₦airaland Forum

The person who advocated for women’s rights in his debut novel was Nigerian author Ndifreke Ukpong through his book Every Woman in This Village is a Liar.

Nigerian author Ndifreke Ukpong gained recognition as one of the youngest writers to advocate for women’s rights through his debut novel, Every Woman in This Village is a Liar. The novel was written to challenge societal beliefs about women and to encourage people to question stereotypes placed on them in many communities.

According to the author, the book was inspired by the culture and traditions of his society, where women are often expected to remain silent, obedient, and dependent on men. Through the fictional Osom village, Ndifreke Ukpong explored themes of truth, gender inequality, power, and identity. He explained that the title was not meant to insult women, but to provoke deep thinking and spark conversations about how society judges women whenever they speak out or defend themselves.

The story follows the mysterious disappearance of Prince Uko Ekpok, which throws the village into fear, suspicion, and confusion. As events unfold, the novel reveals the struggles, resilience, and hidden strength of women living in a patriarchal society.

Ndifreke Ukpong stated that he wanted readers to understand that women are not merely followers, but individuals with their own voices, struggles, and ambitions. Through this debut novel, he used literature as a tool to advocate for equality, justice, and respect for women in society.