Book Review: My Father's Daughter

My Father’s Daughter is a riveting narration of Onyeka Onwenu’s enthralling journey through life. We are held captive as she takes us into her world - from the heart-warming affection of her father to living through the anguish of the Nigeria-Biafra war, from a remarkable mother’s love to family intrigues, from feminism to a career that has put her in the limelight for decades. Her reflections and reviews are expressive and stroke our senses; nothing is left out.

This book is deeply personal and emotional; it is about strength of purpose in the face of adversity, the struggle to overcome seething obstacles and the tenacity in surviving the odds. Interesting and vibrant, Onyeka’s story is laced with wit and the underlying humour is infectious.

Provocative and audacious, Onyeka Onwenu gives gripping details of her trials and triumphs - and everything in between - as she shares diverse experiences from her childhood, the travails of being a performing artiste, personal encounters with eminent personalities, and lessons learned that have shaped her life. We are taken through the agony of her dark moments, the thrill of her successes, and her unwavering awe-inspiring trust in God.

In descriptive and pulsating detail, she talks about being a wife, a mother and breadwinner, of being a woman with a vision and purpose. She tells us about her relationship with her father, the qualities she inherited from him, and the strength of character of her mother. It is a story about life, love and living.

Onyeka Onwenu’s passion for her country, Nigeria, goes beyond patriotism. In this book, we read how she challenged and defied the status quo through her work in government, her career as a journalist and as one of the country’s foremost musicians. It was daunting and thought-provoking, yet with a clear message of hope.

My Father’s Daughter is a compelling story of strength, determination and integrity. This is Onyeka Onwenu’s story, and she tells it well. This is her truth.

She is, indeed, her father’s daughter and her mother’s legacy.

Ngozi Osu, Book Editor & Literary Consultant

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