzuruahu Nkiru Nwapa (13 January 1931 – 16 October 1993) was a Nigerian Igbo author best known as Flora Nwapa, who has been called the mother of modern African literature. The forerunner to a generation of African women writers, she is acknowledged as the first African woman novelist to be published in the English language in Britain and achieve international recognition, with her first novel Efuru being published in 1966 by Heinemann Educational Books. While never considering herself a feminist, she is best known for recreating life and traditions from an Igbo woman's viewpoint

Born in Oguta, in south-eastern Nigeria, eldest of the six children of Christopher Ijeoma (an agent with the United Africa Company) and Martha Nwapa, a teacher of drama, Flora Nwapa attended school in Oguta, Port Harcourt and Lagos. She went on to earn a BA degree from University College, Ibadan, in 1957. She then went to Scotland, where she earned a Diploma in Education from Edinburgh University in 1958.

After returning to Nigeria, Nwapa joined the Ministry of Education in Calabar as an Education Officer until 1959. She then took employment as a teacher at Queen's School in Enugu, where she taught English and Geography from 1969 to 1971. She continued to work in both education and the civil service in several positions, including as Assistant Registrar, University of Lagos (1962–67). After the Nigerian civil war of 1967–70, she accepted cabinet office as Minister of Health and Social Welfare in East Central State (1970–71), and subsequently as Minister of Lands, Survey and Urban Development (1971–74).

Nwapa's first book, Efuru, was published in 1966, a pioneering work as an English-language novel by an African woman writer. It was followed by the novels Idu (1967), Never Again (1975), One is Enough (1981) and Women Are Different (1986). She published two collections of stories — This Is Lagos (1971) and Wives at War (1980) — and the volume of poems Cassava Song and Rice Song (1986). She was also the author of several books for children.

Flora Nwapa died from pneumonia on 16 October 1993 in hospital in Enugu, Nigeria, at the age of 62.

I guess you are right about new crop of African writers...or else we may lose our African core values

Continue to rest in peace Madam

Hmmmm but I don't know her though, I bet literature students would.

nice

Hmmnn..... Oga oo

I wish i could get one of her book. I love literatures, second to india telenova

As a student of literature, I love all the literary works by Flora Nwapa. She actually set the pace for the likes of Chimamanda Adichie and the other modern writers. Rest on literary icon.

These are people worthy of celebrating.

#legendary

Is it nwapa or nwankpa?

Nwada igbo

A total "Diva"

Hmmmm... Efuru.

Can't forget.

I loved that book Efuru. Kai. I need me a copy to reread and relive memories. Madam you formed part of my inspiration as an author, rest in peace

She was a heroine rest on ma.

Nice write up. I saw her Google doodle and was impressed. So ironical that the world celebrates our own but Nigeria does not celebrate her own. So ironical.

Thanks OP.
She was a great writer.
Her novels should make good movies.

Flora... One of the female literary icons I cherish so muvh.

Only literary addicts can relate.

She was indeed a great writer. I love all her works especially Idu. Rest on madam

Efuru!I remember reading the novel by Flora Nwapa.I never knew she was that popular almost like Chinua Achebe.Her works lives on after her.