KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY (KASU)
FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND DRAMA
COURSE: SPECIAL AUTHORS
COURSE CODE: LIT 316
GROUP 2 PRESENTATION.
QUESTION: AN OPEN CRITICISM OF “THE WOMAN IN ME” BY BILIQISU ABUBAKAR
SUBMITTED TO: PROF. A.K BABAJO
GROUP MEMEBERS.
USMAN EDWARD
GOFWEN BIMWARIT DAUDA
JOSHUA EMMANUEL ZEMO ELIZABETH AMINA ABDULSALAM
CHOICE UKUN AUDI RACHEAL MAJI
BETHEL ASIBI PAUL
AHMAD DAHIRU DOWYARO TAFARKI SIM
SANDRA YOHANNA BELLO ASMAU ABUBAKAR AISHA ALAMIN CIROMA JENNIFER ISAAC
ILIYA BLESSING
NANA-AISHA ABDULLAHI SULEIMAN AUGUSTINE FAVOUR BASHAYI STEPHANIE HYELLADI DIWA STEPHEN FAVOUR KEREN SUNDAY SHOK
ZULAIHAT YUSUF MARYAM JIBRIL MUHAMMAD
SADIYA MUDASSIR AFOLABI PEACE OYINKANSOLA
MARYAM ABUBAKAR JODI
ALJANNATU SALIHU BAMBALE
AMINA UMAR TUKUR FAUZIYYA MUHAMMAD SANI
ESTHER SIMON OLUWATOBI EMMANUEL OLABODE FAVOUR
KHADIJA YUSUF MUSA
JOVIAL KASHAM EMMANUEL
INTRODUCTION
Bilqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me is a modern Nigerian novel that explores the struggles, sacrifices, and emotional conflicts faced by women in a traditional society. Set mainly in Northern Nigeria, the story follows the experiences of Rosamond, whose marriage to Ibrahim exposes the tensions between love, culture, and personal freedom. Through this narrative, Abubakar presents a deep reflection on how religion, patriarchy, and family expectations can shape a woman’s identity. The novel gives readers a glimpse into the inner world of women who are caught between obeying societal rules and pursuing their own happiness. This open criticism will examine both the strengths and weaknesses of the novel, focusing on its themes, character development, and style of writing.
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR
Bilkisu Abubakar is a distinguished female writer from Northern Nigeria. She was born and raised in Kaduna, where she completed her primary and secondary education at Queen Amina College. She later proceeded to Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English and Literature.
Her writing career began about fifteen years ago while she was a housewife, driven not only by chance but also by her long-standing passion for writing. Her first novel, To Live Again, was published in 2006, followed by The Woman in Me in 2010.
Through her works, Bilkisu Abubakar employs the tool of creative writing to engage in critical discourse on religion, gender, and polygamy within the predominantly Islamic North. Although some readers have speculated that she is opposed to polygamy, she refutes this claim. Having been born and raised in a polygamous setting, she views it as part of her cultural identity. What she challenges, however, is not polygamy itself but the exploitation and misuse of marriage.
SUMMARY OF THE BOOK
The Woman in Me tells the story of Rosamond and her husband, Ibrahim, a doctor who has built a life abroad but decides to return home to Nigeria after his mother falls ill. What begins as a short visit gradually turns into a long and complicated stay, revealing hidden tensions in their marriage. Rosamond’s life becomes a mirror of the struggles many women face torn between loyalty to family, love for a husband, and the quiet desire for independence. The novel also touches on secrets from Rosamond’s past, including her uncertain ancestry, which adds another layer of conflict to her search for identity. Through the couple’s experiences, Abubakar paints a vivid picture of life in Northern Nigeria, where tradition and modernity often clash. The story combines themes of love, cultural expectation, and self-discovery, showing how one woman learns to find her voice in a society that often tries to silence it.
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF “THE WOMAN IN ME” by Biliqisu Abubakar
Biliqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me is a reflective and emotionally charged novel that explores the inner life of a woman living within the boundaries of a conservative Nigerian society. Set primarily in Northern Nigeria, the story captures the tension between cultural expectations and personal desires, showing how women struggle to define themselves in a world that constantly tells them who they should be.
At its heart, the novel is a story of self-discovery and emotional awakening. The protagonist whose name is not always emphasized, to symbolize every woman’s experience lives through the ordinary yet heavy routines of domestic life. She is a wife, a mother, and a dutiful member of her community. Yet beneath her calm exterior lies an inner voice “the woman in me” that questions, feels, dreams, and desires freedom.
Through introspective narration, Abubakar takes readers into this woman’s internal world. The novel unfolds as a series of reflections on love, marriage, silence, and womanhood. It reveals how many women live torn between their true emotions and the roles society forces upon them. The protagonist’s story becomes a mirror for countless women who are visible in their duties but invisible in their own lives.
One of the novel’s most remarkable features is its quiet feminist tone. Rather than shouting against patriarchy, Abubakar writes with tenderness and understanding. She acknowledges the cultural weight of tradition and religion while still challenging the inequality embedded within them. The novel’s strength lies in its honesty it doesn’t idealize women as victims, nor does it portray men as villains. Instead, it shows how both genders are caught in a social system that values conformity over individuality.
Stylistically, the novel is simple but poetic. Abubakar uses a first-person narrative, which allows readers to hear the protagonist’s thoughts directly, giving the book an intimate and confessional feel. Everyday domestic images the kitchen, the mirror, silence, the act of waiting are used symbolically to represent the inner confinement and gradual awakening of the woman’s spirit.
Ultimately, The Woman in Me is a story of transformation. It moves from silence to self-expression, from suppression to self-awareness. By the end, the protagonist begins to recognize her worth, learning that true freedom begins from within from the courage to listen to and accept one’s inner voice.
AN OPEN CRITICISM OF “THE WOMAN IN ME” BY BILIQISU ABUBAKAR
Biliqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me is one of those quiet but powerful novels that try to show what it really means to be a woman in a society that does not always make space for you. The story follows Ibrahim and Rosamond a couple whose lives move between Northern Nigeria and England. At first, their marriage looks strong and full of promise. Ibrahim leaves home, studies hard, and becomes a doctor, and Rosamond, his wife, stands beside him through all of it. But as the story goes on, Abubakar begins to show how love, culture, and identity can get tangled up, especially when the world around you keeps changing.
One of the strongest things about this book is how it looks at the struggles of women in a patriarchal society. Abubakar doesn’t shout or preach; she simply shows how women like Rosamond live with quiet strength. The story isn’t just about pain it’s also about survival, and about finding dignity in situations where people expect you to remain silent. Through Rosamond, Abubakar seems to say that being a woman isn’t only about endurance but also about self-discovery. Even when life does not give you control, you can still search for meaning within yourself.
Another thing about the novel is the mix of settings from Nigeria to England and back again. This movement helps us see how people change when they move from one culture to another. Ibrahim’s success abroad gives him pride, but it also creates distance between him and his roots. For Rosamond, England represents opportunity but also confusion a place where she feels both free and lost. When they return to Nigeria because of Ibrahim’s mother’s illness, everything seems to come full circle. It’s almost as if Abubakar wants to remind us that no matter how far we go, home and the expectations tied to it will always call us back.
Still, The Woman in Me is not without its weaknesses. Some readers might feel that the characters could have been developed more deeply. We understand what happens to them, but sometimes we don’t fully understand how they feel inside. For example, Rosamond’s past, which involves lies and hidden truths, could have been explored more clearly. There are moments where the story moves too quickly, and we are left wanting to know what’s really going on in her heart. The same goes for Ibrahim his transformation after success feels a bit sudden, as if we missed the middle part of his emotional journey.
Another small issue is that the novel tries to deal with many big topics at once gender, culture, religion, migration, love, and identity. These are all important, but sometimes they crowd each other. At times, it feels like the author wants to say everything in one book, which makes some ideas less powerful than they could be if explored in more detail.
Despite that, Abubakar’s writing has a strong sense of honesty. She writes from a place that few Nigerian writers especially women from the North have written from before. Her voice is calm but confident, and she does something very important: she shows that women’s stories from Northern Nigeria matter just as much as any other. The novel doesn’t give us a perfect ending, but maybe that’s the point. Real life doesn’t always end neatly, especially for women who are constantly negotiating between tradition, love, and personal freedom.
In the end, The Woman in Me is not just a story about one woman’s struggle. It’s a story about many women who live in societies that tell them who to be and what to accept. Through Rosamond’s experiences, Biliqisu Abubakar invites us to think about what it really means to be “a woman” not in the way society defines it, but in the way each person quietly feels it inside. The novel may not be perfect, but its message stays with you. It reminds you that behind every quiet woman, there is a deep, complex world waiting to be seen.
THEMES
Biliqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me is a quiet but powerful novel that examines the private world of women struggling to define themselves within the pressures of culture, religion, and social expectation. The story moves beyond the surface of domestic life to reveal the emotions, desires, and fears that shape a woman’s sense of being. Through her treatment of marriage, love, identity, and voice, Abubakar exposes the tension between duty and selfhood between what society expects of women and what women feel inside.
MARRIAGE: A SYMBOL OF EXPECTATION AND CONFINEMENT
In Abubakar’s narrative, marriage is more than a union between a man and a woman; it is a cultural institution loaded with meaning and pressure. The protagonist’s experience of marriage reflects the traditional expectations placed upon women to be obedient, patient, and enduring, even in the face of emotional neglect.
Abubakar does not present marriage as entirely negative, but as a mirror of society’s control over women. The home becomes both a space of security and a site of silence. The wife’s role is predetermined, leaving little room for individuality. Yet, it is within this silence that the heroine begins to reflect and question. Abubakar uses this tension to show that, for many women, marriage is not only a social duty but also a test of self-knowledge.
LOVE: BETWEEN AFFECTION AND OBLIGATION
The theme of love in The Woman in Me is deeply connected to emotional honesty. Abubakar presents love not as romance or excitement, but as endurance the quiet effort to keep feeling in a relationship that has become defined by routine. The protagonist’s love is often unreciprocated or misunderstood, showing how affection can be trapped within unequal power dynamics.
However, Abubakar also suggests that love, when truthful, can be an act of resistance. The woman’s love for herself her decision to see her own worth becomes a form of emotional survival. By turning inward, she redefines love as self-care rather than submission.
THE SEARCH FOR IDENTITY
Identity is the novel’s strongest and most persistent theme. The title itself “The Woman in Me” captures the internal journey of discovering who one truly is beneath the expectations of wifehood, motherhood, and social reputation.
Abubakar allows her protagonist to peel back these layers slowly. Each memory, each reflection, becomes part of a self-discovery process. The woman begins to see that identity cannot be given by society or religion; it must be found within. Through introspection, she learns that the “me” in the title is not selfishness but self-awareness the courage to exist authentically in a world that demands conformity.
VOICE: FROM SILENCE TO SELF- EXPRESSION
Voice in The Woman in Me is not just about speaking; it is about being heard. At the beginning, the heroine’s silence represents the collective muteness of women who have been taught to endure quietly. Abubakar’s choice of a first-person narrative allows readers to experience this silence as internal thought the voice that the world never hears.
As the story unfolds, the protagonist begins to narrate her own pain and truth. This act of narration itself is a reclaiming of power. The more she tells her story, the more she finds freedom. Abubakar thus transforms silence into a form of strength showing that the path to liberation begins with the courage to speak, even if the world refuses to listen.
LITERARY TECHNIQUES
– Narrative Voice:
The story is told in the first person, allowing readers to experience the woman’s emotions directly. This confessional style creates intimacy and helps readers understand the weight of her silence and pain.
– Symbolism:
The title itself, The Woman in Me, is symbolic. It represents the hidden self — the strength, wisdom, and emotional core buried under layers of duty and tradition. Common household spaces, like the kitchen or bedroom, are used as symbols of confinement but also as sites of reflection.
– Imagery and Tone:
Abubakar uses vivid imagery to describe emotional states — the heaviness of silence, the emptiness of routine, the flicker of hope. Her tone is both emotional and reflective, blending pain with self-awareness.
– Cultural Realism:
The novel reflects Nigerian society authentically. Its language, dialogue, and social interactions feel natural, grounded in local culture. This realism gives the story emotional depth and relevance.
– Flashbacks and Reflection:
The author uses flashbacks to connect past experiences with present emotions, showing how a woman’s history shapes her sense of self. This technique deepens the novel’s emotional layers and helps readers understand the character’s transformation.
STRENGTH IN BILIQISU ABUBAKAR’S ” THE WOMAN IN ME”
Biliqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me stands out as a deeply emotional and introspective narrative that gives voice to the inner struggles of women in Northern Nigerian society. The novel’s strength lies not only in its subject matter but also in how Abubakar crafts her story with empathy, honesty, and cultural depth. Through her creative use of symbolism, first-person narration, and authentic portrayal of Fulani and Hausa feminine experiences, she succeeds in creating a narrative that feels both intimate and universal.
– Emotional Authenticity and Psychological Depth
One of the most striking strengths of The Woman in Me is its emotional honesty. Abubakar writes with the sincerity of someone who has lived or deeply understood the female experience she depicts. The protagonist’s emotional journey her reflections on silence, pain, and eventual self-realization feels natural, not forced. The reader is not merely told what she feels; rather, we are invited to feel with her. This kind of emotional immersion strengthens the narrative’s impact and connects the audience to the broader theme of womanhood and identity.
– Strong Feminist Voice and Cultural Relevance
Abubakar’s novel is also powerful because of its quiet but firm feminist stance. Without turning preachy or aggressive, she sheds light on the daily realities of women bound by social expectation. She allows the heroine to question and, eventually, redefine her sense of self. The feminist voice here is rooted in culture rather than rebellion it reflects the tension between tradition and individuality, making the story realistic and relatable for Nigerian readers. This subtle form of resistance, often termed womanism, is a major strength because it encourages understanding rather than confrontation.
– Skillful Use of Symbolism and Imagery
The symbolism in the novel gives it artistic weight. The title itself “The Woman in Me” acts as a metaphor for the hidden, authentic self every woman carries beneath societal labels. Domestic spaces such as the kitchen, mirror, and bedroom are transformed into emotional landscapes that reflect the protagonist’s confinement and her eventual awakening. Abubakar’s use of imagery silence as heaviness, mirrors as reflection, and light as hope strengthens the novel’s emotional texture and deepens its thematic message.
– Narrative Technique and Language
Abubakar’s decision to use a first-person narrative gives the novel its immediacy. The narrator’s voice draws readers into her internal world, creating a confessional tone that feels genuine. Her language is simple yet poetic; she relies on familiar expressions and rhythms that reflect Northern Nigerian speech patterns. This makes the work accessible while preserving its cultural identity. The balance between clarity and lyricism is one of the novel’s artistic strengths.
-Realistic Portrayal of Nigerian Womanhood
Another strong aspect is the novel’s cultural authenticity. Abubakar situates her story within the daily realities of Northern Nigerian women religion, family, marriage, and social judgment without falling into stereotypes. She writes women as human beings with layered emotions, desires, and contradictions. The cultural context becomes part of the story’s soul, allowing readers to appreciate both its local and universal significance.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, The Woman in Me by Biliqisu Abubakar is a quiet yet powerful novel that captures the emotional landscape of womanhood in a deeply traditional society. It speaks for countless women whose lives are shaped by duty, silence, and resilience. Through her sensitive storytelling, Abubakar allows readers to enter the mind of a woman who is both ordinary and extraordinary ordinary in her experiences, but extraordinary in her ability to endure, reflect, and rediscover herself.
The novel’s strength lies in its sincerity, its emotional honesty, and its ability to turn everyday experiences into profound reflections on identity and freedom. Though its structure can be slow and the male characters less developed, these minor flaws do not diminish the depth of Abubakar’s vision. Instead, they remind us that the story’s true focus is the inner life of a woman who has learned to find her strength quietly.
Ultimately, The Woman in Me is more than just a feminist text it is a personal and cultural awakening. Abubakar doesn’t simply tell the story of a woman; she reveals what it means to become one. Her message is simple yet lasting: that every woman carries a voice within her, and that liberation begins the moment she learns to listen to it.
REFERENCES:
Abubakar, B. (2010). The Woman in Me. Prime Publicity Nig. Limited.
Dauda, S. & Bijimi, J. (2024). A Womanist Study of Biliqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me. Tasambo JLLC, 3(2).
Azuah, U. (2010). “A Conversation with Bilkisu B. Abubakar …how can I be against polygamy?” Vanguard News, Nov 8, 2010.
Vanguard News “Appreciating the Place of Northern Nigerian Women Writers in Religion: An Analysis of Bilqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai’s An Abundance of Scorpions and Phebe Veronica Jatau’s The Hound.” (2021). Dutse Journal of Gender Studies, Vol. 1, Issue 1.
FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND DRAMA
COURSE: SPECIAL AUTHORS
COURSE CODE: LIT 316
GROUP 2 PRESENTATION.
QUESTION: AN OPEN CRITICISM OF “THE WOMAN IN ME” BY BILIQISU ABUBAKAR
SUBMITTED TO: PROF. A.K BABAJO
GROUP MEMEBERS.
USMAN EDWARD
GOFWEN BIMWARIT DAUDA
JOSHUA EMMANUEL ZEMO ELIZABETH AMINA ABDULSALAM
CHOICE UKUN AUDI RACHEAL MAJI
BETHEL ASIBI PAUL
AHMAD DAHIRU DOWYARO TAFARKI SIM
SANDRA YOHANNA BELLO ASMAU ABUBAKAR AISHA ALAMIN CIROMA JENNIFER ISAAC
ILIYA BLESSING
NANA-AISHA ABDULLAHI SULEIMAN AUGUSTINE FAVOUR BASHAYI STEPHANIE HYELLADI DIWA STEPHEN FAVOUR KEREN SUNDAY SHOK
ZULAIHAT YUSUF MARYAM JIBRIL MUHAMMAD
SADIYA MUDASSIR AFOLABI PEACE OYINKANSOLA
MARYAM ABUBAKAR JODI
ALJANNATU SALIHU BAMBALE
AMINA UMAR TUKUR FAUZIYYA MUHAMMAD SANI
ESTHER SIMON OLUWATOBI EMMANUEL OLABODE FAVOUR
KHADIJA YUSUF MUSA
JOVIAL KASHAM EMMANUEL
INTRODUCTION
Bilqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me is a modern Nigerian novel that explores the struggles, sacrifices, and emotional conflicts faced by women in a traditional society. Set mainly in Northern Nigeria, the story follows the experiences of Rosamond, whose marriage to Ibrahim exposes the tensions between love, culture, and personal freedom. Through this narrative, Abubakar presents a deep reflection on how religion, patriarchy, and family expectations can shape a woman’s identity. The novel gives readers a glimpse into the inner world of women who are caught between obeying societal rules and pursuing their own happiness. This open criticism will examine both the strengths and weaknesses of the novel, focusing on its themes, character development, and style of writing.
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR
Bilkisu Abubakar is a distinguished female writer from Northern Nigeria. She was born and raised in Kaduna, where she completed her primary and secondary education at Queen Amina College. She later proceeded to Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English and Literature.
Her writing career began about fifteen years ago while she was a housewife, driven not only by chance but also by her long-standing passion for writing. Her first novel, To Live Again, was published in 2006, followed by The Woman in Me in 2010.
Through her works, Bilkisu Abubakar employs the tool of creative writing to engage in critical discourse on religion, gender, and polygamy within the predominantly Islamic North. Although some readers have speculated that she is opposed to polygamy, she refutes this claim. Having been born and raised in a polygamous setting, she views it as part of her cultural identity. What she challenges, however, is not polygamy itself but the exploitation and misuse of marriage.
SUMMARY OF THE BOOK
The Woman in Me tells the story of Rosamond and her husband, Ibrahim, a doctor who has built a life abroad but decides to return home to Nigeria after his mother falls ill. What begins as a short visit gradually turns into a long and complicated stay, revealing hidden tensions in their marriage. Rosamond’s life becomes a mirror of the struggles many women face torn between loyalty to family, love for a husband, and the quiet desire for independence. The novel also touches on secrets from Rosamond’s past, including her uncertain ancestry, which adds another layer of conflict to her search for identity. Through the couple’s experiences, Abubakar paints a vivid picture of life in Northern Nigeria, where tradition and modernity often clash. The story combines themes of love, cultural expectation, and self-discovery, showing how one woman learns to find her voice in a society that often tries to silence it.
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF “THE WOMAN IN ME” by Biliqisu Abubakar
Biliqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me is a reflective and emotionally charged novel that explores the inner life of a woman living within the boundaries of a conservative Nigerian society. Set primarily in Northern Nigeria, the story captures the tension between cultural expectations and personal desires, showing how women struggle to define themselves in a world that constantly tells them who they should be.
At its heart, the novel is a story of self-discovery and emotional awakening. The protagonist whose name is not always emphasized, to symbolize every woman’s experience lives through the ordinary yet heavy routines of domestic life. She is a wife, a mother, and a dutiful member of her community. Yet beneath her calm exterior lies an inner voice “the woman in me” that questions, feels, dreams, and desires freedom.
Through introspective narration, Abubakar takes readers into this woman’s internal world. The novel unfolds as a series of reflections on love, marriage, silence, and womanhood. It reveals how many women live torn between their true emotions and the roles society forces upon them. The protagonist’s story becomes a mirror for countless women who are visible in their duties but invisible in their own lives.
One of the novel’s most remarkable features is its quiet feminist tone. Rather than shouting against patriarchy, Abubakar writes with tenderness and understanding. She acknowledges the cultural weight of tradition and religion while still challenging the inequality embedded within them. The novel’s strength lies in its honesty it doesn’t idealize women as victims, nor does it portray men as villains. Instead, it shows how both genders are caught in a social system that values conformity over individuality.
Stylistically, the novel is simple but poetic. Abubakar uses a first-person narrative, which allows readers to hear the protagonist’s thoughts directly, giving the book an intimate and confessional feel. Everyday domestic images the kitchen, the mirror, silence, the act of waiting are used symbolically to represent the inner confinement and gradual awakening of the woman’s spirit.
Ultimately, The Woman in Me is a story of transformation. It moves from silence to self-expression, from suppression to self-awareness. By the end, the protagonist begins to recognize her worth, learning that true freedom begins from within from the courage to listen to and accept one’s inner voice.
AN OPEN CRITICISM OF “THE WOMAN IN ME” BY BILIQISU ABUBAKAR
Biliqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me is one of those quiet but powerful novels that try to show what it really means to be a woman in a society that does not always make space for you. The story follows Ibrahim and Rosamond a couple whose lives move between Northern Nigeria and England. At first, their marriage looks strong and full of promise. Ibrahim leaves home, studies hard, and becomes a doctor, and Rosamond, his wife, stands beside him through all of it. But as the story goes on, Abubakar begins to show how love, culture, and identity can get tangled up, especially when the world around you keeps changing.
One of the strongest things about this book is how it looks at the struggles of women in a patriarchal society. Abubakar doesn’t shout or preach; she simply shows how women like Rosamond live with quiet strength. The story isn’t just about pain it’s also about survival, and about finding dignity in situations where people expect you to remain silent. Through Rosamond, Abubakar seems to say that being a woman isn’t only about endurance but also about self-discovery. Even when life does not give you control, you can still search for meaning within yourself.
Another thing about the novel is the mix of settings from Nigeria to England and back again. This movement helps us see how people change when they move from one culture to another. Ibrahim’s success abroad gives him pride, but it also creates distance between him and his roots. For Rosamond, England represents opportunity but also confusion a place where she feels both free and lost. When they return to Nigeria because of Ibrahim’s mother’s illness, everything seems to come full circle. It’s almost as if Abubakar wants to remind us that no matter how far we go, home and the expectations tied to it will always call us back.
Still, The Woman in Me is not without its weaknesses. Some readers might feel that the characters could have been developed more deeply. We understand what happens to them, but sometimes we don’t fully understand how they feel inside. For example, Rosamond’s past, which involves lies and hidden truths, could have been explored more clearly. There are moments where the story moves too quickly, and we are left wanting to know what’s really going on in her heart. The same goes for Ibrahim his transformation after success feels a bit sudden, as if we missed the middle part of his emotional journey.
Another small issue is that the novel tries to deal with many big topics at once gender, culture, religion, migration, love, and identity. These are all important, but sometimes they crowd each other. At times, it feels like the author wants to say everything in one book, which makes some ideas less powerful than they could be if explored in more detail.
Despite that, Abubakar’s writing has a strong sense of honesty. She writes from a place that few Nigerian writers especially women from the North have written from before. Her voice is calm but confident, and she does something very important: she shows that women’s stories from Northern Nigeria matter just as much as any other. The novel doesn’t give us a perfect ending, but maybe that’s the point. Real life doesn’t always end neatly, especially for women who are constantly negotiating between tradition, love, and personal freedom.
In the end, The Woman in Me is not just a story about one woman’s struggle. It’s a story about many women who live in societies that tell them who to be and what to accept. Through Rosamond’s experiences, Biliqisu Abubakar invites us to think about what it really means to be “a woman” not in the way society defines it, but in the way each person quietly feels it inside. The novel may not be perfect, but its message stays with you. It reminds you that behind every quiet woman, there is a deep, complex world waiting to be seen.
THEMES
Biliqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me is a quiet but powerful novel that examines the private world of women struggling to define themselves within the pressures of culture, religion, and social expectation. The story moves beyond the surface of domestic life to reveal the emotions, desires, and fears that shape a woman’s sense of being. Through her treatment of marriage, love, identity, and voice, Abubakar exposes the tension between duty and selfhood between what society expects of women and what women feel inside.
MARRIAGE: A SYMBOL OF EXPECTATION AND CONFINEMENT
In Abubakar’s narrative, marriage is more than a union between a man and a woman; it is a cultural institution loaded with meaning and pressure. The protagonist’s experience of marriage reflects the traditional expectations placed upon women to be obedient, patient, and enduring, even in the face of emotional neglect.
Abubakar does not present marriage as entirely negative, but as a mirror of society’s control over women. The home becomes both a space of security and a site of silence. The wife’s role is predetermined, leaving little room for individuality. Yet, it is within this silence that the heroine begins to reflect and question. Abubakar uses this tension to show that, for many women, marriage is not only a social duty but also a test of self-knowledge.
LOVE: BETWEEN AFFECTION AND OBLIGATION
The theme of love in The Woman in Me is deeply connected to emotional honesty. Abubakar presents love not as romance or excitement, but as endurance the quiet effort to keep feeling in a relationship that has become defined by routine. The protagonist’s love is often unreciprocated or misunderstood, showing how affection can be trapped within unequal power dynamics.
However, Abubakar also suggests that love, when truthful, can be an act of resistance. The woman’s love for herself her decision to see her own worth becomes a form of emotional survival. By turning inward, she redefines love as self-care rather than submission.
THE SEARCH FOR IDENTITY
Identity is the novel’s strongest and most persistent theme. The title itself “The Woman in Me” captures the internal journey of discovering who one truly is beneath the expectations of wifehood, motherhood, and social reputation.
Abubakar allows her protagonist to peel back these layers slowly. Each memory, each reflection, becomes part of a self-discovery process. The woman begins to see that identity cannot be given by society or religion; it must be found within. Through introspection, she learns that the “me” in the title is not selfishness but self-awareness the courage to exist authentically in a world that demands conformity.
VOICE: FROM SILENCE TO SELF- EXPRESSION
Voice in The Woman in Me is not just about speaking; it is about being heard. At the beginning, the heroine’s silence represents the collective muteness of women who have been taught to endure quietly. Abubakar’s choice of a first-person narrative allows readers to experience this silence as internal thought the voice that the world never hears.
As the story unfolds, the protagonist begins to narrate her own pain and truth. This act of narration itself is a reclaiming of power. The more she tells her story, the more she finds freedom. Abubakar thus transforms silence into a form of strength showing that the path to liberation begins with the courage to speak, even if the world refuses to listen.
LITERARY TECHNIQUES
– Narrative Voice:
The story is told in the first person, allowing readers to experience the woman’s emotions directly. This confessional style creates intimacy and helps readers understand the weight of her silence and pain.
– Symbolism:
The title itself, The Woman in Me, is symbolic. It represents the hidden self — the strength, wisdom, and emotional core buried under layers of duty and tradition. Common household spaces, like the kitchen or bedroom, are used as symbols of confinement but also as sites of reflection.
– Imagery and Tone:
Abubakar uses vivid imagery to describe emotional states — the heaviness of silence, the emptiness of routine, the flicker of hope. Her tone is both emotional and reflective, blending pain with self-awareness.
– Cultural Realism:
The novel reflects Nigerian society authentically. Its language, dialogue, and social interactions feel natural, grounded in local culture. This realism gives the story emotional depth and relevance.
– Flashbacks and Reflection:
The author uses flashbacks to connect past experiences with present emotions, showing how a woman’s history shapes her sense of self. This technique deepens the novel’s emotional layers and helps readers understand the character’s transformation.
STRENGTH IN BILIQISU ABUBAKAR’S ” THE WOMAN IN ME”
Biliqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me stands out as a deeply emotional and introspective narrative that gives voice to the inner struggles of women in Northern Nigerian society. The novel’s strength lies not only in its subject matter but also in how Abubakar crafts her story with empathy, honesty, and cultural depth. Through her creative use of symbolism, first-person narration, and authentic portrayal of Fulani and Hausa feminine experiences, she succeeds in creating a narrative that feels both intimate and universal.
– Emotional Authenticity and Psychological Depth
One of the most striking strengths of The Woman in Me is its emotional honesty. Abubakar writes with the sincerity of someone who has lived or deeply understood the female experience she depicts. The protagonist’s emotional journey her reflections on silence, pain, and eventual self-realization feels natural, not forced. The reader is not merely told what she feels; rather, we are invited to feel with her. This kind of emotional immersion strengthens the narrative’s impact and connects the audience to the broader theme of womanhood and identity.
– Strong Feminist Voice and Cultural Relevance
Abubakar’s novel is also powerful because of its quiet but firm feminist stance. Without turning preachy or aggressive, she sheds light on the daily realities of women bound by social expectation. She allows the heroine to question and, eventually, redefine her sense of self. The feminist voice here is rooted in culture rather than rebellion it reflects the tension between tradition and individuality, making the story realistic and relatable for Nigerian readers. This subtle form of resistance, often termed womanism, is a major strength because it encourages understanding rather than confrontation.
– Skillful Use of Symbolism and Imagery
The symbolism in the novel gives it artistic weight. The title itself “The Woman in Me” acts as a metaphor for the hidden, authentic self every woman carries beneath societal labels. Domestic spaces such as the kitchen, mirror, and bedroom are transformed into emotional landscapes that reflect the protagonist’s confinement and her eventual awakening. Abubakar’s use of imagery silence as heaviness, mirrors as reflection, and light as hope strengthens the novel’s emotional texture and deepens its thematic message.
– Narrative Technique and Language
Abubakar’s decision to use a first-person narrative gives the novel its immediacy. The narrator’s voice draws readers into her internal world, creating a confessional tone that feels genuine. Her language is simple yet poetic; she relies on familiar expressions and rhythms that reflect Northern Nigerian speech patterns. This makes the work accessible while preserving its cultural identity. The balance between clarity and lyricism is one of the novel’s artistic strengths.
-Realistic Portrayal of Nigerian Womanhood
Another strong aspect is the novel’s cultural authenticity. Abubakar situates her story within the daily realities of Northern Nigerian women religion, family, marriage, and social judgment without falling into stereotypes. She writes women as human beings with layered emotions, desires, and contradictions. The cultural context becomes part of the story’s soul, allowing readers to appreciate both its local and universal significance.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, The Woman in Me by Biliqisu Abubakar is a quiet yet powerful novel that captures the emotional landscape of womanhood in a deeply traditional society. It speaks for countless women whose lives are shaped by duty, silence, and resilience. Through her sensitive storytelling, Abubakar allows readers to enter the mind of a woman who is both ordinary and extraordinary ordinary in her experiences, but extraordinary in her ability to endure, reflect, and rediscover herself.
The novel’s strength lies in its sincerity, its emotional honesty, and its ability to turn everyday experiences into profound reflections on identity and freedom. Though its structure can be slow and the male characters less developed, these minor flaws do not diminish the depth of Abubakar’s vision. Instead, they remind us that the story’s true focus is the inner life of a woman who has learned to find her strength quietly.
Ultimately, The Woman in Me is more than just a feminist text it is a personal and cultural awakening. Abubakar doesn’t simply tell the story of a woman; she reveals what it means to become one. Her message is simple yet lasting: that every woman carries a voice within her, and that liberation begins the moment she learns to listen to it.
REFERENCES:
Abubakar, B. (2010). The Woman in Me. Prime Publicity Nig. Limited.
Dauda, S. & Bijimi, J. (2024). A Womanist Study of Biliqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me. Tasambo JLLC, 3(2).
Azuah, U. (2010). “A Conversation with Bilkisu B. Abubakar …how can I be against polygamy?” Vanguard News, Nov 8, 2010.
Vanguard News “Appreciating the Place of Northern Nigerian Women Writers in Religion: An Analysis of Bilqisu Abubakar’s The Woman in Me, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai’s An Abundance of Scorpions and Phebe Veronica Jatau’s The Hound.” (2021). Dutse Journal of Gender Studies, Vol. 1, Issue 1.
