Articulation of Womanism in African Literature: A Reading of Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood
Abstract:
Purpose: Womanism, as a subset of African feminism, provides a framework for a comprehensive examination of African female writers' work. The point of this study is that women should get that independence and want to make sure that a woman, her husband, and their children have a real connection in a real environment.
Research Methodology: In this study, Ogunyemi's womanist theory guided the work. Through analysis study, a womanist reading of this novel will be conducted in order to determine the various and comparable ways this novelist communicates womanist ideology in the above-stated novel. The study also seeks to determine whether there is any continuity of womanist issues in the works of female novelists. This study looks at the attitudes and behaviors of the female characters in the novel towards male characters.
Result: Based on the findings of this study, it is evident that Emecheta champions the old patriarchal society. Emecheta's protagonist, Nnu Ego, resounds with womanist promise. The author, on the other hand, wants to make sure that men, women, and kids can all stay alive.
Limitation: The work is basically about one Anglophone female writer and her work called The Joys of Motherhood. Discussing the issues of womanist articulation.
Contribution: The study is important because it shows how Nigerian writers have been able to tackle the global issue of human suffering, especially knowing that womanism is geared towards ensuring the survival of all, regardless of gender.
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References
Allan, T. J. (1995). Womanist and Feminist Aesthetics A Comparative Review.
Amadiume, I. (1997). Re-inventing Africa: Matriarchy, religion and culture: Zed Books.
Bhabha, H. (2005). “Foreword: framing fanon.” The wreched of the earth. Groove publishing
Bhasin, K. (1993). What is Patriarchy? : Kali for Women.
Davies, C. B. (2007). Some notes on African feminism. African Literature: An Anthology of Criticism and Theory. Eds. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 561-569.
Dawes, K. (1983). Review: “Nigeria.” World Literature Today Jan-Apr 2005:84. Jstor 21 December 2009 http://ezproxy.ug.edu.gh:2061/stable/40138802
Emecheta, B. (2007). Feminism with Small'f': Criticism and Ideology.
Femi, O.A.(2011) . Madness in the African Novel: Awoonor’s This Earth My Brother. In African Literature Today No. 13, Ed. Eldered Durosimi Jones. Heinemann.
Lilian, O. T. (2002). Madness in Black Women’s Writing. Reflections from Four Texts: A
Question of Power, The Joys of Motherhood, Anowa and Possessing the Secret of Joy, The Ahfad Journal Vol. 19 No.1 June , pp. 4 – 20
Maduka, C. (2009). Feminism, Womanism and Motherism in African Literary Discourse. African studies and perspectives in comparative Literature. ECAS: University of Leipzig: http://www.uni-leiDzia.de/~ ecas2009.
Melakneh, P.G. (2008). Qualitative evaluation and research methods. SAGE publications
Nnoromele, S. C. (2002). Representing the African woman: Subjectivity and self in The Joys of Motherhood. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction, 43(2), 178-190.
Ogunyemi, C. O. (1985). Womanism: The dynamics of the contemporary black female novel in English. Signs: Journal of women in Culture and Society, 11(1), 63-80.
Ojo-Ade, F. (2011). Madness in the African Novel: Awoonor's This Earth, My Brother. African Literature Today, 13, 134-152.
Robolin, S. (2004). Gendered hauntings: The Joys of Motherhood, interpretive acts, and postcolonial theory. Research in African literatures, 35(3), 76-92.
shows, Ž. (2010). Living in the End Times.
Walker, A. (1983). looking for Zora. In search of our mothers’ gardens: Womanist prose, 93-116.
- References
- Allan, T. J. (1995). Womanist and Feminist Aesthetics A Comparative Review.
- Amadiume, I. (1997). Re-inventing Africa: Matriarchy, religion and culture: Zed Books.
- Bhabha, H. (2005). “Foreword: framing fanon.” The wreched of the earth. Groove publishing
- Bhasin, K. (1993). What is Patriarchy? : Kali for Women.
- Davies, C. B. (2007). Some notes on African feminism. African Literature: An Anthology of Criticism and Theory. Eds. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 561-569.
- Dawes, K. (1983). Review: “Nigeria.” World Literature Today Jan-Apr 2005:84. Jstor 21 December 2009 http://ezproxy.ug.edu.gh:2061/stable/40138802
- Emecheta, B. (2007). Feminism with Small'f': Criticism and Ideology.
- Femi, O.A.(2011) . Madness in the African Novel: Awoonor’s This Earth My Brother. In African Literature Today No. 13, Ed. Eldered Durosimi Jones. Heinemann.
- Lilian, O. T. (2002). Madness in Black Women’s Writing. Reflections from Four Texts: A
- Question of Power, The Joys of Motherhood, Anowa and Possessing the Secret of Joy, The Ahfad Journal Vol. 19 No.1 June , pp. 4 – 20
- Maduka, C. (2009). Feminism, Womanism and Motherism in African Literary Discourse. African studies and perspectives in comparative Literature. ECAS: University of Leipzig: http://www.uni-leiDzia.de/~ ecas2009.
- Melakneh, P.G. (2008). Qualitative evaluation and research methods. SAGE publications
- Nnoromele, S. C. (2002). Representing the African woman: Subjectivity and self in The Joys of Motherhood. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction, 43(2), 178-190.
- Ogunyemi, C. O. (1985). Womanism: The dynamics of the contemporary black female novel in English. Signs: Journal of women in Culture and Society, 11(1), 63-80.
- Ojo-Ade, F. (2011). Madness in the African Novel: Awoonor's This Earth, My Brother. African Literature Today, 13, 134-152.
- Robolin, S. (2004). Gendered hauntings: The Joys of Motherhood, interpretive acts, and postcolonial theory. Research in African literatures, 35(3), 76-92.
- shows, Ž. (2010). Living in the End Times.
- Walker, A. (1983). looking for Zora. In search of our mothers’ gardens: Womanist prose, 93-116.