Polygamy and Marital Infidelity: An Exploration of Amma Darko's Not Without Flowers

This article aims to analyse Amma Darko’s Not Without Flowers (2005), as a critical commentary on polygamy and marital adultery. It demonstrates how Amma Darko broadens her theme by offering depictions of a variety of emerging socioeconomic issues in male dominated African countries. The paper also explores the manner in which African female authors try to challenge and subvert the patriarchal traditions that persist in their nations. It highlights Darko's use of fictional prose to explore the complexity of a Ghanaian woman's life in connection to the African tradition of polygamy and its repercussions. She discusses societal evils such as adultery and polygamy, gently advising her female characters to reject these practices and critically examine the idea of the new woman, particularly in the context of modern-day Africa. Consistent with Amma Darko, the study uses a sociological approach to emphasise this aspect as a crucial reality in situations where men predominate. The novel's textual analysis, critical review and extensive research are used to examine the impact of polygamy on women in Ghana and on the African civilisation. Ultimately, she identifies poverty and illiteracy as the primary causes of the issue. This article examines the phenomenon's roots and analyses its impact on the African community, young people and the women in question.