Unbowed; Autobiography

From the moment I received this book as a gift from a special person in my life, I couldn't put it down, it was simply captivating. It is a marvelous book that talks about the struggles of the Nobel price winner Wangari Muta Maathai. It talks about the challenges she had to face to get to where she is now. The language used is very simple, but with a few words that one can add to their vocabulary. She is among the few Kenyan women to have an autobiography, but that does not mean she is the only story worth writing. Other autobiographies of Kenyan women include Muthoni Likimani, Fighting without ceasing, there are some who believe Prof. Wanjiku Kabira’s book, A reply to Marima Ba is an autobiography (an equally interesting book).

By the end of the book Unbowed one feels motivated to face life despite the problems that may present themselves. It is among one of my favorite books. Depicting how a simple young girl from the rural areas became to be a powerful woman, and the intimidations she had to face especially from the male and powerful men for that matter. She has created a new path for women today, not to be intimidated by powerful people, especially if you belief in what you are fighting for.

I can’t help but put it in the same category as Buchi Emecheta’s book, Joys of Motherhood. Where she writes about the irony of the joys of motherhood, a sad irony. This also is among my favorite books. Both books talk about the problems that women and more specifically mothers have to go through, especially when they do not have husbands who can support them. The difference is the while Unbowed has a happy ending, joys of motherhood has a somewhat sad ending. Nevertheless it is a remarkable book. The themes both writers highlight are practical for both African women and men. Both books create awareness among women and also seek to empower them.

Watch out for a more detailed analysis of Buchi Emecheta’s book, the joys of motherhood