Eyes of a Goddess by Ukamaka Goddess
Title: Eyes of a Goddess
Author: Ukamaka Olisakwe
Published: 2012
Genre: Contemporary African Fiction / Feminist Literature
Setting: Nigeria (mostly urban, modern-day)
Summary
Eyes of a Goddess tells the story of Nkem, a young Nigerian woman whose life becomes a reflection of the struggles faced by many women in a patriarchal society. The novel begins with Nkem growing up in a traditional, conservative environment where a woman’s worth is defined by her obedience, beauty, and marriageability.
Nkem dreams of education and independence, but her path is controlled by social expectations and male authority figures. She is caught between modern ideals of freedom and traditional roles that restrict her choices. When she falls in love, her decisions are judged harshly by family and community, and she faces betrayal from those she trusted.
Through Nkem’s experiences, Olisakwe exposes the deep inequalities women face — from domestic violence and sexual abuse to the pressure of silence and endurance. The “eyes of a goddess” in the title symbolize both the watchful, divine female strength and the awakening of self-awareness within the protagonist.
Nkem’s journey is one of resilience and transformation: she begins as a naïve girl bound by cultural expectations but grows into a woman who learns to see through the “eyes of a goddess” — strong, knowing, and self-determined.
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