Flora Nwapa’s ‘Wives at War’ to get film, TV, podcast adaptations

Umuada Productions has unveiled plans to adapt Wives at War, the 1980 short story collection by pioneering Nigerian author Flora Nwapa, into a variety of multimedia formats.

The adaptations will span graphic novels, short and feature films, television series, and podcasts. The project aims to reintroduce Nwapa’s powerful narratives—centered on women navigating the turmoil of war—to new and diverse audiences.

AA Okwuosa, founder and CEO of Umuada Productions, described the venture as a deeply personal fulfillment.

“This is a dream come true. I grew up with Miss Flora Nwapa’s work,” she said. “As an Oguta woman, telling her stories honors my culture. I look forward to translating it through compelling visual storytelling.”

The family of Flora Nwapa has also expressed strong support. Speaking on their behalf, Uzoma Nwakuche said, “We, the children of Flora Nwapa, are happy with the future adaptation of Wives at War by Umuada Productions. This work further immortalizes Flora Nwapa’s legacy and provides a new perspective in the way her work is appreciated globally.”

Flora Nwapa, often regarded as the mother of modern African women’s literature, was the first African woman novelist to be published in English in Britain.

Her work championed the lives, struggles, and resilience of Igbo women while addressing themes such as womanhood, war, and postcolonial identity.

Nwapa died on October 16, 1993, at the age of 62.