A REVIEW OF ROSEMARY EDE UTAVIE’S IN PURSUIT OF MOTHERHOOD BY AMABEBE EBIMOBODE ALEXANDER
Rosemary Ede Utavie’s novella, In Pursuit of Motherhood, is a telephone conversation that explores the societal pressure on the delayed road to motherhood. She paints a picture of the barbarism that exists in 21st-century urban Nigeria, the strength and resilience of women who endure the same ridicule as women did prior to the advent of the West in Africa. The novella is compelling for its grim retelling of the mockery and pathetic experience of women considered barren in a typical African society. Through the voice of Daba, a first-time mother, who endures years of what amounts to assaults on her womanhood, Utavie weaves together issues of childbearing, child-rearing, societal pressure, support, and the reclaiming of womanhood in a scientific era.
The narrative follows Daba, a first-time mother of five days, who recounts her experiences to her friend, Nengi. While Nengi has been a pillar of support throughout her travails, Daba, in a state of euphoria, finds comfort in retelling the tale. She remembers the snide remarks, mockeries, seemingly innocent questions about her fertility, the experiences of other women in her condition, and the steps she takes to bear a child. Throughout her story, she appreciates the support of her friend and husband and shows immense gratitude for becoming a mother.
Analysis
The prominent theme in Utavie’s text is individuality. Her protagonist wants to be a part of society so badly that when she falls short, she takes desperate measures to feel among. Her feelings towards having a baby are so strong that she believes having one would save her from the taunts of society. However, in her journey, she learns a great deal about herself and how terrible society is, and her feelings become closed off to it. In other words, Dada’s pursuit of a child becomes a goal for her and her husband to build a family. She becomes a conqueror as she states in the prologue. She puts aside societal expectations and becomes a mother on her own terms. Furthermore, only when she understands that each woman treads her own path does she understand the steps that women like Ngo, her cousin, and her friend Nengi take as well.
Additionally, Utavie highlights the theme of the crossroads of biology, science, religion, and traditional medicine. The rule and exception paradox is a mainstay in human society, and Utavie perfectly captures this as she succinctly exposes the truth of an African civilization: options are available. Through this theme, the novella questions the title of “barrenness” as Dada gives birth to her own child. Is it barrenness if her eggs play a part in the highly biological process of childbearing? Utavie highlights this in the later part of the book, after Dada goes through check-ups that assure her she is perfectly capable of bearing a child, pastors that assure her she has broken the hold of her “village people” over her womb, an Ijaw masseuse that “resets her womb”, etc. Utavie tries all of this, and nothing works; however, for some others, it works. In the end, one of them works for her.
Another central theme is the theme of support and friendship, which revolves around Nengi and Daba’s husband. Nengi is the character at the other end of the phone, and despite her own life struggles (or perhaps because of it), she is a source of help to her friend. It is to her that Daba complains and cries to and from her; Daba gets encouragement. The role that Nengi plays is of huge help to the protagonist, who, lacking such a compassionate voice, might have fallen deeper into depression. Daba’s husband is also a victim of societal pressure, though in an African society, he gets a lesser version of the heat and stands by her. He is with her through everything and does not falter. He and Nengi become symbols of support.
Other themes in the novella are societal pressure and expectations, and the theme of science.
In terms of language, Utavie’s text features a simple and direct diction, which makes the story accessible. The use of simple English, Nigerian English, and Nigerian pidgin reflects the use of English in Nigeria. The prose is never overly expository and thus does not slow down the narration. The brevity of the text adds to the authenticity of a phone call and helps drive the narration.
The characters in the novella are splendid, despite meeting the majority of them through what Nengi and Daba say about them. Daba herself is a character whose adulthood has been marred by societal pressure; Nengi is a strong character who finds her womanhood in academic and professional pursuits; Ngo, who becomes a mentor to young women, etc.
Academics, Orientation and Medical Science
Utavie’s In Pursuit of Motherhood is a text that has an affinity to academic analysis. This is due to the text’s openness to the feminist theory and its American strand, Womanism. At their simplest, Feminism and womanism are frameworks for analyzing the representation of women in literary texts. The applications of the theory can give rise to numerous studies. Other theories that the text opens itself to are: the interdisciplinary spatial theory, postcolonial theory, and psychoanalytical theory.
Furthermore, Utavie’s text is an orientation of modern-day motherhood and the role that science plays. In the text, she mentions IVF (In Vitro Fertilization), Surrogacy, and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). This is an important message to a society that claims to be modern yet wallows in medical-based superstition, backward mentality, and is open to victimizing those who engage it. Utavie aims to orient her readers, some of whom have the same initial reaction as Dada and face a similar thinking society.
Evaluation
The greatest strength of Utavie’s novella is its topical issue of motherhood and the intellectual way she concludes. Utavie allows her protagonist to try everything and lets her come to the conclusion that science is open to her. This is a full circle because Dada advises others on family planning but shuns other intellectual and scientific ways for her to conceive.
Also, Utavie’s style of using a long telephone conversation is one of the unique features of the text. The phone call starts at 8:00 am and ends at 9:55 am. The call lasts one hour and fifty-five minutes, and happens naturally: two friends talking about one's challenges and victories in life. For chapters, Utavie uses between five and ten minutes to show the passage of time and sub-topics of discussion.
Also, Utavie’s ending is one of the strengths of the novella. Dada does not get a miracle baby, nor does she give up on her search for her own baby. She takes a conscious, intellectual, and non-desperate means to get a child.
In terms of weakness, one glaring weakness is the exaggeration of the actions of some of the women in Dada’s recollection. Utavie’s protagonist says that women come up to her and poke her belly. While this is not unusual in some cases, Utavie seems to suggest that Dada has so many friends, neighbours, and tribeswomen who have access to come poke her stomach. This exaggeration strays from the believable actions of society members in the text.
Conclusion
Utavie’s novella, In Pursuit of Motherhood, is a significant contribution to Nigerian literature, especially in terms of motherhood and its image in the 21st century. It is a remarkable text and highly recommendable for students of African Literature, gender studies, and even viable at the Jamb level, as it offers insight into a modern issue in such a critical way.
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