Faculty of Arts
Department of English and Drama
Course: Special Author LIT 316
Institution: Kaduna State University(KASU)
Course Coordinator: Professor A.K Babajo
Group members:
JOHN HOPE OJOMAH
ABDULMALIK MUHAMMAD SHAHID
GYOSMIEN JOY ENOCH
JEPTHAH SHEKWOYADEZA DANJUMA
BLESSING KYANCHAT DANLADI
AMINA MUHAMMAD SHUAIBU
ZAINAB UMAR USAMA
GRACE AMBO JOHN
WILLIAMS JOSPHINE
MUHAMMED HAJARAH MUHAMMED
JOANNA THOMAS NOMSHIAR
GRACE DIWA HARUNA
HABILA HALLELUYAH PRECIOUS
MARYAM MUHAMMAD MUSA
ASIYA ADULRAZAK SAYAYA
PRECIOUS BUKULA JOMBO
MUHAMMED NAZIF.A. OYEWALE
WISDOM AMOS
FATIMA IDRIS BAWA
NAJ’ATU YUSUF
BASHIR MUSA
KHADIJA ADAMU GARBA
SULEIMAN ATIKA BALARABE
KHADIJA SALISU MU’AZU
RUKAYYA ABDULRAHMAN
KHADIJA TASIU
PROMISE HANANIYA
GAMBO LIRAH BADUKU
FATIMA ABDULLAHI
ABIGAIL ANGBIANDOO AMILE
FAITH SARAH ZACHARIAH
FAVOUR EZINNE OKECHUWU
Topic: The role of love and marriage in the works of Hadiza Bagudu, Kasham Keltuma, Lizi Ashimole and Bilkisu Abubakar.
INTRODUCTION:
In the landscape of contemporary Nigerian literature, female writers have become vital voices reshaping how love and marriage are represented and understood. Their writings go beyond the surface portrayal of affection or companionship; they reveal how these institutions operate within the broader realities of power, gender, and culture. In a society where traditional expectations often determine women’s roles and choices, these authors use fiction as a mirror to question the dynamics of emotional relationships and to expose the struggles women face within the institutions of love and marriage.
Among the notable female authors whose works embody this concern are Hadiza Bagudu, Kasham Keltuma, Lizi Ashimole, and Bilkisu Abubakar. Through their novels Fantah, The Thin Line, Caucasian Ovtcharka, The Other Insider, and The Woman in Me, they confront the realities of affection and marriage as social experiences shaped by cultural norms, economic dependence, and emotional expectations. For Bagudu, love often becomes a complex field of emotional manipulation and self-discovery, as seen in Fantah and The Thin Line. Keltuma, in Caucasian Ovtcharka, portrays love and marriage as spaces of conflict where female agency collides with patriarchal control. Similarly, Ashimole’s The Other Insider explores the tension between love and social conformity within the Osu caste system, while Abubakar’s The Woman in Me highlights the internal battles of women caught between duty and desire.
By examining these works, it becomes clear that love and marriage in Nigerian female-authored fiction function as both instruments of constraint and vehicles for liberation. These authors use their narratives to reveal how societal ideals of romance and matrimony often conceal deeper inequalities, emotional suffering, and identity conflicts. Yet, amid these portrayals of pain and resistance, they also depict love as a force capable of healing and transformation when guided by mutual respect and understanding.
This essay therefore argues that the role of love and marriage in these female-authored novels is not merely to entertain or depict domestic relationships, but to critique patriarchal structures, reflect the emotional realities of Nigerian women, and propose new possibilities for equality and companionship. Through these narratives, the writers affirm that the private experiences of love and marriage are deeply political—central to understanding the evolving identity and agency of women in twenty-first-century Nigerian society.
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHORS
HADIZA BAGUDU
Hadiza Bagudu is a Nigerian author, poet, and entrepreneur based in Abuja. Born in Yola to a Fulani mother and a Nupe father, she grew up among the Fulanis in Agaya, Adamawa, which shaped her strong cultural identity and connection to Bororo-Fulani heritage. She holds a B.Sc. in International Relations from Ahmadu Bello University and an M.Sc. in International Relations and Diplomacy from Nile University, Abuja.
With over sixteen years of writing experience, Bagudu is also a blogger, web designer, and podcast host. Her literary works, including Fantah, The Thin Line, and With Love, explore themes of love, identity, and women’s experiences within cultural and traditional contexts. Through her storytelling, Bagudu blends emotional depth with social commentary, making her one of the notable contemporary female voices in Nigerian literature.
KASHAM KELTUMA
Kasham Keltuma Shawanma is a Nigerian-Canadian novelist, filmmaker, and social commentator known for her insightful exploration of human emotions and social realities. She was born and raised in Balanga, Gombe State, where her early environment and cultural experiences influenced her creative vision. She attended Gombe High School and later proceeded to the University of Jos, where she studied Mass Communication and also earned a degree in Theatre Arts a foundation that shaped her literary and artistic expression. She bagged a postgraduate diploma in filmmaking at the London Film Academy, UK and a Diploma in Community and Developmental Support Worker from the Trillium College, Oshawa Ontario, Canada.
Keltuma draws inspiration from personal experiences, nature, and her Northern Nigerian background. Her writing often explores themes such as forgiveness, personal growth, resilience, and the power of second chances. Through her stories, she promotes empathy and transformation, encouraging readers to reflect on the moral and emotional complexities of human life. Her debut novel, Caucasian Ovtcharka, brought her literary voice to wider recognition, addressing issues of gender, oppression, and freedom through a bold feminist perspective. Beyond fiction, Keltuma has expressed her desire to use literature as a tool for advocacy and social change.
BILKISU ABUBAKAR
Bilkisu Abubakar is a Northern Nigerian novelist and academic whose works explore themes of gender, religion, and the emotional struggles of women in contemporary society. Born and raised in Kaduna, she lectures in the Department of English and Drama at Kaduna State University, where her academic background complements her creative writing.
Her novel The Woman in Me examines issues such as identity, polygamy, and the quest for self-realization among women in patriarchal settings. Abubakar’s fiction blends realism with social commentary, portraying marriage as both a site of challenge and personal growth. Through her writing, she advocates for women’s empowerment and emotional freedom, establishing herself as a strong voice in modern Northern Nigerian literature.
LIZI ASHIMOLE
Lizi Ashimole is a Nigerian writer whose works spread across children’s and adult fiction, often exploring culture, identity, and moral values within African society. Deeply influenced by traditional storytelling, she uses literature as a tool to preserve heritage and inspire reflection.
Her notable works include The Groundnut Child (2004), Just in Case (2005), Tales by the Fluorescent (2007), African Tales for Children (2009), and The Other Insider (2025). Through her writing, Ashimole engages with issues of ethnicity, gender, and belonging, positioning herself among contemporary Nigerian authors who blend creativity with social consciousness.
LOVE AND MARRIAGE IN HADIZA BAGUDU’S WORKS
Hadiza Bagudu portrays love and marriage as emotional territories where women’s hearts, hopes, and pain intersect. In The Thin Line, love is shown as both a blessing and a burden. The story explores how relationships that begin with affection can become complicated by jealousy, betrayal, and societal expectations. Bagudu’s characters often love deeply but suffer silently when their marriages turn into emotional cages. In Fantah, Bagudu presents a female protagonist who falls in love but must navigate the boundaries of tradition and family honor. The character’s desire for genuine affection is challenged by the community’s view that a woman’s worth is defined by her obedience and submission in marriage. Through Fantah, Bagudu shows how love can be misinterpreted as weakness, and how marriage often becomes a stage for sacrifice rather than companionship. Bagudu’s central message is that love should be based on understanding and equality, not control. She portrays women who yearn for emotional connection but are often denied it by unfaithful or authoritarian husbands. Her stories also emphasize women’s resilience: when love fails, they rediscover themselves through courage, independence, and emotional maturity. Bagudu’s treatment of love and marriage through her characters reflects the emotional cost of patriarchy as well as the quiet strength of women who endure and rise above it.
LOVE AND MARRIAGE IN KASHAM KELTUMA’S CAUCASIAN OVTCHARKA
Kasham Keltuma’s Caucasian Ovtcharka presents one of the strongest feminist critiques of marriage in Nigerian literature. Unlike Bagudu, who portrays emotional struggles within marriage, Keltuma goes further to question the very institution itself. She depicts marriage as a mechanism of control, where women are often treated as property rather than partners. The title of the novel itself Caucasian Ovtcharka, a breed of dog known for its loyalty and aggression symbolizes the way women are domesticated and disciplined within patriarchal systems. In the novel, the female protagonist experiences a forced marriage arranged without her consent. Her personal dreams, emotions, and ambitions are dismissed in favor of family reputation and tradition. Keltuma uses this experience to show how marriage, instead of being a bond of love, can become a form of imprisonment. Love is replaced by duty, fear, and endurance. The protagonist’s voice represents many women in African societies who are silenced by customs that glorify female obedience. Through vivid storytelling, Keltuma exposes the trauma of women who are denied emotional freedom and are expected to find fulfillment only through servitude. However, Keltuma’s novel is not just about suffering it is also about resistance and awakening. The heroine eventually questions the injustices she faces and begins to reclaim her sense of self. Keltuma’s portrayal of love is radical as true love, for her, can only exist where there is freedom, consent, and equality. Without those, marriage is simply an institution of oppression. Through her feminist view Keltuma calls for a new understanding of relationships that respect women’s autonomy.
LOVE AND MARRIAGE IN BILKISU ABUBAKAR’S THE WOMAN IN ME
Bilkisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me offers a more balanced and hopeful view of love and marriage. While she acknowledges the struggles and inequalities that women face, she also believes in the possibility of harmony when there is mutual respect. For Abubakar, marriage is not just a contract or duty it is a journey of self-discovery and partnership. In the novel, the main character’s experiences in love and marriage help her uncover her true self. She faces challenges and moments of pain, but these experiences lead to personal growth. Abubakar portrays marriage as both a test and a teacher; through it, her characters learn patience, communication, and self-worth. Unlike Keltuma, who sees marriage largely as a structure of oppression, Abubakar envisions it as a relationship that can thrive when both partners are emotionally mature and respectful. Love, in her view, should empower rather than destroy. Her women characters are not perfect they make mistakes, struggle with doubt, and sometimes fail but they are always learning to balance love with independence. Abubakar’s writing style is calm and reflective. She focuses on the emotional and psychological sides of her characters, allowing readers to feel their pain, confusion, and joy. Through The Woman in Me, she suggests that love and marriage can be beautiful when built on equality and understanding.
LOVE AND MARRIAGE IN LIZI ASHIMOLE’S THE OTHER INSIDER
Lizi Ashimole’s The Other Insider presents an exploration of love and marriage within the context of social discrimination, ethnic prejudice, and inherited traditions. The novel situates the themes of love and marriage within the Igbo cultural setting, where societal hierarchy and the Osu caste system dictate who individuals can love or marry. Through this background, Ashimole demonstrates that love and marriage are not merely personal or emotional choices but are deeply affected by cultural and social divisions.
The Osu caste system which separates the “freeborn” Dialas from the “outcast” Osus serves as the central force of conflict in the narrative. Traditionally, Osus were regarded as people dedicated to the gods and, therefore, socially untouchable. They were forbidden from marrying freeborns, forming friendships, or participating in communal life. In The Other Insider, Ashimole exposes the cruelty and injustice of this ancient belief system, showing how it continues to dictate human relationships even in modern times.
Through the story of Ogbonna and his forbidden love, Ashimole portrays love as a revolutionary and redemptive force. The characters’ emotional connection challenges the artificial boundaries of caste and tradition. Despite societal condemnation, their love symbolizes courage, unity, and the desire for equality. In doing so, Ashimole suggests that love has the power to dismantle oppressive structures when individuals are brave enough to act against unjust customs.
Marriage, in The Other Insider, is not simply a social union but a symbol of freedom and resistance. When characters choose love across caste boundaries, they are not only pursuing emotional fulfillment but also asserting their right to define their own identities. Through this, Ashimole reimagines marriage as a bridge between divided worlds as a means of healing historical wounds and breaking generational cycles of discrimination. She makes it clear that genuine love and marriage should be guided by understanding, equality, and mutual respect, rather than by tradition or societal approval.
Ultimately, Ashimole treats love and marriage as both personal and political acts. Her portrayal reveals that affection can transcend prejudice, and that true marriage is an alliance that celebrates humanity over heritage. In harmony with the other female writers discussed Bagudu, Keltuma, and Abubakar Ashimole uses her fiction to argue that love is not weakness but strength, and marriage should be a partnership rooted in choice, equality, and compassion.
COMPARATIVE DISCUSSION
Although Hadiza Bagudu, Kasham Keltuma, Bilkisu Abubakar, and Lizi Ashimole all write about love and marriage, their approaches and messages differ. What unites them is their focus on the female experience how women feel, think, and survive in relationships shaped by cultural and patriarchal expectations.Bagudu portrays love as emotional and fragile, showing how women often suffer silently in search of affection and recognition. Her characters teach readers about endurance and emotional strength. Keltuma presents a more radical critique: she shows marriage as a form of control, where love is replaced by power and women must resist oppression to find their voices. Abubakar provides a middle ground her characters experience pain but also growth, proving that love and marriage can be redemptive when built on respect. Ashimole extends the conversation by situating love and marriage within broader social discrimination, showing them as forces capable of challenging injustice.Together, these authors reveal different sides of the same truth: love and marriage are not just personal matters but reflections of society’s treatment of women. Their works show that emotional fulfillment cannot exist without freedom and equality. Through their female characters, they expose the imbalance of power in traditional marriages and call for a redefinition of womanhood
In all four authors’ works, women are not passive victims they are thinkers, dreamers, and survivors. They challenge the belief that a woman’s worth is measured by her marital status. Instead, they show that true love respects individuality, and true marriage must be a partnership between equals.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the role of love and marriage in the works of Hadiza Bagudu, Kasham Keltuma, Lizi Ashimole, and Bilkisu Abubakar goes far beyond romance. These themes become mirrors reflecting the struggles, hopes, and resilience of women in Nigerian society. Each author, in her own style, uses these themes to speak against gender inequality and to imagine a better world for women.
Bagudu’s focus on emotional endurance, Keltuma’s radical protest against oppression, Abubakar’s vision of balance and understanding, and Ashimole’s portrayal of love as social reconciliation all contribute to a powerful literary conversation about what it means to love and be married as a woman. Their works collectively challenge readers to rethink the meaning of love not as submission or dependence, but as freedom, respect, and equality.
Through their portrayals of love and marriage, these authors not only tell stories but also inspire transformation. They show that women’s voices matter, that their emotions are valid, and that through storytelling, change can begin. In the end, love and marriage become symbols of both the challenges women face and the power they hold to redefine their destinies.
REFERENCES:
Abubakar, Bilkisu. The Woman in Me. Kaduna: Gaskiya Publishers, 2017.
Bagudu, Hadiza. Fantah. Abuja: Spectrum Books, 2015.
Bagudu, Hadiza. The Thin Line. Lagos: Kraft Books, 2018.
Keltuma, Kasham. Caucasian Ovtcharka. Independendly Published, 2020.
Ashimole, Lizi. The Other Insider. Lagos: The Art Hub, 2025.
Secondary Readings and Class Notes on Feminist Theory and Gender in African Literature.
