Buchi Emecheta - The Joys of Motherhood (1979)

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If you don't have children the longing for them will kill you, and if you do, the worrying over them will kill you.

Buchi Emecheta
But who made the law that we should not hope in our daughters? We women subscribe to that law more than anyone. Until we change all this, it is still a man's world, which women will always help to build.

Buchi Emecheta
Poor Nnu Ego, even in death she had no peace! Still, many agreed that she had given her all to her children. The joy of being a mother was the joy of giving all to your children, they said. And her reward? Did she not have the greatest funeral Ibuza had ever seen?

Buchi Emecheta
Nnu Ego realized that part of the pride of motherhood was to look a little unfashionable and be able to drawl with joy: "I can't afford another outfit, because I am nursing him, so you see I can't go anywhere to sell anything." One usually received the answer, "Never mind, he will grow soon and clothe you and farm for you, so that your old age will be sweet."

Buchi Emecheta
You want a husband who has time to ask you if you wish to eat rice, or drink corn pap with honey? Forget it. Men here are too busy being white men's servants to be men. We women mind the home. Not our husbands. Their manhood has been taken away from them The shame of it is that they don't know it. All they see is the money, shining white man's money.

Buchi Emecheta