Efuru《Efuru》

Efuru the title character in Flora Nwapa's 1966 novel is a beautiful young woman who unfortunately always seems to have bad luck with men. Efuru is a strong and successful woman in her West African village. The whole village knows Efuru "she was a remarkable woman. It was not only that she came from a distinguished family. She was distinguished herself" (Nwapa 1). When Efuru elopes with the unknown Adizua her family and friends are upset but Efuru manages to keep the bond she has with her father as well as create a special relationship with her inlaws.

After a few years Efuru has a child but at about the same time her husband begins disappearing for days at a time. When the child takes ill and dies Adizua cannot be found for the funeral and is said to have married another woman. Efuru rather than face what she sees as shame leaves Adizua's home and returns to her father.

Not long after she has returned to her father a suitor Eneberi appears. They marry and have a blissful marriage until he disappears in the same upsetting way and does not attend the funeral of Efuru's father.

Efuru is left alone childless husbandless and without family. She puts faith into the goddess of the lake Utuoso who she feels she was chosen to worship. Yet she questions this worship when she remembers that Utuoso had no children and cannot return the people she has lost in her life.