0715CD042
TITLE PAGE
FEMINISM
USING
BUCHI
EMECHETA’S
‘THE
JOYS
OF
MOTHERHOOD’ AND ZAYNAB ALIKALI’S ‘THE STILL BORN’
BY
AKINFOLARIN OLUWATOYIN ORE-OFE
MATRIC NO 07/15CD042
A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH,
FACULTY OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN.
IN
PARTIAL
REQUIREMENT
FOR
THE
AWARD
OF
BACHELOR’S DEGREE (B.A HONS) ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
JUNE, 2011
THE
CERTIFICATION
This project has been read and approved as meeting the partial requirement for the Award of the Degree of Bachelor of art B.A (Hons) degree in English
Language.
_______________
_______________
Supervisor
Date
_______________
_______________
Head of Department
Date
_______________
_______________
External Examiner
Date
DEDICATION
This project work is dedicated to the almighty god and my beloved mother
MRS D.T AKINFOLARIN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks to the almighty God for sparing my life through my stay in
University.
I am greatly indebted to several individuals who have contributed immensely to the completion of this study.
First and foremost, I acknowledge the physical and spiritual effort of my parents Rev.(Can) and Mrs. Akinfolarin. I pray the Almighty God will keep you alive, so that you will eat the good fruit of your labour.
Also, I thank my brother Femi Akinfolarin for his moral support and my family members Aunty Tola and Aunty Tolu, Uncle Siji. Words can’t express the deep and profound love I have for you all.
My special thanks goes to my spiritual fathers Rev. Biodun Fatyinbo, Pastor
Oyewole Soetan, Minister Ken and Minister Precious whose talks and admonition had kept me throughout my stay in the university, also to all the entirely congregation of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly. Special thanks to my teamhead Sis. Ronke and the entire members of Hilarious.
I am also indebted to my supervisor Dr. M.S Idiagbon whose constructive criticism has made this work a success and also my H.O.D Dr. S.T
Babatunde for his fatherly love and counsels, Mrs Oshinewe, thanks mummy for standing by me.
I acknowledge the friendship of the people, Ijeoma, Mitechelle, Biodun,
Olorunda Tobi, Adeyemi Damilola, Bonaventure, Bola Aina, all occupants of The Embassy Hostel and my colleagues. I love you all.
Finally, I am grateful to my Mother Mrs. D.T Akinfolarin mummy, you are one in a million. Thank you for your moral financial support.
To you all, I say a big thank to you for being a vital part of my life.
Table of Contents
Title
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Table of content
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE: General Introduction
Introduction
Background to study
The purpose of the study
The scope of the study
Justification
Biography of the author
Endnotes
CHAPTER TWO: Introduction
Literate Review
Feminist Criticism
Feminism ideology in African and Nigeria
Endnotes
Pages
CHAPTER THREE: Introduction
The plot summary of Buchi Emecheta’s ‘The Joys of motherhood’
The plot summary of Zaynab Alkali’s ‘The stillborn’
Feminism: patriarchy
Women Right
Women lack of freedom
Girl-Education
Female struggle
Endnotes
CHAPTER FOUR
Summary
Finding
Conclusion
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0
Introduction
This chapter will look into the background and the general introduction of feminism using Buchi Emecheta and Zaynab Akali’s ‘The Joys of
Motherhood and ‘The Stillborn’ respectively. Also, it shall discuss purpose and scope of the study and finally the biography of the two authors.
1.1
Background of the study
Feminist ideology is found on the need to develop a female tradition of creativity to cause awareness on the plight of women as the oppressed, deprived, subjugated and unfulfilled gender. This ideology is known in
European Africa continents.
On the European scene, in the 18th century, the male writers like snake spare, Chaucer, John and Milton had made their names as great author and set tradition for stale and form in literature. However, their writings hardly focused on the female character but when female authors like Austen,
George Eliot came to the scene in the 19th century, their works suffered rejection for what was regarded as ‘19th century critics’ as their female trivialities and frivolities in their choice of themes and in their characterization. Feminism is seen in Africa as an imported ideology alien to the African society and it is seen as the newest form of neo-colonialism and so because of this most of African female writers preferred to be referred to as motherist or womanist instead of feminist because Africans believe that most matrimonial homes have being ruined because of feminism. Womanism according to Alice Walker means matured, responsible, courageous behaviour of girlish gender.
In Nigeria, women have gone into professions that were once regarded as exclusively for men. This is to say that Nigeria women are achieving more of her goals and gradually asserting herself. Religiously, feminism is believed to be evil and being regarded as a rebellious act of the female gender. Feminism is believed to be the lie of the Devil {Gen.3:6). According to Pastor Jack, he referred to feminist as ‘Goddesses who have being forced into amnesia by primitive white men trying to keep them from their true potential’. He added that feminism is a spiritual movement partly on reawakening goddesses consciousness and its real goal is matriarchy not equality. Socially, women are climbing the ladder of success as women now earn as much as men, after taking into account such as family status, education, profession and the number of hour worked.
Putting all these argument together, one can come up with a working definition of feminism as a political, cultural and economic movement aimed at establishing greater, equal or among a minority superior right and participation in society for the female folks.
There are many issue militating against feminism in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. This is because feminism is viewed by men as an unpardonable drive for equality between sexes in a rather negative outburst which is a reflection on the dominant cultural attitude in Nigeria. A newspaper article of Nigeria
Dailies covering a period between March and November 1996 describe feminist as ‘------- iconoclasts who want to subvert tradition, treat religious injunction with disdain and pick holes in the sociological make-up of the people it is therefore obvious that such negative and conservative motion persist with regards to feminism in this jet-age of liberation of anthropologist, sociologist, political growth.
Different supportive organizations have being raised to assist the female forks examples are National Council of Women Society (NCWAS). The
Women in Nigeria (WIN). The Nigeria Association of Women
Advancement (NAWA). However, despite the achievement and the effort made by both governmental and non-governmental organization, feminism
has not reached dominated society and westerly influenced both locally and internationally. Olu Obafemi remarked that ‘as a result of the prevalent nature of the systematic obfuscation of ideological perception of the society --------- a deliberate mystification by the perpetration of the status quo clear ideological position and friends are yet to gain objective, appreciation, tolerance of expression and responsiveness from the dominant sociopolitical system’ it is from within this social milieu that the few feminist novel in Nigeria have emerged a society that promote the mystification of feminism to portrait dehumanization of women can hardly produce a large number of feminist writers and writings of a thoroughly uninhibited feminist discourse, hence, on the literary scene, we have situation where by women writers and critics are apologetic on behalf of feminism. Feminist therefore prefer to be appreciated rather than being criticized for their effort, they also want to be supported though encouragement to work harder and alongside the opposite sex.
1.2
The Purpose Of The Study
This work examines the concept of feminism and various roles women play in the society through the work of both gender writers.
It also examines the response of the females to the male dominated society and bring out the feminist perspective in the works of various writers. It also examines that women too have played great roles in the growth of the society and their immediate families, thus, they deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated by the male gender.
1.3
The Scope of The Study
The scope of this study is limited to feminism as portrayed in the work of
Buchi Emecheta and Zaynab Alkali’s ‘The Joys of motherhood’ and ‘The stillborn’ respectively.
In order to make a thorough investigation, the research has adopted two authors as a case study with the view of scholars in other works reviewed in the study.
Justification of the Study
This study is being undertaken to find out what is slowing down the emergence of feminism in Nigeria and Africa as a whole and also to determine the feminist inclination of both works in the society.
Another significance of this work is the contribution unto the knowledge which hopefully will make a new insight into the literary merit of the two author’s novel.
Another significance of this study is the fresh argument which will raise as regards the question of feminism and male domination in the African novel.
1.4
Biography of the two Authors
Zaynab Alkali according to wikipendia came from a Islamic family in a village in Borno state, Nigeria but they moved to a Christian village in
Gongola state where she was brought up. The entrance of Zaynab into being fond of Nigeria female writers is significant to a historical scene as well as the scene of her contribution to our literary tradition. She a lecturer of
English in the University of Maiduguri, since 1975 even a female voice from the North acute sensitivity to a typically female issue experience and problem, we may well expect that Zaynab would contribute illuminately southern female writer such as Flora Nwapa, Tessy Onwene, Cathererine
Achlonu and others.
The female tradition of writers in which Zaynab is now itching her place is least now pivoted on how main stream on the other hand are the resolute of the feminist writer such as Buchi Emecheta and vigorous literary critics
through their contently regorals writings. She attempts to correct prevalent erroneous male perception of women and demonstrate the class of female writers who just vigorously deny any claim to the ideology of feminism as in the example of Zulu Sofola and others in any case of their works who do not primarily concern themselves with the feminist literary concept.
Like her predecessors, Zaynab is deeply conscious of fundamental conflict that confronted the emergent and will as a Nigeria women whether she lives in the village or in the crowd of character that sometimes confuse the thread of the first story we can outline the emotional development of the precious girl-hero in an attempt to heighten Li’s role in the novel. Alkali surrounds her main character who plays only transient role in the story.
Buchi Emecheta according to Wikipedia was born on July 21, 1944 in
Lagos to Igbo parents. Due to gender bias of the time, the young Buchi was initially kept at home while her younger brother was sent to school but after persuading her parents to consider the benefits of education, Buchi spent her early school at an All-girls missionary school. Buchi received a full scholarship to the Methodist Girl’s school a year after her father died, where she remained until she was married to Sylvester Onwordi at sixteen years old. After her marriage, she bore five children in six years but it was an unhappy oft-violent marriage. To keep her sanity, Emecheta wrote at her
spare time, however, her husband was deeply suspicious of her writing and he ultimately burnt her first manuscript. At the of 22, while working as a
Librarian at the British Museum, Dr. Emecheta left her husband and supported all five children while earning a Bsc degree in sociology at the
University of London. She also wrote prolifically, publishing articles about
Black British in several journals and newspaper. In 1972, she published her first book of shorts in the ditch’. The semi-autobiography book chronicled the struggle of a main character named Adah who is forced to live in a housing estate while working as a librarian to support her five children.
From 1969-1976, Dr. Emecheta was a youth worker and a sociologist for the inner London Education Authority. She then visited the United State as a community worker in Camden , New Jersey from 1976-1978. as a successful author and visiting professor, she has traveled throughout the world visiting Universities both locally and intentionally.
Dr. Emecheta once described her stories as ‘stories of the world
(where) women face the universal problem of poverty and oppression and the longer they stay no matter where they have come from originally, the more the problems become identical’. In 1982, Emecheta and her journalist son ran the Ogwugwu Afor publishing company, whose intention was to promote and financially support the Black artist; Her works include ‘The
Bride price’ 1976, ‘Our own freedom’ 1981, ‘The Joys of Motherhood’ among others. The Joys of Motherhood is a fictional record of her true feeling at a point in time.
1.5
Endnote.
1.
Alice Walker: In search of our Mothers Gender: A woman’s Prose
[NV:Hb] Books. 1989 (pg 11-12.
2.
Pastor Jack Hyles: How to destroy the Human Race.
3.
Biodun Ajayi ‘Feminism: a lost Battle’ an article of August 24, 1993.
4.
Olu Obafemi: ‘Towards Feminism Aesthetics in Nigerian Drama: The
plays of Tess Onwnene’. African literature Today No 19 1994, Pg. 93.
5.
Wikipedia, Zaynab Alkali. As accessed on the 26th Augus, 2010,
Available from worldwide web: http. www. Wikipedia. Org.
6.
Wikipedia, Buchi Emecheta, as accessed on 26th August, 2010,
Available from worldwide web. http. www. Wikipedia. Org.
CHAPTER THREE.
3.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter will look into the plot summaries of the two texts used in this research work. Also, the thematic concerns which operates under feminism as used in the texts.
3.2 THE PLOT SUMMARY OF BUCHI EMECHETA’S ‘THE JOYS OF
MOTHERHOOD’
The novel ‘The Joys of Motherhood’ is centered on the problems besetting women in a male dominated society. The story captures the pathetic and grim condition of a woman who in spite of her struggles and determination to survive in life ends up dying with ignormity. Her efforts, hopes an aspiration comes to naught
The story centers on Nnu Ego, the heroine of the novel. She is the product of the lone relationship between Chief Nwokocha Agbadi and Ona, the only surviving child of Obi Umuna. Obi Umuuna had decided that his lovely daughter, Ona, would not marry but could stay in his house to have as many as men as she wanted in the hope that if she had a son, that son would bear his name and continue the family lineage. Chief Nwokocha had reached an agreement with Ona, his mistress to the effect that if Ona had a baby girl,
she would be Agbadi’s but if a boy, he would belong to Obi Umunna. Ona’s child turns out to be a baby girl and named Nnu Ego by Agbadi for she is worth more than twenty bags of cowries.
The novel opens with the traumatic experience of Nnu Ego who had just lost her first child [a baby boy ]. She is running away from her husband’s house in Yaba very early in the morning. The death of her son drives her to a state of madness so much so that she is seen running towards the carter bridge with the view of jumping into the lagoon but luckily for her Nwakusor who comes from her village, Ibuza rescue her from her suicide mission. The story then takes us back to Ibuza town the place of Nnu Ego ‘s birth. Nnu Ego was born a beautiful girl and so captured the interest of many men in the village and beyond. She was married off to Amatokwu in a lavish wedding ceremony. But the marriage turned sour because it was not blessed with an issue for three years with Amatokwu taking a second wife who took in within a month. Nnu Ego was derided and treated badly. And so given her experience in the house of Amatokwu, the death of her four weeks old son to her new husband, Nnaife, shatters the hope and confidence which had come with the birth of the boy.
Having being consoled by friends and relatives, Nnu Ego takes in again and gives birth to another baby boy named Oshiagu. More children come in
quick succession as she ends up having seven living sons and daughters from nine pregnancies. Nnu Ego is faced with difficult existential problems in her husband’s house described as ‘queer looking’. In spite of all odds, given the state of poverty that confronts her and her children, she is able to feed and train them in the hope that they will later take care of her. Nnu Ego and her husband are abandoned by the children especially the male who have risen to the upper crust of the social ladder. First, Kehinde, one of the twins decides to marry a Yoruba man, the murderous response of Nnaife to this ends him in prison. Nnu Ego is blamed for everything in the family for what Ibuza people perceived to be her children inadequacies. She is rejected by her people and by implication her own children. In this state of rejection, sorrow and abandonment, she dies by the road side after wondering out one night ‘with no chikl to hold her hand and no friend to talk to her’ (Pg 224)
3.3
THE PLOT SUMMARY OF ZAYNAB ALKALI’S ‘THE
STILLBORN’
The novel opens with LI, the central character returning to the village on the completion of her primary education. The story takes on in side the compound to help understand the rituals and routine of rural life, the source of tension within the family and village, also the pressure on the girl to
confirm to the established stereotyped of behaviors . Li, the protagonist breaks the various rules and taboos in her quest for self fulfillment. The novel charts her courtship to marriage by the betrayal of her husband and her determination to resist the pressure of the society and create an independent career and future for herself.
In parallel to Li’s story, the novel follows the fate of two other women whose lives and dreams are similarly wrapped as stillborns by the brutality of the social order designed to themselves in the best interest of men. One,
Li’s sister, Awa, accepts the role assigned to her, and Li’s friend Faku, is a victim of city maltreatment, she was being maltreated by her husband and tormented by her in-laws because she had only one child. Though Faku tried to escape but as far her society was concerned, that can only mean she accepted the one traditional role of an independent woman which is prostitution. 3.4 FEMINISM
In Africa, Nigeria in particular, women have been denied their rights and this is why the main aim of feminism is to develop the female gender’s self esteem, thus, preparing them to take over in some areas and sector of the society. There are however, some feminism issues that have to be addressed
and using the works of Buchi Emecheta and Zaynab Alkali: ‘The Joys of
Motherhood’ and ‘The stillborn’ respectively. These issues include:
i. Patriarchy ii. Sex and Gender iii. Women’s right iv. Women lack of freedom v Girl-Education vi Female struggle.
3.41 PATRIARCHY
This is a system where the male dominates the society. Everything about the society is about the male gender. In Buchi Emechea’s ‘The Joy of
Motherhood’, more importance is being attached to the male gender more than the female gender, this is because they consider the male gender to be of more relevance to the society than the female gender. The main reason why Obi Umunna would not allow his daughter Ona to get married was because he wanted to stay in his house and perhaps bear him a son so the son could continue the family lineage (pg 12) and bear his name. Nnu Ego’s daughters could not go to school because they had to step down for their brothers to be educated.
In the society today, the male gender occupy most seat the religious setting where male are mostly the evangelist, Reverend and the opinion of the female does not matter because it is counted as being rebellious. In
Zaynab Alkali is ‘the Still Born’, Faku was maltreated by her husband and her in-laws because she had just a child and the child is a girl. The system of patriarchy has crippled so many women that they too have accepted that they are inferior to me.
3.42 WOMEN RIGHT
Women have been denied their right, they cannot do things of their own freewill in Zaynab Alkali’s ‘The Stillborn’ Li, the heroine of the novel is faced with the problem of right denial as she is not allowed by her father to go watch the dance. Women are denied their right in the religious sectors as seen how Zaynab made women to realize that religion should be a personal affair and should not be dogmatic. This is seen in how went against her father’s wish which she considered as an act of dictatorship as her father is a strict religious man who forbid his children from going out at night all in the name of cubing immorality (pg3). According to her, she would rather be a ‘heathens’ than be forced to embrace any body’s religion.
“let me be a hearten….i’d be much happier, at least, could go ease myself without having someone breathing down my neck demanding to know where I have been to” (pg 3).
This is to say that Li believed in the freedom to religion and so would not confirm to her father’s religious beliefs all in the name of cubing immorality. She was determined to get out of what she described as ‘hell’
(pg 4). The author therefore, use Li to convey her message to the women in the society who are in the same category that they need to free themselves from this religious ‘prison’.
3.4.3 WOMEN LACK OF FREEDOM
The women lack of freedom is being viewed from two perspective:
The African belief system and Oppression against the female gender.
In African belief system, there is an ancestral belief of life after death and so this belief is seen in Buchi Emecheta is The Joys of Motherhood’.
Nnu Ego is seen as an reincarnation to the slave girl who was brutally killed by the eldest son of Agunwa during the latter’s burial. The people of Ibusa believe that when anyone dies, he should be buried with his material s and a good slave, this is because it is believed that he would need those things in the next world. According to the eldest son of Agunwa:
“so my mother does not even deserve a decent burial? Now we are not to send her slave down with her just because the girl is beautiful” (Pg 23).
The killing of the slave girl in such a brural manner is a portrayal of meaness of the eldest son of Agunwa and an act of oppression against the female gender. It also reveals the status of slaves in traditional Africa society where slaves are heated as sub-human beings. The slave woman promised to come back as a legitimate daughter of Agbadi came true as Nnu Ego, thus making Nnu Ego unhealthy until the slave girl was appeased through her proper burial and discovery that the slave girl was her chi. According to the dibia: “This child is the slave women who died with your senior wife
Agunwa. She promised to come back as a daughter. Now here she is that is why this child has the fair skin of the water people and the painful lump on her head is from the beating your men gave her when she fell into the grave.
She will always have trouble with that head. If she has a fortunate life, the head will not play up. But if she is emotionally. My advice is that you go and appease the slave woman”. (pg 27).
However, Nnu Ego’s success and failure had connection with her child as she responded to her yonger wife when she gave birth to her twins daughter. “ I think it’s due to my father’s influence. I can see him in my …….
Eye weighing it up and down, then chuckling over it and asking his friend idayi whether it is right for my chi to send me to girls instead of just one”
(pg 127).
Another instance where women lack freedom in respect to tradition is the issue of marriage. Women are not allowed to marry a man of their choice. The
Africans especially the Eastern part of Nigeria believe in
marrying off their daughter and also marrying a widow to the deceased’s next of kin as in the case of Adaku who married her husband’s brother after her husband’s death.
Also using Zaynab Alkali’s ‘The stillborn’, the tradition belief that a woman who decides to be independent is embracing the act of prostitution and that a woman should not be heard but seen. Li proved this belief wrong by her determination and actions. Despite the fact that she was betrayed by her husband Habu who according to. Li was always treating her with disgust. “HE does not want me here I know it now. He treats me as he would treat a dog, with disguise”.
Then she knew she had to move forward in order for her to be successful she went for her Advanced teacher’s certificate which according to her is the only chance for her to become ‘the man of the house’ pg 83).
3.4.4 GIRL-EDUCATION
Another issue that has eaten deep into the Nigeria system is the girleducation issue. The female
gender are seen as inferior beings and so
because of this, so much importance is not given to their education.
According to Nwakuso, in “the joys of motherhood’ he referred to Adaku daughter as instruments of immorality. In his words.
“…I know you have children, but they are girls,who in a few years time will go and help build another man’s immorality. The only woman who is immortalizing your husband, you make unhappy with your fine clothes and lucrative business. If I were in your shoes, I should go home and consult my chi to find out why male offspring have been denied me….” (pg
166).
Adaku is been scolded for dressing lucratively even when she has not given birth to a male child but at the end of the novel, she is more successful than
Nnu Ego who had male children. Also Nnu Ego’s daughters could not go to school because the education of their brother’s were considered more
important. The only important that the female folks have is the payment of their brideprice which would probably be used to sponsor the male folks to school. Though, Li in the “The stillborn’ almost eel victim of not
being
educated but when she saw that education was the only thing that could give her headup in the society. She pursued her career and became successful as she was the first female to ever build a bungalow in the community
3.4.4 FEMALE STRUCTURE
Because of the societal conspiracy against womanhood and the description of women as the weaker vessels, it has made men view women as beings who they should not have equal right with Buchi Emechera and
Zaynab Alkali have used their works to reflects the conditions of women as they are being saddled with the responsibility of ttaking care of their children even when their husbands are alive.
Nnu Ego is faced with the problems in her marriage to Nnaife. In the absence of Nnaife, Nnu Ego would toil from morning till evening buying aggerrate from the sailor at the wharf. When the opportunity for selling cigerrates stops, she starts selling firewood. All this she does with the view of feeding and training her children. At last, she becomes emotionally
disstabushed because after all she had done for her children, she is not remembered. No wonder she died like apauper, she did not have many friend, so busy had been building up her joys as a mother (pg 224).
Li, despite her suffering and frustration from her husband, she struggled and trained her child. She decided to be independent as according to her response to a second marriage.
“I will marry no one. What do I want a man for” she did not see an importance or significance of a man in her life or a child’s life because she was determined to be there for her daughter. She said:
“I am all the father she will ever have” (pg 88) This was more reason why she didn’t see herself as a losereven when she lost her husband to another woman. She concluded:
“She is the loser, not me. Remember, she too is crippled, what does she need another cripple for? True, I lost my man to her and at first I was bittered but gradually I leant to accept my fate. She wansn’t to blame. This is a game of life and we are all struggleling to survive. The woman from the south is no exception. Now I feel sorry for her because I have at least my child to remind of those movements we had together. The poor woman has nothing to show for those years. Nothing at all, just an aching emptiness”
(pg 93) she stood her ground, became independent and she achieved greatly unlike other women in her community.
Zaynab Alkali therefore is not just writing to air but in her own opinion to encourage women to contribute immensely to the development and progress of their society as to make them a respectable lady like Li.
Buchi Emecheta however also deals with the misconception and neglect of the girl-child in the traditional Igbo society with its major theme on feminism.
ENDNOTES
i.
Buchi Emecheta, The Joys of Motherhood. Ibadan, Oxford and
Portsmouth: Heinemann.
ABSTRACT
Feminism, as a worldwide ideology is aimed at changing the existing power between men and women as it highlights the inequalities in the male and female relationship in the society.
However the aim of the work is to look into feminism using the works of
Buchi Emecheta and Zaynab Alkali’s The Joys of motherhood and The stillborn respectively. This will be done through textual analysis of both text.
The central aim of this study therefore is to shed light on the acceptance of woman’s contribution to the economic & social growth of their society.
CHAPTER TWO
INTRODUCION
2.1
This chapter will look in to the views of literary expert about
feminism in Europe, America and Africa Nigeria in particular. This chapter will also identify certain concept that has to do with feminism.
2.2
LITERATURE REVIEW
Feminism is a world wide ideological and political movement aimed at changing the exiting power relation between men and women (Joseph 2003).
Apart from this view, seldom and window son (1993)writes ‘feminism --has sought to disturb the complacent certainties of such a patriarchal culture to assert belief in sexual inequality and to eradicate sexist domination in transforming the society’.
From this definition would observe that feminism is concerned with societal inequality with emphasis led on the female gender to develop herself esteem. It is directed against patriarchal hegemony which according to
Joseph (2003) ‘give men confidence subordinates the female or that the female as an inferior being’ .Men used their field to establish themselves on the literary scene gaining victory over matriachism. This made writers like
Chauce, Shakespeare, Milton to mention a few to focus on male protagonist,
hence,
relegating
the
female
character
or
presenting
them
as
complememtaries as opposed to the enterprises of the male character.
Therefore feminism is not the movement against female ignorance exploitation and subjugation,it’s also negates male ignorance,prejudices and biases. 2.2.1 Feminism Criticism.
Feminism criticism came through the Women Liberation Movement in Europe and America in the 19th century. Women right suffrage movement were the crucial determining factors. There were basically two waves in the development of the feminist criticism. The first stage was in the early 20th century which was dominated by writers like Oliver Schreine,
Elizabeth Robins, Rebecca West, Virginia Wolf, George Eliot and many more. Virginia Wolf’s general contribution to feminism is her recognition that gender identity is socially constructed and can be challenged and transformed. She has continually examined the problem facing women writer as the first waves was more concerned with the polities of women’s authorship and the representation of women condition within literature. Her call therefore is on women to be interested in themselves and their
environment and write as women and for women making their fear, pain love and experiences their thematic concern. In her fictional work ‘Women and Fiction’ (1929) she projects women, their fiction and works written about them. Woolf having observed that fiction was the easiest for women to write due to the fact that it is the least concentrated from of art, she then challenge them to take up writing not just fiction but history criticism and essay, prophesying that literature would soon become forewomen as fore men an art to be studied and a means through which women would be able to express themselves.
Also Elaine Showalter in her ‘A literature of their own’ (1979) outline a literary history of women writers and promote both a feminist critique and a gynocritic. She is occupied with investigating and interrogating the images projected by the reader and tries to expose the male’s prejudices and biases.
Elaine believes that by studying the stereotype women present in the male literature as this phase include Elaine show alter Rebecca West. It inherited the characteristic of the previous period further creating a female consciousness. 2.2.2 Feminist Ideology in Africa and Nigeria
Feminist ideology found a fertile ground in Africa in the 1900s as it provided the opportunity of re-evaluating attitude and beliefs about women in the Africa community it is a more away from the western feminism, this is because is has accommodationist perception which asserts that both male and female have roles to play in the society. Women in Africa exposed the fact that women should no longer be seen as objects to decorate the house but rather as major contributors to the building of the nation. Feminism in
Africa has undergone a lot of metamophosis and has assumed variegated forms and homenclatures such as womanism, motherism, sexism etc.
Afolabi (2002) identifies three apparent attitudes that are supreme in African feminism, Nigeria in particular:
: womb-men
: we-men
:woe-men
According to him, the womb-men are the womanist, the African adaptation of feminism. They associate themselves from the excesses of the core western feminist some of who advocate a total abandonment of men by women. This he supports by saying ‘the womb-men are usually reasonable and motherly--- they take their cultural background into consideration since
any idealogy that ignores the social base on which it is operating is destined for early extinction’. These set of women set themselves as similar to men in all other aspect but that of procreation in which they believe themselves to against the male sexism and also the limited roles women play in literary work, one might feel what women experience in the society.
The second stage which examines women as writers aimed towards developing feminist aesthetics. This is different from the first stage in that it is essentially concerned with producing women-authored literature that will address and present the experiences of individual female authors, their themes, styles, ideology techniques and diction.
Elaine Showalter (1979) identifies three phases of the feminist criticism of this stage:
: The feminine
: The feminist
: The female i The Feminine
In this phase, women attempt to match the creative achievement of men.
These writers include Elizabeth Gaskell and George Eliot. They imitated and internationalised the dominant male aesthetic standards which required that female authors remain gentle women.
ii
The Feminist
This phase is made up of radical women writers like Elizabeth Robin who protested against male value and advocated for the liberation of women.
Women at this phase asserted themselves in the social and political positions. iii
The Female
This phase is a phase of self-discovery. Writes of this phase carry much of the burden, this is because they see the possession of womb as a thing of pride. The second category ‘The we-men’ are feminist who though they realise the difference between both gender, are not willing to concede to any supremacy to theme. They follow the modified saying that ‘what a man can do, a woman can do also’. They preach the equality of both genders as they put on all mainly attribute including hiding their emotional weaknesses. The propagators of this category are mostly the highly educated and the enlightened women.
The third category ‘the woe-men’ are regarded as the male feminist.
They are the bittered and frustrated feminist as implied by their names.
Unlike their counterparts, they see themselves as better than men and are always ready to attack the ego of the opposite sex at any given opportunity.
However in Africa especially Nigeria today, qualified women do what most men do in the literary aspect where female writers like Florence
Nwapa, Buchi Emecheta writes as well as Amos Tutuola, Chinuna Achebe.
For this reason, Nigeria Feminism was quite different from European feminism as Nigerian writers never had to write under masculine pseudonyms in order to gain recognition as did Mary Evans whose Sclas marner was published under George Eliot, whose charlotte Bronte’s Jane
Eyre published under the name Currer Bell. Feminism in Nigeria is viewed from various perspectives. From the Religious angle, feminism preaches gender equality which is considered to be sacrilegious judging from the fact
God pronounced the man as the head over his wife which presupposes that women are expected to be subservient to men.
From the political and social scene, feminism is viewed as an important, ideology, totally alien to the African society. This prompts Ojo-Ade in his article African literature today (1983) as he views feminism as an accidental phenomenon that is gradually creping into the forbidden land of Africa.
Accidental in the sense that feminism is seen as a westernised concept by the
Africans and that such ideas are not acceptable in the culture and traditions
of Africans. However, male writers too have began to write about the plights and roles of women in the society. Examples of such writers are Chinuna
Acehebe (Anthills of the savannah), Olu Obafemi (wheels), Femi Osofisan
(Morountodun) among others. In this view, literature faces the uphill task of achieving true representation of feminist ideas whereas feminist and domestication of feminism.
One of the stout defender of the course of feminism in Nigeria is Buchi
Emecheta. This she did by using as example her experience as a girl child and as a single mother and even her suffering experience in the hands of her husband who burnt her scripts several times. She identified the various barriers on the woman’s way to emanapation. These barriers have also served as the thematic concern of most feminist writers. They are: i Patriading
ii
Sex and Gender
iii
Women’s Rights
iv
Women lack of freedom
v
Girl-Education
vi
Gender Equality
A re-orietation of the traditional values is therefore necessary in order that the feminist movement can be supported and accepted. It should not be
viewed or regarded as a revolt by women but as a contribution that the women are willing to make in the upliftment and development of the society.
Endnotes
1.
Joseph A.A (2003) ‘Gender theory and ideology: A study of Zaynab
Alkali’s ‘The stillborn’. In Obafemi O. and Bodunde C.L (ed) 92003); criticism, theory and ideology in African literature Ilorin: Itaytee pree and publishing company Nigeria ltd.
2.
Selden R. x Widdows on P. (1993) ‘A Reader Guide to contemporary
literary theory’. Third edition Britain: Bidelles Ltd.
3.
Virginia W. (1929) ‘women and fiction’. In Arkin M x shollar. (ed)
1989). Longman anthology of world. Literature by women 1875 – 1975,
New York.
4.
Elain. S. (1979) ‘A literature of their own’. Towards a feminist
poetics.
5.
5.
Afolabi, J.A (2002) ‘theatre and democracy in Nigeria’ of
womb-men, we –men and woe-men; feminist Aesthetics, theatre practice and the Democratic process in Nigeria, to Ahmed, and Akinwale A. (ed).
6.
Femi, O. A. (1983) Female writers, Male critics in African Literature
today: Recent trends in the No. 13ed Eldred Durosinmi Jones, Heineman
London.
CHAPTER FOUR
SUMMARY, FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION
4.1
Summary
In this research work, the history of feminism as a concept has been
traced shedding lights on the factors that prompted it and the foremost profounder of this theory, also, the ideas of other scholars have been looked into. Subsequent chapters have looked into the critical review of ‘The joys of motherhood’ and ‘The stillborn’ by Buchi Emecheta and zaynab Alkali respectively. Also a study has being carried out on the authors’ position and the various angles they regard the female gender and the means through which they have expressed their views.
4.2
Findings
Women have always been seen according to traditional rights to stay
within a certain confinement. Their roles in the society are seen as necessity than an opportunity. Societal norms projected women as being useful for procreation and nothing more, and any woman who dares to act against it was labelled a witch, declared an outcast or regarded with distain for going against traditional rights. Even women who strive hard to give their children
good living and education are forgotten as in the case of Nnu Ego. This is therefore to say all genders should treated equally. Li broke through her father’s traditional belief and custom to be an independent woman.
However, the research work has been able to bring out areas which women have been deprived and also need to be emancipated.
Therefore, the researcher recommends that women should be allowed to fight and seek social position. Li sought for social position, she became the first woman to build a modern house in the community. Also woman should seek educational opportunity, through some traditions and customs forbids therefore seek emancipation, letting the society know the importance of the girl-education.
4.3
Conclusion
From the above findings, one could deduce that the struggle for
political and economic recognition by straggle for political and economics recognition by women is a Universal campaign which would continue because what the men are willing to compromise is not enough to rate women as equal to men. The more women are economically independent and the more men continue to ignore their effort the more these women will feel subjugated.
Therefore, in an attempt to draw our conclusions, a comparative analysis would be carried out on both texts looking into their thematic compositions, positions, taking into consideration how they all affect gender issues. The call therefore is on women to exhibit good moral habit and also stand for what they are, refusing to be docile and inactive in the society, raising above any humiliating condition, looking forward to enhancing their status in the society. Also on men and the society to appreciate women and encourage their efforts to contribute to societal growth.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary sources
Alkali, zaynab; The stillborn
Ikeja: Longman Nigeria Ltd, 1995.
Emecheta, Buchi: The Joys of Motherhood
Ibadan; Oxford and Portsmouth: it ememan.
Secondary sources.
Afolabi, J.A (2002) ‘of womb-men, we-men and woe-men: Feminist
Aesthetics, theatre practice and the Democratic process in Nigeria’ To
Ahmed, y and Akinwale, A (ed) Theatre and Democracy in Nigeria” Kraft
Books Ltd.
Alice walker (1989) search of our mother’s Gender: A woman’s Prose
[Nv:HB] Books
Biodun Ajayi (1993) “Feminism: A lost battle an article of August 24, 1993.
Elaine showalter (1979) ‘A Literature of their own’. Towards a feminist poetics. Femi O.A. (1983) Female writers, Male critics in African Literature Today:
Recent trends in the Novel: Heinemann London.
Olu Obafemi (1994) ‘Towards feminist Aesthetics in Nigerian Drama: The plays of Tess onwnene’. African Literature Today.
Pastor Jack Hyles. How to destroy the human Race.
Selden R x Widdowson. P. (1993) ‘A reader Guide to contemporary Literary
Theory’ Third Edition, Britain: Bideiles Ltd.
Joseph A.A (2003) ‘Gender Theory and Ideology: A study of zaynab
Alkali’s The stillborn’. In Obafemi. O. and Bodunde (L Ced) (2003); criticism, theory and ideology in African literature Ilorin: Hagree press and publishing company Nigeria Ltd.
Virginia. W (1929) ‘women and fiction’. In Arian M x shollar. B. (ed)
(1989). Longman Anthology of world Literature by women 1875 – 1975,
New York.
Wikipedia, Buchi Emecheta (http.www.wekipedia.org).
Wikipedia, zaynab Alkali chttp.www.wikipedia.org]
Bibliography: Ikeja: Longman Nigeria Ltd, 1995. Afolabi, J.A (2002) ‘of womb-men, we-men and woe-men: Feminist Aesthetics, theatre practice and the Democratic process in Nigeria’ To Alice walker (1989) search of our mother’s Gender: A woman’s Prose [Nv:HB] Books Biodun Ajayi (1993) “Feminism: A lost battle an article of August 24, 1993. Elaine showalter (1979) ‘A Literature of their own’. Towards a feminist poetics. Femi O.A. (1983) Female writers, Male critics in African Literature Today: Recent trends in the Novel: Heinemann London. Olu Obafemi (1994) ‘Towards feminist Aesthetics in Nigerian Drama: The plays of Tess onwnene’ Selden R x Widdowson. P. (1993) ‘A reader Guide to contemporary Literary Theory’ Third Edition, Britain: Bideiles Ltd. Joseph A.A (2003) ‘Gender Theory and Ideology: A study of zaynab Alkali’s The stillborn’ Virginia. W (1929) ‘women and fiction’. In Arian M x shollar. B. (ed) (1989)
FEMINISM
USING
BUCHI
EMECHETA’S
‘THE
JOYS
OF
MOTHERHOOD’ AND ZAYNAB ALIKALI’S ‘THE STILL BORN’
BY
AKINFOLARIN OLUWATOYIN ORE-OFE
MATRIC NO 07/15CD042
A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH,
FACULTY OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN.
IN
PARTIAL
REQUIREMENT
FOR
THE
AWARD
OF
BACHELOR’S DEGREE (B.A HONS) ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
JUNE, 2011
THE
CERTIFICATION
This project has been read and approved as meeting the partial requirement for the Award of the Degree of Bachelor of art B.A (Hons) degree in English
Language.
_______________
_______________
Supervisor
Date
_______________
_______________
Head of Department
Date
_______________
_______________
External Examiner
Date
DEDICATION
This project work is dedicated to the almighty god and my beloved mother
MRS D.T AKINFOLARIN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks to the almighty God for sparing my life through my stay in
University.
I am greatly indebted to several individuals who have contributed immensely to the completion of this study.
First and foremost, I acknowledge the physical and spiritual effort of my parents Rev.(Can) and Mrs. Akinfolarin. I pray the Almighty God will keep you alive, so that you will eat the good fruit of your labour.
Also, I thank my brother Femi Akinfolarin for his moral support and my family members Aunty Tola and Aunty Tolu, Uncle Siji. Words can’t express the deep and profound love I have for you all.
My special thanks goes to my spiritual fathers Rev. Biodun Fatyinbo, Pastor
Oyewole Soetan, Minister Ken and Minister Precious whose talks and admonition had kept me throughout my stay in the university, also to all the entirely congregation of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly. Special thanks to my teamhead Sis. Ronke and the entire members of Hilarious.
I am also indebted to my supervisor Dr. M.S Idiagbon whose constructive criticism has made this work a success and also my H.O.D Dr. S.T
Babatunde for his fatherly love and counsels, Mrs Oshinewe, thanks mummy for standing by me.
I acknowledge the friendship of the people, Ijeoma, Mitechelle, Biodun,
Olorunda Tobi, Adeyemi Damilola, Bonaventure, Bola Aina, all occupants of The Embassy Hostel and my colleagues. I love you all.
Finally, I am grateful to my Mother Mrs. D.T Akinfolarin mummy, you are one in a million. Thank you for your moral financial support.
To you all, I say a big thank to you for being a vital part of my life.
Table of Contents
Title
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Table of content
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE: General Introduction
Introduction
Background to study
The purpose of the study
The scope of the study
Justification
Biography of the author
Endnotes
CHAPTER TWO: Introduction
Literate Review
Feminist Criticism
Feminism ideology in African and Nigeria
Endnotes
Pages
CHAPTER THREE: Introduction
The plot summary of Buchi Emecheta’s ‘The Joys of motherhood’
The plot summary of Zaynab Alkali’s ‘The stillborn’
Feminism: patriarchy
Women Right
Women lack of freedom
Girl-Education
Female struggle
Endnotes
CHAPTER FOUR
Summary
Finding
Conclusion
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0
Introduction
This chapter will look into the background and the general introduction of feminism using Buchi Emecheta and Zaynab Akali’s ‘The Joys of
Motherhood and ‘The Stillborn’ respectively. Also, it shall discuss purpose and scope of the study and finally the biography of the two authors.
1.1
Background of the study
Feminist ideology is found on the need to develop a female tradition of creativity to cause awareness on the plight of women as the oppressed, deprived, subjugated and unfulfilled gender. This ideology is known in
European Africa continents.
On the European scene, in the 18th century, the male writers like snake spare, Chaucer, John and Milton had made their names as great author and set tradition for stale and form in literature. However, their writings hardly focused on the female character but when female authors like Austen,
George Eliot came to the scene in the 19th century, their works suffered rejection for what was regarded as ‘19th century critics’ as their female trivialities and frivolities in their choice of themes and in their characterization. Feminism is seen in Africa as an imported ideology alien to the African society and it is seen as the newest form of neo-colonialism and so because of this most of African female writers preferred to be referred to as motherist or womanist instead of feminist because Africans believe that most matrimonial homes have being ruined because of feminism. Womanism according to Alice Walker means matured, responsible, courageous behaviour of girlish gender.
In Nigeria, women have gone into professions that were once regarded as exclusively for men. This is to say that Nigeria women are achieving more of her goals and gradually asserting herself. Religiously, feminism is believed to be evil and being regarded as a rebellious act of the female gender. Feminism is believed to be the lie of the Devil {Gen.3:6). According to Pastor Jack, he referred to feminist as ‘Goddesses who have being forced into amnesia by primitive white men trying to keep them from their true potential’. He added that feminism is a spiritual movement partly on reawakening goddesses consciousness and its real goal is matriarchy not equality. Socially, women are climbing the ladder of success as women now earn as much as men, after taking into account such as family status, education, profession and the number of hour worked.
Putting all these argument together, one can come up with a working definition of feminism as a political, cultural and economic movement aimed at establishing greater, equal or among a minority superior right and participation in society for the female folks.
There are many issue militating against feminism in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. This is because feminism is viewed by men as an unpardonable drive for equality between sexes in a rather negative outburst which is a reflection on the dominant cultural attitude in Nigeria. A newspaper article of Nigeria
Dailies covering a period between March and November 1996 describe feminist as ‘------- iconoclasts who want to subvert tradition, treat religious injunction with disdain and pick holes in the sociological make-up of the people it is therefore obvious that such negative and conservative motion persist with regards to feminism in this jet-age of liberation of anthropologist, sociologist, political growth.
Different supportive organizations have being raised to assist the female forks examples are National Council of Women Society (NCWAS). The
Women in Nigeria (WIN). The Nigeria Association of Women
Advancement (NAWA). However, despite the achievement and the effort made by both governmental and non-governmental organization, feminism
has not reached dominated society and westerly influenced both locally and internationally. Olu Obafemi remarked that ‘as a result of the prevalent nature of the systematic obfuscation of ideological perception of the society --------- a deliberate mystification by the perpetration of the status quo clear ideological position and friends are yet to gain objective, appreciation, tolerance of expression and responsiveness from the dominant sociopolitical system’ it is from within this social milieu that the few feminist novel in Nigeria have emerged a society that promote the mystification of feminism to portrait dehumanization of women can hardly produce a large number of feminist writers and writings of a thoroughly uninhibited feminist discourse, hence, on the literary scene, we have situation where by women writers and critics are apologetic on behalf of feminism. Feminist therefore prefer to be appreciated rather than being criticized for their effort, they also want to be supported though encouragement to work harder and alongside the opposite sex.
1.2
The Purpose Of The Study
This work examines the concept of feminism and various roles women play in the society through the work of both gender writers.
It also examines the response of the females to the male dominated society and bring out the feminist perspective in the works of various writers. It also examines that women too have played great roles in the growth of the society and their immediate families, thus, they deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated by the male gender.
1.3
The Scope of The Study
The scope of this study is limited to feminism as portrayed in the work of
Buchi Emecheta and Zaynab Alkali’s ‘The Joys of motherhood’ and ‘The stillborn’ respectively.
In order to make a thorough investigation, the research has adopted two authors as a case study with the view of scholars in other works reviewed in the study.
Justification of the Study
This study is being undertaken to find out what is slowing down the emergence of feminism in Nigeria and Africa as a whole and also to determine the feminist inclination of both works in the society.
Another significance of this work is the contribution unto the knowledge which hopefully will make a new insight into the literary merit of the two author’s novel.
Another significance of this study is the fresh argument which will raise as regards the question of feminism and male domination in the African novel.
1.4
Biography of the two Authors
Zaynab Alkali according to wikipendia came from a Islamic family in a village in Borno state, Nigeria but they moved to a Christian village in
Gongola state where she was brought up. The entrance of Zaynab into being fond of Nigeria female writers is significant to a historical scene as well as the scene of her contribution to our literary tradition. She a lecturer of
English in the University of Maiduguri, since 1975 even a female voice from the North acute sensitivity to a typically female issue experience and problem, we may well expect that Zaynab would contribute illuminately southern female writer such as Flora Nwapa, Tessy Onwene, Cathererine
Achlonu and others.
The female tradition of writers in which Zaynab is now itching her place is least now pivoted on how main stream on the other hand are the resolute of the feminist writer such as Buchi Emecheta and vigorous literary critics
through their contently regorals writings. She attempts to correct prevalent erroneous male perception of women and demonstrate the class of female writers who just vigorously deny any claim to the ideology of feminism as in the example of Zulu Sofola and others in any case of their works who do not primarily concern themselves with the feminist literary concept.
Like her predecessors, Zaynab is deeply conscious of fundamental conflict that confronted the emergent and will as a Nigeria women whether she lives in the village or in the crowd of character that sometimes confuse the thread of the first story we can outline the emotional development of the precious girl-hero in an attempt to heighten Li’s role in the novel. Alkali surrounds her main character who plays only transient role in the story.
Buchi Emecheta according to Wikipedia was born on July 21, 1944 in
Lagos to Igbo parents. Due to gender bias of the time, the young Buchi was initially kept at home while her younger brother was sent to school but after persuading her parents to consider the benefits of education, Buchi spent her early school at an All-girls missionary school. Buchi received a full scholarship to the Methodist Girl’s school a year after her father died, where she remained until she was married to Sylvester Onwordi at sixteen years old. After her marriage, she bore five children in six years but it was an unhappy oft-violent marriage. To keep her sanity, Emecheta wrote at her
spare time, however, her husband was deeply suspicious of her writing and he ultimately burnt her first manuscript. At the of 22, while working as a
Librarian at the British Museum, Dr. Emecheta left her husband and supported all five children while earning a Bsc degree in sociology at the
University of London. She also wrote prolifically, publishing articles about
Black British in several journals and newspaper. In 1972, she published her first book of shorts in the ditch’. The semi-autobiography book chronicled the struggle of a main character named Adah who is forced to live in a housing estate while working as a librarian to support her five children.
From 1969-1976, Dr. Emecheta was a youth worker and a sociologist for the inner London Education Authority. She then visited the United State as a community worker in Camden , New Jersey from 1976-1978. as a successful author and visiting professor, she has traveled throughout the world visiting Universities both locally and intentionally.
Dr. Emecheta once described her stories as ‘stories of the world
(where) women face the universal problem of poverty and oppression and the longer they stay no matter where they have come from originally, the more the problems become identical’. In 1982, Emecheta and her journalist son ran the Ogwugwu Afor publishing company, whose intention was to promote and financially support the Black artist; Her works include ‘The
Bride price’ 1976, ‘Our own freedom’ 1981, ‘The Joys of Motherhood’ among others. The Joys of Motherhood is a fictional record of her true feeling at a point in time.
1.5
Endnote.
1.
Alice Walker: In search of our Mothers Gender: A woman’s Prose
[NV:Hb] Books. 1989 (pg 11-12.
2.
Pastor Jack Hyles: How to destroy the Human Race.
3.
Biodun Ajayi ‘Feminism: a lost Battle’ an article of August 24, 1993.
4.
Olu Obafemi: ‘Towards Feminism Aesthetics in Nigerian Drama: The
plays of Tess Onwnene’. African literature Today No 19 1994, Pg. 93.
5.
Wikipedia, Zaynab Alkali. As accessed on the 26th Augus, 2010,
Available from worldwide web: http. www. Wikipedia. Org.
6.
Wikipedia, Buchi Emecheta, as accessed on 26th August, 2010,
Available from worldwide web. http. www. Wikipedia. Org.
CHAPTER THREE.
3.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter will look into the plot summaries of the two texts used in this research work. Also, the thematic concerns which operates under feminism as used in the texts.
3.2 THE PLOT SUMMARY OF BUCHI EMECHETA’S ‘THE JOYS OF
MOTHERHOOD’
The novel ‘The Joys of Motherhood’ is centered on the problems besetting women in a male dominated society. The story captures the pathetic and grim condition of a woman who in spite of her struggles and determination to survive in life ends up dying with ignormity. Her efforts, hopes an aspiration comes to naught
The story centers on Nnu Ego, the heroine of the novel. She is the product of the lone relationship between Chief Nwokocha Agbadi and Ona, the only surviving child of Obi Umuna. Obi Umuuna had decided that his lovely daughter, Ona, would not marry but could stay in his house to have as many as men as she wanted in the hope that if she had a son, that son would bear his name and continue the family lineage. Chief Nwokocha had reached an agreement with Ona, his mistress to the effect that if Ona had a baby girl,
she would be Agbadi’s but if a boy, he would belong to Obi Umunna. Ona’s child turns out to be a baby girl and named Nnu Ego by Agbadi for she is worth more than twenty bags of cowries.
The novel opens with the traumatic experience of Nnu Ego who had just lost her first child [a baby boy ]. She is running away from her husband’s house in Yaba very early in the morning. The death of her son drives her to a state of madness so much so that she is seen running towards the carter bridge with the view of jumping into the lagoon but luckily for her Nwakusor who comes from her village, Ibuza rescue her from her suicide mission. The story then takes us back to Ibuza town the place of Nnu Ego ‘s birth. Nnu Ego was born a beautiful girl and so captured the interest of many men in the village and beyond. She was married off to Amatokwu in a lavish wedding ceremony. But the marriage turned sour because it was not blessed with an issue for three years with Amatokwu taking a second wife who took in within a month. Nnu Ego was derided and treated badly. And so given her experience in the house of Amatokwu, the death of her four weeks old son to her new husband, Nnaife, shatters the hope and confidence which had come with the birth of the boy.
Having being consoled by friends and relatives, Nnu Ego takes in again and gives birth to another baby boy named Oshiagu. More children come in
quick succession as she ends up having seven living sons and daughters from nine pregnancies. Nnu Ego is faced with difficult existential problems in her husband’s house described as ‘queer looking’. In spite of all odds, given the state of poverty that confronts her and her children, she is able to feed and train them in the hope that they will later take care of her. Nnu Ego and her husband are abandoned by the children especially the male who have risen to the upper crust of the social ladder. First, Kehinde, one of the twins decides to marry a Yoruba man, the murderous response of Nnaife to this ends him in prison. Nnu Ego is blamed for everything in the family for what Ibuza people perceived to be her children inadequacies. She is rejected by her people and by implication her own children. In this state of rejection, sorrow and abandonment, she dies by the road side after wondering out one night ‘with no chikl to hold her hand and no friend to talk to her’ (Pg 224)
3.3
THE PLOT SUMMARY OF ZAYNAB ALKALI’S ‘THE
STILLBORN’
The novel opens with LI, the central character returning to the village on the completion of her primary education. The story takes on in side the compound to help understand the rituals and routine of rural life, the source of tension within the family and village, also the pressure on the girl to
confirm to the established stereotyped of behaviors . Li, the protagonist breaks the various rules and taboos in her quest for self fulfillment. The novel charts her courtship to marriage by the betrayal of her husband and her determination to resist the pressure of the society and create an independent career and future for herself.
In parallel to Li’s story, the novel follows the fate of two other women whose lives and dreams are similarly wrapped as stillborns by the brutality of the social order designed to themselves in the best interest of men. One,
Li’s sister, Awa, accepts the role assigned to her, and Li’s friend Faku, is a victim of city maltreatment, she was being maltreated by her husband and tormented by her in-laws because she had only one child. Though Faku tried to escape but as far her society was concerned, that can only mean she accepted the one traditional role of an independent woman which is prostitution. 3.4 FEMINISM
In Africa, Nigeria in particular, women have been denied their rights and this is why the main aim of feminism is to develop the female gender’s self esteem, thus, preparing them to take over in some areas and sector of the society. There are however, some feminism issues that have to be addressed
and using the works of Buchi Emecheta and Zaynab Alkali: ‘The Joys of
Motherhood’ and ‘The stillborn’ respectively. These issues include:
i. Patriarchy ii. Sex and Gender iii. Women’s right iv. Women lack of freedom v Girl-Education vi Female struggle.
3.41 PATRIARCHY
This is a system where the male dominates the society. Everything about the society is about the male gender. In Buchi Emechea’s ‘The Joy of
Motherhood’, more importance is being attached to the male gender more than the female gender, this is because they consider the male gender to be of more relevance to the society than the female gender. The main reason why Obi Umunna would not allow his daughter Ona to get married was because he wanted to stay in his house and perhaps bear him a son so the son could continue the family lineage (pg 12) and bear his name. Nnu Ego’s daughters could not go to school because they had to step down for their brothers to be educated.
In the society today, the male gender occupy most seat the religious setting where male are mostly the evangelist, Reverend and the opinion of the female does not matter because it is counted as being rebellious. In
Zaynab Alkali is ‘the Still Born’, Faku was maltreated by her husband and her in-laws because she had just a child and the child is a girl. The system of patriarchy has crippled so many women that they too have accepted that they are inferior to me.
3.42 WOMEN RIGHT
Women have been denied their right, they cannot do things of their own freewill in Zaynab Alkali’s ‘The Stillborn’ Li, the heroine of the novel is faced with the problem of right denial as she is not allowed by her father to go watch the dance. Women are denied their right in the religious sectors as seen how Zaynab made women to realize that religion should be a personal affair and should not be dogmatic. This is seen in how went against her father’s wish which she considered as an act of dictatorship as her father is a strict religious man who forbid his children from going out at night all in the name of cubing immorality (pg3). According to her, she would rather be a ‘heathens’ than be forced to embrace any body’s religion.
“let me be a hearten….i’d be much happier, at least, could go ease myself without having someone breathing down my neck demanding to know where I have been to” (pg 3).
This is to say that Li believed in the freedom to religion and so would not confirm to her father’s religious beliefs all in the name of cubing immorality. She was determined to get out of what she described as ‘hell’
(pg 4). The author therefore, use Li to convey her message to the women in the society who are in the same category that they need to free themselves from this religious ‘prison’.
3.4.3 WOMEN LACK OF FREEDOM
The women lack of freedom is being viewed from two perspective:
The African belief system and Oppression against the female gender.
In African belief system, there is an ancestral belief of life after death and so this belief is seen in Buchi Emecheta is The Joys of Motherhood’.
Nnu Ego is seen as an reincarnation to the slave girl who was brutally killed by the eldest son of Agunwa during the latter’s burial. The people of Ibusa believe that when anyone dies, he should be buried with his material s and a good slave, this is because it is believed that he would need those things in the next world. According to the eldest son of Agunwa:
“so my mother does not even deserve a decent burial? Now we are not to send her slave down with her just because the girl is beautiful” (Pg 23).
The killing of the slave girl in such a brural manner is a portrayal of meaness of the eldest son of Agunwa and an act of oppression against the female gender. It also reveals the status of slaves in traditional Africa society where slaves are heated as sub-human beings. The slave woman promised to come back as a legitimate daughter of Agbadi came true as Nnu Ego, thus making Nnu Ego unhealthy until the slave girl was appeased through her proper burial and discovery that the slave girl was her chi. According to the dibia: “This child is the slave women who died with your senior wife
Agunwa. She promised to come back as a daughter. Now here she is that is why this child has the fair skin of the water people and the painful lump on her head is from the beating your men gave her when she fell into the grave.
She will always have trouble with that head. If she has a fortunate life, the head will not play up. But if she is emotionally. My advice is that you go and appease the slave woman”. (pg 27).
However, Nnu Ego’s success and failure had connection with her child as she responded to her yonger wife when she gave birth to her twins daughter. “ I think it’s due to my father’s influence. I can see him in my …….
Eye weighing it up and down, then chuckling over it and asking his friend idayi whether it is right for my chi to send me to girls instead of just one”
(pg 127).
Another instance where women lack freedom in respect to tradition is the issue of marriage. Women are not allowed to marry a man of their choice. The
Africans especially the Eastern part of Nigeria believe in
marrying off their daughter and also marrying a widow to the deceased’s next of kin as in the case of Adaku who married her husband’s brother after her husband’s death.
Also using Zaynab Alkali’s ‘The stillborn’, the tradition belief that a woman who decides to be independent is embracing the act of prostitution and that a woman should not be heard but seen. Li proved this belief wrong by her determination and actions. Despite the fact that she was betrayed by her husband Habu who according to. Li was always treating her with disgust. “HE does not want me here I know it now. He treats me as he would treat a dog, with disguise”.
Then she knew she had to move forward in order for her to be successful she went for her Advanced teacher’s certificate which according to her is the only chance for her to become ‘the man of the house’ pg 83).
3.4.4 GIRL-EDUCATION
Another issue that has eaten deep into the Nigeria system is the girleducation issue. The female
gender are seen as inferior beings and so
because of this, so much importance is not given to their education.
According to Nwakuso, in “the joys of motherhood’ he referred to Adaku daughter as instruments of immorality. In his words.
“…I know you have children, but they are girls,who in a few years time will go and help build another man’s immorality. The only woman who is immortalizing your husband, you make unhappy with your fine clothes and lucrative business. If I were in your shoes, I should go home and consult my chi to find out why male offspring have been denied me….” (pg
166).
Adaku is been scolded for dressing lucratively even when she has not given birth to a male child but at the end of the novel, she is more successful than
Nnu Ego who had male children. Also Nnu Ego’s daughters could not go to school because the education of their brother’s were considered more
important. The only important that the female folks have is the payment of their brideprice which would probably be used to sponsor the male folks to school. Though, Li in the “The stillborn’ almost eel victim of not
being
educated but when she saw that education was the only thing that could give her headup in the society. She pursued her career and became successful as she was the first female to ever build a bungalow in the community
3.4.4 FEMALE STRUCTURE
Because of the societal conspiracy against womanhood and the description of women as the weaker vessels, it has made men view women as beings who they should not have equal right with Buchi Emechera and
Zaynab Alkali have used their works to reflects the conditions of women as they are being saddled with the responsibility of ttaking care of their children even when their husbands are alive.
Nnu Ego is faced with the problems in her marriage to Nnaife. In the absence of Nnaife, Nnu Ego would toil from morning till evening buying aggerrate from the sailor at the wharf. When the opportunity for selling cigerrates stops, she starts selling firewood. All this she does with the view of feeding and training her children. At last, she becomes emotionally
disstabushed because after all she had done for her children, she is not remembered. No wonder she died like apauper, she did not have many friend, so busy had been building up her joys as a mother (pg 224).
Li, despite her suffering and frustration from her husband, she struggled and trained her child. She decided to be independent as according to her response to a second marriage.
“I will marry no one. What do I want a man for” she did not see an importance or significance of a man in her life or a child’s life because she was determined to be there for her daughter. She said:
“I am all the father she will ever have” (pg 88) This was more reason why she didn’t see herself as a losereven when she lost her husband to another woman. She concluded:
“She is the loser, not me. Remember, she too is crippled, what does she need another cripple for? True, I lost my man to her and at first I was bittered but gradually I leant to accept my fate. She wansn’t to blame. This is a game of life and we are all struggleling to survive. The woman from the south is no exception. Now I feel sorry for her because I have at least my child to remind of those movements we had together. The poor woman has nothing to show for those years. Nothing at all, just an aching emptiness”
(pg 93) she stood her ground, became independent and she achieved greatly unlike other women in her community.
Zaynab Alkali therefore is not just writing to air but in her own opinion to encourage women to contribute immensely to the development and progress of their society as to make them a respectable lady like Li.
Buchi Emecheta however also deals with the misconception and neglect of the girl-child in the traditional Igbo society with its major theme on feminism.
ENDNOTES
i.
Buchi Emecheta, The Joys of Motherhood. Ibadan, Oxford and
Portsmouth: Heinemann.
ABSTRACT
Feminism, as a worldwide ideology is aimed at changing the existing power between men and women as it highlights the inequalities in the male and female relationship in the society.
However the aim of the work is to look into feminism using the works of
Buchi Emecheta and Zaynab Alkali’s The Joys of motherhood and The stillborn respectively. This will be done through textual analysis of both text.
The central aim of this study therefore is to shed light on the acceptance of woman’s contribution to the economic & social growth of their society.
CHAPTER TWO
INTRODUCION
2.1
This chapter will look in to the views of literary expert about
feminism in Europe, America and Africa Nigeria in particular. This chapter will also identify certain concept that has to do with feminism.
2.2
LITERATURE REVIEW
Feminism is a world wide ideological and political movement aimed at changing the exiting power relation between men and women (Joseph 2003).
Apart from this view, seldom and window son (1993)writes ‘feminism --has sought to disturb the complacent certainties of such a patriarchal culture to assert belief in sexual inequality and to eradicate sexist domination in transforming the society’.
From this definition would observe that feminism is concerned with societal inequality with emphasis led on the female gender to develop herself esteem. It is directed against patriarchal hegemony which according to
Joseph (2003) ‘give men confidence subordinates the female or that the female as an inferior being’ .Men used their field to establish themselves on the literary scene gaining victory over matriachism. This made writers like
Chauce, Shakespeare, Milton to mention a few to focus on male protagonist,
hence,
relegating
the
female
character
or
presenting
them
as
complememtaries as opposed to the enterprises of the male character.
Therefore feminism is not the movement against female ignorance exploitation and subjugation,it’s also negates male ignorance,prejudices and biases. 2.2.1 Feminism Criticism.
Feminism criticism came through the Women Liberation Movement in Europe and America in the 19th century. Women right suffrage movement were the crucial determining factors. There were basically two waves in the development of the feminist criticism. The first stage was in the early 20th century which was dominated by writers like Oliver Schreine,
Elizabeth Robins, Rebecca West, Virginia Wolf, George Eliot and many more. Virginia Wolf’s general contribution to feminism is her recognition that gender identity is socially constructed and can be challenged and transformed. She has continually examined the problem facing women writer as the first waves was more concerned with the polities of women’s authorship and the representation of women condition within literature. Her call therefore is on women to be interested in themselves and their
environment and write as women and for women making their fear, pain love and experiences their thematic concern. In her fictional work ‘Women and Fiction’ (1929) she projects women, their fiction and works written about them. Woolf having observed that fiction was the easiest for women to write due to the fact that it is the least concentrated from of art, she then challenge them to take up writing not just fiction but history criticism and essay, prophesying that literature would soon become forewomen as fore men an art to be studied and a means through which women would be able to express themselves.
Also Elaine Showalter in her ‘A literature of their own’ (1979) outline a literary history of women writers and promote both a feminist critique and a gynocritic. She is occupied with investigating and interrogating the images projected by the reader and tries to expose the male’s prejudices and biases.
Elaine believes that by studying the stereotype women present in the male literature as this phase include Elaine show alter Rebecca West. It inherited the characteristic of the previous period further creating a female consciousness. 2.2.2 Feminist Ideology in Africa and Nigeria
Feminist ideology found a fertile ground in Africa in the 1900s as it provided the opportunity of re-evaluating attitude and beliefs about women in the Africa community it is a more away from the western feminism, this is because is has accommodationist perception which asserts that both male and female have roles to play in the society. Women in Africa exposed the fact that women should no longer be seen as objects to decorate the house but rather as major contributors to the building of the nation. Feminism in
Africa has undergone a lot of metamophosis and has assumed variegated forms and homenclatures such as womanism, motherism, sexism etc.
Afolabi (2002) identifies three apparent attitudes that are supreme in African feminism, Nigeria in particular:
: womb-men
: we-men
:woe-men
According to him, the womb-men are the womanist, the African adaptation of feminism. They associate themselves from the excesses of the core western feminist some of who advocate a total abandonment of men by women. This he supports by saying ‘the womb-men are usually reasonable and motherly--- they take their cultural background into consideration since
any idealogy that ignores the social base on which it is operating is destined for early extinction’. These set of women set themselves as similar to men in all other aspect but that of procreation in which they believe themselves to against the male sexism and also the limited roles women play in literary work, one might feel what women experience in the society.
The second stage which examines women as writers aimed towards developing feminist aesthetics. This is different from the first stage in that it is essentially concerned with producing women-authored literature that will address and present the experiences of individual female authors, their themes, styles, ideology techniques and diction.
Elaine Showalter (1979) identifies three phases of the feminist criticism of this stage:
: The feminine
: The feminist
: The female i The Feminine
In this phase, women attempt to match the creative achievement of men.
These writers include Elizabeth Gaskell and George Eliot. They imitated and internationalised the dominant male aesthetic standards which required that female authors remain gentle women.
ii
The Feminist
This phase is made up of radical women writers like Elizabeth Robin who protested against male value and advocated for the liberation of women.
Women at this phase asserted themselves in the social and political positions. iii
The Female
This phase is a phase of self-discovery. Writes of this phase carry much of the burden, this is because they see the possession of womb as a thing of pride. The second category ‘The we-men’ are feminist who though they realise the difference between both gender, are not willing to concede to any supremacy to theme. They follow the modified saying that ‘what a man can do, a woman can do also’. They preach the equality of both genders as they put on all mainly attribute including hiding their emotional weaknesses. The propagators of this category are mostly the highly educated and the enlightened women.
The third category ‘the woe-men’ are regarded as the male feminist.
They are the bittered and frustrated feminist as implied by their names.
Unlike their counterparts, they see themselves as better than men and are always ready to attack the ego of the opposite sex at any given opportunity.
However in Africa especially Nigeria today, qualified women do what most men do in the literary aspect where female writers like Florence
Nwapa, Buchi Emecheta writes as well as Amos Tutuola, Chinuna Achebe.
For this reason, Nigeria Feminism was quite different from European feminism as Nigerian writers never had to write under masculine pseudonyms in order to gain recognition as did Mary Evans whose Sclas marner was published under George Eliot, whose charlotte Bronte’s Jane
Eyre published under the name Currer Bell. Feminism in Nigeria is viewed from various perspectives. From the Religious angle, feminism preaches gender equality which is considered to be sacrilegious judging from the fact
God pronounced the man as the head over his wife which presupposes that women are expected to be subservient to men.
From the political and social scene, feminism is viewed as an important, ideology, totally alien to the African society. This prompts Ojo-Ade in his article African literature today (1983) as he views feminism as an accidental phenomenon that is gradually creping into the forbidden land of Africa.
Accidental in the sense that feminism is seen as a westernised concept by the
Africans and that such ideas are not acceptable in the culture and traditions
of Africans. However, male writers too have began to write about the plights and roles of women in the society. Examples of such writers are Chinuna
Acehebe (Anthills of the savannah), Olu Obafemi (wheels), Femi Osofisan
(Morountodun) among others. In this view, literature faces the uphill task of achieving true representation of feminist ideas whereas feminist and domestication of feminism.
One of the stout defender of the course of feminism in Nigeria is Buchi
Emecheta. This she did by using as example her experience as a girl child and as a single mother and even her suffering experience in the hands of her husband who burnt her scripts several times. She identified the various barriers on the woman’s way to emanapation. These barriers have also served as the thematic concern of most feminist writers. They are: i Patriading
ii
Sex and Gender
iii
Women’s Rights
iv
Women lack of freedom
v
Girl-Education
vi
Gender Equality
A re-orietation of the traditional values is therefore necessary in order that the feminist movement can be supported and accepted. It should not be
viewed or regarded as a revolt by women but as a contribution that the women are willing to make in the upliftment and development of the society.
Endnotes
1.
Joseph A.A (2003) ‘Gender theory and ideology: A study of Zaynab
Alkali’s ‘The stillborn’. In Obafemi O. and Bodunde C.L (ed) 92003); criticism, theory and ideology in African literature Ilorin: Itaytee pree and publishing company Nigeria ltd.
2.
Selden R. x Widdows on P. (1993) ‘A Reader Guide to contemporary
literary theory’. Third edition Britain: Bidelles Ltd.
3.
Virginia W. (1929) ‘women and fiction’. In Arkin M x shollar. (ed)
1989). Longman anthology of world. Literature by women 1875 – 1975,
New York.
4.
Elain. S. (1979) ‘A literature of their own’. Towards a feminist
poetics.
5.
5.
Afolabi, J.A (2002) ‘theatre and democracy in Nigeria’ of
womb-men, we –men and woe-men; feminist Aesthetics, theatre practice and the Democratic process in Nigeria, to Ahmed, and Akinwale A. (ed).
6.
Femi, O. A. (1983) Female writers, Male critics in African Literature
today: Recent trends in the No. 13ed Eldred Durosinmi Jones, Heineman
London.
CHAPTER FOUR
SUMMARY, FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION
4.1
Summary
In this research work, the history of feminism as a concept has been
traced shedding lights on the factors that prompted it and the foremost profounder of this theory, also, the ideas of other scholars have been looked into. Subsequent chapters have looked into the critical review of ‘The joys of motherhood’ and ‘The stillborn’ by Buchi Emecheta and zaynab Alkali respectively. Also a study has being carried out on the authors’ position and the various angles they regard the female gender and the means through which they have expressed their views.
4.2
Findings
Women have always been seen according to traditional rights to stay
within a certain confinement. Their roles in the society are seen as necessity than an opportunity. Societal norms projected women as being useful for procreation and nothing more, and any woman who dares to act against it was labelled a witch, declared an outcast or regarded with distain for going against traditional rights. Even women who strive hard to give their children
good living and education are forgotten as in the case of Nnu Ego. This is therefore to say all genders should treated equally. Li broke through her father’s traditional belief and custom to be an independent woman.
However, the research work has been able to bring out areas which women have been deprived and also need to be emancipated.
Therefore, the researcher recommends that women should be allowed to fight and seek social position. Li sought for social position, she became the first woman to build a modern house in the community. Also woman should seek educational opportunity, through some traditions and customs forbids therefore seek emancipation, letting the society know the importance of the girl-education.
4.3
Conclusion
From the above findings, one could deduce that the struggle for
political and economic recognition by straggle for political and economics recognition by women is a Universal campaign which would continue because what the men are willing to compromise is not enough to rate women as equal to men. The more women are economically independent and the more men continue to ignore their effort the more these women will feel subjugated.
Therefore, in an attempt to draw our conclusions, a comparative analysis would be carried out on both texts looking into their thematic compositions, positions, taking into consideration how they all affect gender issues. The call therefore is on women to exhibit good moral habit and also stand for what they are, refusing to be docile and inactive in the society, raising above any humiliating condition, looking forward to enhancing their status in the society. Also on men and the society to appreciate women and encourage their efforts to contribute to societal growth.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary sources
Alkali, zaynab; The stillborn
Ikeja: Longman Nigeria Ltd, 1995.
Emecheta, Buchi: The Joys of Motherhood
Ibadan; Oxford and Portsmouth: it ememan.
Secondary sources.
Afolabi, J.A (2002) ‘of womb-men, we-men and woe-men: Feminist
Aesthetics, theatre practice and the Democratic process in Nigeria’ To
Ahmed, y and Akinwale, A (ed) Theatre and Democracy in Nigeria” Kraft
Books Ltd.
Alice walker (1989) search of our mother’s Gender: A woman’s Prose
[Nv:HB] Books
Biodun Ajayi (1993) “Feminism: A lost battle an article of August 24, 1993.
Elaine showalter (1979) ‘A Literature of their own’. Towards a feminist poetics. Femi O.A. (1983) Female writers, Male critics in African Literature Today:
Recent trends in the Novel: Heinemann London.
Olu Obafemi (1994) ‘Towards feminist Aesthetics in Nigerian Drama: The plays of Tess onwnene’. African Literature Today.
Pastor Jack Hyles. How to destroy the human Race.
Selden R x Widdowson. P. (1993) ‘A reader Guide to contemporary Literary
Theory’ Third Edition, Britain: Bideiles Ltd.
Joseph A.A (2003) ‘Gender Theory and Ideology: A study of zaynab
Alkali’s The stillborn’. In Obafemi. O. and Bodunde (L Ced) (2003); criticism, theory and ideology in African literature Ilorin: Hagree press and publishing company Nigeria Ltd.
Virginia. W (1929) ‘women and fiction’. In Arian M x shollar. B. (ed)
(1989). Longman Anthology of world Literature by women 1875 – 1975,
New York.
Wikipedia, Buchi Emecheta (http.www.wekipedia.org).
Wikipedia, zaynab Alkali chttp.www.wikipedia.org]
Bibliography: Ikeja: Longman Nigeria Ltd, 1995. Afolabi, J.A (2002) ‘of womb-men, we-men and woe-men: Feminist Aesthetics, theatre practice and the Democratic process in Nigeria’ To Alice walker (1989) search of our mother’s Gender: A woman’s Prose [Nv:HB] Books Biodun Ajayi (1993) “Feminism: A lost battle an article of August 24, 1993. Elaine showalter (1979) ‘A Literature of their own’. Towards a feminist poetics. Femi O.A. (1983) Female writers, Male critics in African Literature Today: Recent trends in the Novel: Heinemann London. Olu Obafemi (1994) ‘Towards feminist Aesthetics in Nigerian Drama: The plays of Tess onwnene’ Selden R x Widdowson. P. (1993) ‘A reader Guide to contemporary Literary Theory’ Third Edition, Britain: Bideiles Ltd. Joseph A.A (2003) ‘Gender Theory and Ideology: A study of zaynab Alkali’s The stillborn’ Virginia. W (1929) ‘women and fiction’. In Arian M x shollar. B. (ed) (1989)
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