…but you cannot say no to your responsibilities. Why should your brother and sister be attending that Government School when they have a big sister like you in Accra who can send them to an international school? Why should they be sleeping on a mat in my sitting room when you live in that big house with so many empty bedrooms?… That is how it is done. It is your duty to care for them. If you don’t do it who will?
Excerpt from His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie
Set in Ghana, Peace Adzo navigates the theme of arranged marriages and black tax, in African societies.
Afi is convinced by her mother and uncles that their family’s poverty can only be undone if she got married to the affluent son of their benefactor, Aunty.
The story commences with a traditional marital ceremony between Afi and Eli, a groom who is unable to attend his wedding. The ceremony brings to light the nuances involved with the payment of bride price and internal family politics. Having lost her father, Afi’s uncles, who had nothing to do with her upbringing, benefit the most from the exchange.
Throughout the book, the author seeks to bring to light the ends to which family duty and obligations outweigh one’s own desires in an African setting. Afi grapples with this duty towards her family to provide, against her own desire to be Eli’s ‘only’ wife in a polygamous setting.
Subsequently, Afi loses this battle and chooses her freedom. Unable to satisfy her wish to be in a monogamous marriage to Eli, she sets out on a quest to grow her brand and raise her child as a single mother.
Peace Adzo brilliantly uses the characters in her book to address the complex themes surrounding monogamous and polygamous marriages vis family expectations. If you are looking for a family drama set in an Africa, this is your book.
Do let me know what you thought of the book incase you have read it already, in the comments section below.
You can also purchase a copy of this amazing book using my Amazon Affiliate link https://amzn.to/3R20G8y.
Berian
Time check: 10:20pm EAT and i just finished this book. (His only wife) which i started entirely because i read your review.
I intitially thought it would be a cliche “poor girl marries rich man to help her family” story and that i would find it predictable and slow. But,boy oh boy, to say i enjoyed it is an understatement. Definitely adding it to my favourites.
Thank you Daniella❤️ i loved it.
Now off to look through more of your reviews for another suprise.
Khanani Daniella
Oh! Berian, I’m so glad you loved the book. It would’ve turned out to be cliche, but I feel like the author added twists and turns to the story. I thought that Afi’s naivety wouldn’t allow her to pull through with her threats, but she did! I was so proud of her for standing her ground despite her family’s expectations. I’m glad you loved the book. Please, do enjoy the multitude of recommendations I have on here and follow up to let me know if you loved the books! Happy reading Berian.