Review of HIS ONLY WIFE by Peace Adzo Medie

 3.5 Stars

The novel is set in 2014 in the West African country of Ghana.  Afi Tekple lives with her mother in a humble home.  Beholden to a wealthy businesswoman, “Aunty” Ganyo, Afi’s mother agrees to an arranged marriage between Afi and Elikem (Eli) Ganyo.  Afi’s task, once she is married to Eli, is to win him away from a Liberian woman with whom he has a daughter.  The Ganyo matriarch and her sons and daughter disapprove of this woman whom they regard as having stolen Eli away from his family.  The marriage is not off to an auspicious start when Eli marries Afi in absentia.  Afi is moved into a luxury apartment in Accra, but does not see her husband for several weeks.  When he does eventually start dropping by, it is just to visit because the Liberian woman remains in his life.  Afi tries to be an ideal wife but seems to have limited success, so she decides to fill her time by enrolling in a fashion design school. Will Afi ever become Eli’s only wife?

Afi is a young woman caught between traditional Ghanaian culture and the contemporary world.  Because it is important for Ghanaians to maintain dignity, honour, and a good reputation, and the entire family shares any loss of honour, Afi faces pressure from her family to make a success of the marriage.  Her family also receives gifts and money from the Ganyo family, and these would cease should Afi not fulfil her marital obligations.  Though family obligations and female subservience take precedence in her culture, Afi has personal ambitions to become a fashion designer and have her own boutique.

Afi is a dynamic character.  At the beginning, she is timid and obedient.  She agrees to marry a man she doesn’t know because it is the desire of her mother and her mother’s benefactor.  When she arrives in Accra, she is very much an awe-struck village girl.  She tries to conform to the role of ideal wife.  She tries to be patient with Eli’s behaviour, as everyone advises her, but gradually she grows tired of the situation.  Once she enrols in the design school where she starts to realize her potential, she gains confidence and learns to advocate for herself.  Though it seems to take Afi quite some time to start questioning her circumstances, this book is a tale of female empowerment.

There are some decidedly unpleasant characters.  Afi’s Uncle Pious did nothing to help when Afi’s father died, but when Afi’s marriage to a wealthy man is arranged, he shamelessly claims the role of her “father” so he can reap the benefits of the marriage.  He expects regular financial contributions from Afi and the Ganyos, and even sends two of his children to Afi, expecting her to provide them a home.  Eli’s mother is a difficult, demanding woman who manipulates others to get what she wants; she doesn’t hesitate to lie.  Those who dare to question or defy her are harshly treated; even her children fear her.

Eli is an interesting character.  Being handsome and wealthy, he has many advantages.  At times he is a likeable, but then some of his behaviour makes him much less so.  Of course, he is very much a product of his upbringing; because he is a male, his culture has given him a sense of entitlement which has been further instilled in him by his mother for whom he is the favourite child.  However, it is possible to have some sympathy for him as well; the situation in which he finds himself is difficult.  Like Afi, he has filial obligations and is not always able to do what he wishes. 

I listened to this audiobook during my morning walks.  My reading comprehension is far better than my listening comprehension so I try to avoid “heavy” audiobooks.  This was a good choice for listening.  The book has as an interesting plot and characters and a breezy style; it is more than a romance but does not demand a great deal from the reader.