OLDEN AFRICAN LITERATURE
“The Concubine” by Elechi Amadi is a book written by Elechi Amadi and this was published in London in the year 1966. Elechi Amadi MFR was a Nigerian author and soldier who was born in the year 1934 and died in the year, 2016.
The novel “The Concubine” was reflecting the changing society of Nigeria at the time. It talks about the love triangle existing between Emenike, Ihuoma, and Ahurole as well as the political intrigue involving rival chiefs and their quest for power. Different themes were explored in the book and to start with is the theme of love and loss.
The Concubine is a story of love, passion, and betrayal. The author, Elechi Amadi explores the various ways complicated feelings are related to love, such as passion, jealousy, and the pain of losing a loved one, Amadi examines the several ways that people's desires and decisions can impact relationships throughout the entire book.
Ihuoma, who is considered to be the most beautiful woman in Omokachie, is faced with a difficult decision as two men, Emenike and Ahurole, struggle with pride and love, which finally leads to the tragedy that transpires. Ihuoma has a deep love for Emenike, but he is cursed by a jealous suitor, Madume, who is also in love with Ihuoma, becomes jealous of Emenike and places a curse on him, preventing him from having children with Ihuoma.
This curse plays an important role in the tragedy depicted in the novel. Ihuoma thus gets connected with Ahurole, who is able to provide her with the children she wants. Emenike can't accept this circumstance, though, because of his pride, which causes a confrontation that ends in his death.
This starts a chain of unfortunate events that eventually result in Ihuoma experiencing immense loss and suffering and being held responsible for Emenike's demise. The story's tragedy arises from the protagonist (Ihuoma’s) strong feelings of pride, jealousy, and love, and how these feelings lead them to make decisions that have tragic results.
In summary, Elechi Amadi's "The Concubine" is a tragic story that combines the themes of fate, power, and love; it explores the complexities of human relationships against the backdrop of Nigeria's quickly changing society.
Ihuoma, Emenike, and Ahurole's love triangle is brought to life by Amadi, which also explores the political intrigues of opposing chiefs. A jealous rival's curse on Emenike gives the story a mysterious and tragic quality and sets up a sequence of events that resulted in the protagonists experiencing heartbreaking loss and destruction.
"The Concubine" is a work of literature that offers exploration of the human experience and the enduring power of love and destiny. The Concubine was made a film and was directed by Nollywood film director, Andy Amenechi by name. The movie premiered in Abuja in March 2007.