Africa is a country deeply steeped in oral traditions. Women are at the forefront of spreading knowledge and wisdom through oral traditions. These voices, however, go unnoticed in the territory of literary traditions. And there are various reasons why women are tortured in these groups. The exclusion of women from socioeconomic and political fields has been discussed by writers such as Flora Nwapa. They have no role to play in the center and are pushed to the margins. The main themes considered in Nigerian women's writings are the presence or absence of motherhood, its joys and sorrows, the vagaries of life in a polygamous marriage, the oppression of colonialism and white rule, the struggles for independence economic, the fickleness of husbands in order to control their existence in a traditionally polygamous marriage, the importance of having a support system especially in the urban environment, the conflict or mother-daughter relationship and the definition of self but not separated by tradition or other man-made restrictions. The analysis of these factors is fundamental to understanding the dynamics of African women's writings. Emecheta's most powerful novel, The Joys of Motherhood, also shows all these issues but with a difference. The novel portrays the picture of traditional society, but giving importance to the female point of view, which records her disgust for virility and the unjust and oppressive system. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Most of these themes can be found in Emecheta's novels. As portrayed by Emecheta, an Igbo woman is looked down upon if her marriage is not fruitful in African society. Infertility is the hardest battle a woman has to endure. Nnu Ego, the beautiful and proud daughter of a beautiful and proud mother raised under this all-encompassing tribal tradition, suffers from this severe heartburn when her marriage to a young, rich farmer in love with her does not make her a mother. She is declared juiceless and sterile because she has no children in the first twelve months of married life, which disappoints everyone, including her husband, her father and herself. In a woman's life, motherhood is very significant, because it is a sign of gratification. Society forbids the barren woman who does not bear children for her husband to continue his lineage. Therefore, a woman tries her best to fulfill her traditional commitments to her husband and her community, and if she does not become a mother due to unfavorable fate, she suffers incalculable suffering. A barren woman received no mercy even from her beloved husband. She is denigrated, mistreated and even kicked out of the house when she is unproductive. Nnu ego had the misfortune that her husband abandoned her for not giving him children in exchange for the commitments he had shown for her. A woman is valued only for her ability to spread the species and not for herself. Sterility is an insult to femininity and a flaw in femininity. In those days, becoming a wife and mother was the ideal and highest hope of every African woman. The Ibo tribal community dictates that a woman's primary duty is to have children, a large number of them, especially boys, to continue her husband's line. The humiliation of infertility is unbearable and a sterile woman is an embarrassment to both her parents and in-laws. This is a tradition that is passed down to every daughter of the Ibo tribe. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay The novel presents a society.