THE AFRICAN WOMAN AS A CUSTODIAN OF TRADITION, A FEMINIST APPROACH (A STUDY OF EZEIGBO’S THE LAST OF THE STRONG ONES)
Abstract
This research is titled the African woman as a custodian of tradition, a feminist approach. A study of Ezeigbo’s The last of the strong ones. The main objective of this research is to reveal the contribution of women towards the eradication of colonialism in Nigeria and the significance is to identify the changes feminism has effected on the Nigerian society. The methodology used for this work is purely archival and in-depth interview. The researcher interviewed some renowned scholars and their views form a part of the objectives and research questions raised to make the finding of this work significant to the society. The researcher consulted the library, internet and other useful resource materials that are related to this project. This research find out due to feminist networking, struggle and writings, more Nigerian women are being aware of their rights in their various fields of endeavor and marital homes. This research recommends that women should be assertive, focus, diligent and be educated and should read more. It concludes that women destiny is in their own hands but education is indispensable.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgment iv
Table of Content v
List of Tables ix
References ix
Appendix I ix
Appendix II ix
Abstract xiv
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
Background to the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 4
Purpose of the Study 5
Research Questions 5
Significance of the Study 6
Delimitation of the Study 7
1.6 Definition of Operational Terms 7
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE 9
2.0 Introduction 9
2.1 The Place of Feminism in some Nigerian Common Writings 22
2.2 Impact of Feminism on the Nigerian Women 26
2.3 The Merit and Demerit of Feminism on the Nigerian Society 29
2.4 Feminism, an Instrument to Echo Women’s Voice in the Society 31
2.5 Brief Account of Buchi Emecheta, Author of The Joys of Motherhood 33
2.6 Some of the Works of Buchi Emecheta and Date of Publications 34
2.7 The Place of Womanhood in the act of Motherhood 39
CHAPTER THREE: 52
3.1 Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo (A Pride of Womanhood) 52
3.2 Summary of The Last Of The Strong Ones, By Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo 55
3.3 Socio Cultural Background of The Last of the Strong Ones 59
CHAPTER FOUR: 65
4.0 Distinctive Approach of the Author 65
4.1 Thematic Notes 66
4.1.1 Language Usage 67
4.1.2 Novel Setting 68
4.1.3 Novel Plot 68
4.1.4 Women as story tellers and custodians of tradition – The Last of the Strong Ones 69
4.1.5 Device of the Literary Art 78
4.2 Appraisal of Akachi Ezeigbo’s Work 79
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 82
5.0 Summary 82
5.1 Conclusion 83
5.2 Implication of the Study 84
5.3 Recommendations 87
Bibliography 90
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background to the Study
It is a fact, universally acknowledged that feminism commenced in the United States of America, France and other European countries. This kind of transformation was meant to liberate women from societal and traditional slavery. These early protagonists were agitated against the man inhumanity to women, an ill treatment given to women whereby they were relegated to the floor tiles in the scheme of things in the society.
Feminism is a collective effort by a large group of women questing for social reform in social, cultural, political and economic equality of men and women. Feminism can also be defined as a global phenomenon which addresses various issues related to women across the world in a specific manner as applicable to a particular culture or society. Feminism declares that the African traditional society is characteristically patriarchal, that is a society of men, ruled by men and for men. In the Nigeria culture, women are regarded as second class citizens, they have less right and in many ways contribute immensely to work, in the arts of literature and science which are devalued or under valued by the society consequent upon gender bias.
The archetype of this research work emanates from the conditions engendered by the post colonial era which patterns lives of Nigerian women presently. Post colonial means the historical psychological, economic and political complexity that result from the colonial experience (Sanjaykali, 2008).
Through the works of the great writer and a female activist, Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo advocates an amalgamative and compromising kind of feminism; what she has enunciated as “corresponding”, firmly located within the socio political structures of the Nigerian practical understanding of life. This is what she persistently pursues in her book titled “The Last of the Strong Ones” which was published in the year 1996, in order to create genuine identities of the Nigerian women.
The great writer Akachi Adimora Ezigbo heave on the substance of the struggle alienation the colonialist invasion of the Nigerian space, psyche, traditions and societies and so she takes her place in the company of those other Nigerian writers who have either used this same substance or the more recent tragic event of the Nigerian civil war as the backdrop for their work on write up.
Therefore, Akachi’s works is valued materially and politically as she empowers Nigerian women through taking initiative by acting rather than reacting to societal mayhem on women, and initiating pro-women perspectives to “clean up” Umuga and his environ and influence society positively by altering the public of Nigerian literature that has ancient history which critically neglected and marginalized women.
Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo established women whose characters and identities are continuously modified as they each relate to their respective husband as wives and mothers or when they each gain freedom from their respective marriage and join the ‘Alutaridi’ (association of wives) ‘Obuofo’ (inner council committee) ‘Umuada’ (association of daughters) or Oluada’ (top women representatives). In a society like Nigeria that is ruled and governed by men, women suffer all sorts of injustice.
They get little or no appreciation from their men counterparts and are relegated to the floor tiles. This research work therefore, presents ‘feminism’ as a dissertation in Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo’s book titled The Last of the Strong Ones. It will also look at the social impact of feminism in the Nigerian society.
1.1 Statement of the Problem
This study aspires to discussing the effect of feminism in the Nigerian traditional and cultural society and its role on the obliteration of colonialism and its influences, and promotion of women role in the Nigerian society.
1.2 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this research works are:
- To show how women can empower themselves in a patriarchal traditional society.
- To show the immense contributions of women towards the abolition of colonialism and its influences in Nigeria.
- To reveal the effects of feminism on the Nigerian society.
- To identify the echoes of the past in the Nigerian society through Olutaridi and Umuada women organizations.
1.3 Research Questions
This research work will attempt to answer the following salient questions:
- What is feminism and its imperatives?
- How does feminism affect the life of Nigeria women?
- What are the merits and demerits of feminism in Nigeria society?
- Can feminism be used as an instrument to improve women participation in social development and how?
- How did feminism contribute to the abolition of colonialism in Nigeria?
1.4 Significance of the Study
The study is significant in many ways, among which are:
- Reveal the significant role of women in the Nigeria traditional society.
- Make analysis of various types of feminism.
- To ascertain the important changes feminism have effected on the Nigerian society.
- Establish a paradigm for the future of feminism dissertation in Nigerian women writing.
1.5 Delimitations of the study
This study will be limited to the Nigerian society and Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo’s book titled The Last of the Strong Ones. This is due to financial constraint on the part of the researcher, shortage of time and atmosphere of political campaign that will herald presidential and gubernatorial elections.
1.6 Definition of Operational Terms
Culture: people with shared beliefs and practices; a group of people. whose shared beliefs and practices identify the particular place, class, or time to which they belong.
Feminism: movement for women’s rights; the movement committed to securing and defending rights and opportunities for women that are equal to those of men.
Patriarchal: characteristic of rule by men, relating to or characteristic of a culture in which men are the most powerful members.
Protagonist: main character, the most important character in a novel, play, story, or other literary work. Also a supporter; an important or influential supporter or advocate of something such as a political or social issues.
Society: structured community of people; a structured community of people bound together by similar traditions, institutions, or nationality.
Tradition: custom or belief; a long-established action or pattern of behaviour in a community or group of people, often one that has been handed down from generation to generation.
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