If you are a lover of books; fiction and non fiction especially those from African descent, I'm certain you must have come across the works of this famous Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche. Her works are always thought provoking, she writes the type of books that will make you question accepted societal beliefs.
Zikora is a short story of a thirty nine year old woman who falls pregnant and is abandoned by the father of her child who was formerly in love with her. We are introduced to the complicated life of Zikora as she lays on the hospital bed labouring to birth her baby. Through flashbacks, the story of her life prior to her pregnancy unfolds. She is a successful lawyer, an immigrant of Nigeria descent residing in America, who fell in love with a Ghanian lawyer Kwamme, they were so in sync with each other, shared same values and understood their individual culture; which were similar. Hence, it came as a big surprise to Zikora when her sweet, sophiscated boy friend abandoned her when he learnt of her pregnancy and subtly tried to blame her for it. All through her labour and delivery, she still pinned for him and wished that he was with her despite hid making it crystal clear to her that he wants nothing to do with her pregnancy and child.
Chimamanda gives us insight to the struggles faced by the average African woman using the case of Zikora and her mother. Below are some of the cultural norms which limit women exposed in the story:
1. The African inheritance culture
In some parts of Nigeria, the Eastern part to be precise, male children are the sole beneficiaries to a family's wealth. It doesn't matter if the female children had laboured and built the wealth, they are left out of their father's inheritance. This aspect of culture was revealed when Zikora remembered the fate of her mother who despite coming from a wealthy family, and working hard with her husband will not inherit both her father's and husband wealth because she doesn't have a male child.
2. Supremacy of the male child
Zikora father was 'forced' to take a second wife because his wife having suffered from multiple miscarriages and a hysterectomy will be unable to provide him the sons needed to 'carry' his name. The fact that he already had a daughter doesn't matter.
3. The minimal or non - existing role men play in the whole pregnancy and birth process
It's a given that women bear the physical brunt of pregnancy alone. However, the story reveals the lack of empathy some men display during the pregnancy and birth of their children. When Zikora complained to her cousin Mmiliaku about her fears of having the child alone and the non challant attitude of Kwamme, Mmiliaku consoled and told her candidly that 'some of us having men are still doing it alone' This shows that it is the poor orientation of men towards pregnancy and child birth that informs their attitude and behaviour.
4. Marriage as a tool for female liberty
Mmiliaku was trapped by the strict laws of her parents and couldn't defy her parents and marry her young boyfriend. She was 'forced' to marry an older and more financially stable man in other to gain some form of freedom from her parents. Unfortunately for her as Nigerians are wont to say, she was going from frying pan straight to the fire. Her older husband was an insensitive man who stopped her from working, impregnates her every other year, alienates her from her single friends and to cap it all - rapes her in her sleep. The freedom she so desired was never found.
The story of Zikora in just thirty five pages tells more than some novels. It's a story that keeps that is really remarkable. Thanks to Ms. Chimamanda
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