Name: The Concubine
ISBN: 9780435905569

Elechi Amadi

Set in a remote village in Eastern Nigeria, an area yet to be affected by European values and where society is orderly and predictable, the story concerns a woman "of great beauty and dignity" who inadvertently brings suffering and death to all her lovers. The novel portrays a society still ruled by traditional gods, offering a glimpse into the human relationships that such a society creates.

The Concubine

An African literary classic, my father had read it in secondary school and he re-read it recently, so I opted to read it too. A tragic tale of Ihuoma and the  spirit world. Masterfully written by Amadi who depicts a time of pre-colonial Africa and how spiritual beliefs dictated the day. Interesting to see how he depicted gender relations during the time, with women often likened to children and not having much willpower and say (yet being the smartest in the room). A great read, swallowed it in a matter of days. 

The Concubine

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