Shruti Sonani

The Joys of Motherhood: A Story of Love, Loss, and the Cost of Tradition This blog is based on Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood and this task was assigned by Megha Trivedi Ma'am. Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood (1979) is a deeply moving novel that examines the meaning of motherhood within a traditional Igbo society undergoing colonial and social change. Although the title suggests happiness and fulfilment, the novel gradually reveals the heavy emotional, physical, and psychological burden carried by women whose identities are shaped almost entirely by their reproductive roles. Through the life of its protagonist, Nnu Ego , Emecheta presents motherhood as both a source of pride and a cause of profound suffering. The novel is set mainly in colonial Lagos , but its emotional and cultural roots lie in Ibuza , a traditional Igbo village. Nnu Ego is born into a family where fertility is worshipped and female value is measured by the ability to produce children especially s...