Co-Wives, Co-Widows
Central African Republic

Co-Wives, Co-Widows

by Adrienne Yabouza

Family & Heritage Literary Fiction 2021

Summary

Set in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, Co-Wives, Co-Widows tells the story of Ndongo Passy and Grekpoubou, two women who share a husband and have developed a close relationship despite the complexities of their family arrangement. When their husband, Lidou, a successful building contractor, suddenly dies, his opportunistic relatives accuse the women of poisoning him in an attempt to seize his property and inheritance.

Expelled from their home and deprived of their security, the two widows must find a way to protect themselves and their children. As they confront corruption, patriarchal traditions, and a justice system that offers them little protection, they discover that their greatest strength lies in their solidarity with one another and with other women in their community.

Combining humour, social satire, and vivid portrayals of everyday life, Yabouza explores women’s rights, economic vulnerability, and the unequal treatment of widows. Against a backdrop of political instability and social change, the novel celebrates female friendship and collective resistance, showing how women can challenge injustice by standing together.

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Country
Central African Republic
Africa
About the author
Adrienne Yabouza
Adrienne Yabouza

Adrienne Yabouza is a Central African novelist and children’s writer born in 1965 in the Central African Republic. She belongs to the Yakoma community and writes primarily in French, drawing inspiration from the languages, stories, and everyday experiences of women in her homeland. She also speaks Yakoma, Sango, and Lingala. Yabouza began writing as a child but followed a varied professional path before establishing herself as a full-time writer. For many years, she worked as a hairdresser in Bangui, where conversations with women in her neighbourhood and salon helped shape her understanding of their lives, struggles, and aspirations. Her writing often focuses on women’s rights, family relationships, social inequality, and the challenges facing women in Central African society. After fleeing political violence with her five children in 2013, Yabouza sought asylum in France. She later returned to the Central African Republic, continuing to write fiction for both adults and children. Her works include La Maltraite des veuves (2013), Co-épouses et co-veuves (2015), and La Patience du baobab (2018). The English translation of Co-Wives, Co-Widows introduced her work to a wider international audience. Through humour, lively characters, and social commentary, Yabouza brings the experiences of Central African women into contemporary literature.

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Details
Published
2021
Author
Adrienne Yabouza