Abstract: The study examines Female Assertion in Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter and Zaynab Alkali the Stillborn. From findings, in the two selected plays the study has shown that, several cultural practices in African humiliates and affects the women emotionally as seen in Ba’s So Long a Letter. In another instance, the persistent inequality between men and women in African society and Nigeria society precisely Alkali’s The Stillborn has portrayed the general disempowerment of women. This study has further discovered that education of the female children is a rarity in Northern Nigeria; This has affected noticeably the quality of life that the female children experienced as seen in Alkali’s The Stillborn. Based on these issues, Alkali and Ba therefore, use their literary play, to portray education as the most essential weapon for challenging one aspect of gender inequality which is the educational dis-empowerment of the women.
Female Assertion in Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter and Zaynab Alkali the Stillborn
The study further reveals that education plays a major role in women emancipation and liberation in a patriarchal society. It is therefore recommended that both sexes should be equally trained for the joys of motherhood to be fully realized and that education underscores a fundamental necessity for the mental and material liberation of women from male domination in the society.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
Feminism is a social theory and movement primarily motivated by the experiences of women in the society. It gives the women a sense of belonging of self as worthy, effectual and contributing human beings. As a theoretical and ideological frame work, it directly opposes sexism by supporting gender equality. Consequently, this form the basic point of his study on female assertion in Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter and Zaynah Alkali The Stillborn.
Thus, Mariama Ba and Zaynah Alkali are strong feminist writers who see feminism in as a reaction to such stereotype of woman whereby woman are seen as helpless, dependent, humiliated, discriminated, oppressed and voiceless in the society. This make scholar Katherine frank in her essay titled Feminist criticism and the African Novels, an article which analyses the relevance and usefulness of feminism to the study of African female writers, gives the impression that the feminist ideology in its emphasis in individualistic growth and interests must necessarily be opposed to traditional tendencies which place values on group interests. She further asserts “feminism as a profoundly individualistic philosophy. It values personal growth and individual fulfillment over any communal needs or goods” (45).
Mariama Ba as a feminist portrays in this novel, So Long a Letter the issues of polygamy and it devastating effect on the girl-child in a cultural context and as a constraints on the happiness of couples who are usually separated. On the other hand, Alkali Zaynah is not guile different from her writings as seen in The Stillborn, a novel that captures the dream of emancipation, triumph and elevation of a African woman who is been truncated by cultural or traditional conjectures and the attendant unwanted rejection, scorn or judgemental reaction of society castigating or condemning the women prey in African societies.
In the reading of So Long a Letter and The Stillborn these two writers were able to uphold the view that African women should not be taken as under dogs; they also tried to portrayed that women should not oppressed and humiliated. They have uses their literary novels in order to give a new kind of hope to all African women.
1.2 Statement of the problem
The novels of Mariama Ba and Zoynah Alkali under study explored how African cultural practices underrate women and humiliate them. These novels also explore the women’s quest for identity as they seek for freedom and independence.
Female Assertion in Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter and Zaynab Alkali the Stillborn
1.3 Purpose of the study
The purpose of this research work is to investigate female assertion in Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter and Zaynh Alkali’s The Stillborn and its contribution in the society.
1.4 Significance of the study
The study will be significance to African women with regards to cultural domination. The study will also be of significance to students of English and literature and other researchers who will find this work important.
