His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie
In Peace Adzo Medie’s debut novel, His Only Wife, a young Ghanian woman leaves home for the promise of the metropolis of Accra. But upward mobility comes with a price.
THE PREMISE: Afi is pressured into an arranged marriage with a wealthy family friend, Eli, whose mother will do anything to secure a more deferential match than his outspoken girlfriend, Muna.
Leaving behind her seamstress job in the dusty village of Ho, Afi is overjoyed that she’ll be able to study fashion design in cosmopolitan Accra, thanks to her husband’s money and connections. Eli supports her education and career, but Afi is devastated to learn that he still believes in polygamy and will spend most of his time with Muna, with whom he fathers a child. Afi has a tough choice: stay in an unhappy marriage, or forge ahead on her own and disappoint her family.
THE SETTING: Peace Adzo Medie shows an Accra defined by the wealthy class. In contrast to Afi’s hometown, in which the most prized possessions are cast-iron coal pots and clay stoves, Eli’s luxury high-rise apartment is surrounded by palm trees. Shiny luxury cars fill the parking lots, and balconies are decked out with expensive furniture and potted plants. Afi has never seen anything like it. Her life in the big city is impressive—she visits hookah bars, stays at hotels on golf courses, and is introduced to expats and locals who have lived around the world. After apprenticing for a fashion designer, she opens her own boutique in a high-rent district frequented by the highest echelons in Ghana. Yet she still yearns for a happy marriage.
IN THE END: Even though it’s set in a region where polygamy is still accepted, His Only Wife is a universal story and speaks to women everywhere who find ourselves in marriages that take us by surprise. Whether it’s another woman, another man, a job, or just the fantasy of a different life, marriage is often not just a relationship between two people. Peace Adzo Medie’s rich scenes demonstrate this beautifully, and this novel offers a fresh take on an age-old question: At what point is personal happiness more important than financial security?
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