Flora Nwapa (In History) - January 18, 1931 - October 16, 1993

Flora Nwapa was possibly the first female Nigerian writer who was published in english. She began her career as an author with the publication of Efuru in 1966. In 1974, she founded Tana Press, Ltd and in 1977, Flora Nwapa Books. She published the rest of her works, as well as many other works from other writers, through one of her two publishing companies. Nwapa's novels focused on the ways women in her society defined themselves and their roles in society. After the end of the Nigerian war, she served as Minister for Health and Social Welfare for the East Central State from 1970 to1975. Her tasks included finding homes for 2000 war orphans. In 1982 the Nigerian government awarded her with one of the country's highest honors, the Order of Niger (OON). By her own town, Oguta, she was awarded the highest chieftaincy title, Ogbuefi, which is usually reserved for men of achievement.

Sites referencing Flora Nwapa:
http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3364
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/nwapa.htm
http://www.fb10.uni-bremen.de/anglistik/kerkhoff/AfrWomenWriters/Nwapa/NwapaBio.html
http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Nwapa.html