So, the book I’ll be talking about is one of those that left me thinking for a long time after I read the last page. Thinking about the unfairness of life and the ease to which carefully laid about plans can be messed up. Not because we didn’t plan effectively, but because of circumstances we can’t control by higher ups we can’t see. On this journey, we’ll be looking at the life, trials and tribulations of:
The Concubine by Elechi Amadi
Originally published in 1966 as part of the Heinemann African Writer series, this is the debut novel of Elechi Amadi, set in the Igbo part of pre-colonial Nigeria. It has 216 pages.
Summary of the Novel
In the land of Omokachi, an ethereally beautiful and kind-hearted woman lives with her husband and sons. Her name is Ihuoma. The equally hardworking and kind-hearted Emenike, who is her husband dies unfortunately from an illness after a physical fight with his rival, Madume.
Now a widowed woman, Ihuoma dutifully lookd and takes care of her children singlehandedly with Nnadi, her husband’s brother overseeing their affairs. Soon enough, Madume, whose greedy eyes had always been on Ihuoma attempts to covet both she and the land her late husband left to her. Fortunately, he meets an abominable end.
Now, there is the third suitor, Ekwueme, a young soloist and shrewd hunter who has never been married and prepared to take over responsibilities as Ihuoma’s husband and her children’s father. But there is a caveat. For it is discovered that Ihuoma belongs to the sea king who is be responsible for the deaths of the men who fall in love with her. Can Ekwueme perform the appeasement rites to claim Ihuoma as his. Or will disaster strike again?
My Review and Rating
First off, I’d like to talk about the writing style deployed in this novel. Even though the setting was set in pre-colonial times, the language was made easy to read, filled with apt descriptions that weren’t cumbersome to the reader. It felt like reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe on an easier, more relatable scale.
Speaking of reliability, I loved the character development of each of the characters. It felt like you knew them all on a personal level, and I can’t stress enough how important this is to a reader. That you’re able to relate with the characters of a book, so that rooting for them and feeling the emotions they feel become seamless.
I also love the way the typical Igbo rural family is portrayed by Amadi. From Things Fall Apart to Efuru and down to Arrow of God, I’ve always found the Igbo culture relatable and looked forward to books set in the pre-colonial era. In The Concubine, from the fights, to the love potions and the size of a man’s calves being the measure of his strength, you feel the true Igbo culture being delectably showcased. Obviously, as most books set in that time, the society is patriarchal and women are seen as the weaker vessels meant to be seen and not heard. But, I appreciated that at a certain point in the story, patriarchy was addressed.
I hated the unfairness of a lot of things in this book. It is life and you don’t exactly expect for happy endings. But you at least hope a few things to go in your way a bit. For the people who deserve repercussion to get it, and for those who deserve happiness to get it permanently and not have it cut short at the slightest opportunity. I felt this book deeply to my core and I can’t help but praise Amadi’s dexterity in letting us feel each intense emotions with the characters, howbeit bitter.
All in all, The Concubine, deserves more accolades than it is given. It is a true gem of a novel and I wish I can feel what it felt like to read this book for the first time. 4.9/5 stars from me. I tried to make this as spoiler free as I could even though the need to speak out choked me immensely. So, I hope you read it and love the experience like I did.
Jhymi🖤
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