African Feminism in Selected Contemporary African Novels in English: A Comparative Approach
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Date
2020-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main aim of this research is to examine representation of women‘s issues in contemporary African Anglophone novels (published from 2000-2016) because such novels are not studied comparatively and comprehensively from African feminist perspectives. To this end, eight novels such as: Kintu (2014), Hiding in Plain Sight (2014), Ancestor Stones (2006), Season of Crimson Blossoms (2016), Coconut (2008), The Hairdresser of Harare (2010), Minaret (2005) and The Yacoubian Building (2004) are selected and analyzed based on African feminist theoretical framework. The result of the analyses shows that all the studied novels attempt to correct the misrepresentation of identities, experiences and burdens of African women by colonialism, neo-colonialism and Western feminism and call for inclusion of women‘s experiences and roles in post-colonial discourses. Particularly, two female-authored novels, Kintu and Ancestor Stones, go back to delineate the pre-colonial cultural history of their respective nation in comparison with the post-colonial contexts of their respective societies‘ view of women‘s roles and experiences; whereas the rest focus on contemporary issues of women in their particular societies or nations. Most of the examined novels reinforce African feminists‘ argument, which states that African women‘s movement for liberation should be based on African indigenous knowledge and culture, and through which they disclose and challenge various roots of women‘s suppression. All the novels share themes such as recognizing and transforming the notion of motherhood; decolonizing African women‘s culture and identity (except Minaret); maintaining a cooperative relationship between men and women through negotiation and compromise with the assumption of binary complementarity of male and female rather than binary oppositions. Although there are few weak and submissive women characters that agree with both patriarchal and colonial/neo-colonial oppression, many of the women characters in each of the above-studied novels are depicted as strong and progressive. These female characters endeavor to bring socio-cultural transformation by confronting poverty, post-colonial mal-governance systems and related amoralities with recognition of the significance of proper education for empowerment of women and their respective societies.
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Women‘s Issues