written by Andrew Patience (AP)
In Africa, there has been a popular
misconception over the years about ‘feminism’. It had often been
regarded as a western concept, but African women, particularly writers
have continuously redefined this concept to suit their own purposes.
This in turn is influencing African women and women around the globe.
Feminism like any other human concept has
a history. Traditionally, it could be divided into three waves. The
first wave of feminism dates back to the nineteenth and early parts of
the twentieth century. This does not mean that feminism or the feminist
movement did not exist prior to this time.
In Africa, the rise of feminism dates
back to the early twentieth century with the rise of women like Adelaide
Casely-Hayford, the Sierraleonian women right activist referred to as
the ‘African Victorian feminist’, with other women such as Charlotte
Maxeke of South Africa, Huda Sharaawi of Egypt who established the
‘Egyptian Feminist Union’ in 1923, Lilian Ngoyi, Margaret Ekpo and
Nigeria’s Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti amongst others. These women fourth
against colonialism, patriarchy often through protest.
Modern feminism was coagulated during the landmark UN decade for women in
1975-1985 which resulted in feminist activism and scholarship
spreading across the continent. Since then, African feminism has
developed in policy, legislation, scholarship and also in the cultural
realm. Feminism in Africa has to do with grassroots or cultural activism
as well as intellectual activism with issues relating to poverty
reduction, violence prevention and reproductive rights as well as
lifestyle, popular culture, equality of the sexes, media, art and
culture.
Today, African feminist scholars,
activists, artists, politicians and particularly writers are at the
forefront of using activism, knowledge and creativity in changing issues
and situations that affects African women negatively.
In Africa, one cannot talk about feminist
writers without going back to history to study the first African
feminist writer, Mariama Ba of Senegal. She is the author of ‘So Long a
Letter’ and Scarlet Song. Her book ‘So Long a Letter’ has been regarded
by scholars as the first truly African feminist book as it describes the
woman’s condition in an African and Muslim society. The book explains
the place of women in society, the effect of polygamy on women and the
clash between modernism and traditions.
Mariama Ba, at an early age observed in
her society how women were unequally treated and how they were just used
as tools to satisfy and work for their husbands who have not just them
but other wives. She began to question some of these things. She
struggled to go to school because the society she found herself did not
believe that a girl child should have any form of formal education. She
later got married to a member of parliament but divorced him and she was
left to cater for their nine children. Her frustration with the fate of
African women and her perception of it was what motivated her to write
her first book ‘So Long a Letter.’ Mariama Ba felt that African people
should reduce the deleterious impact of their culture. Her works have
inspired lots of female writers in Africa and she for created a platform
for other female writers to air out their displeasures about society by
using the art.
In the twenty first century, writers such
as the Egyptian novelist, essayist and physician Nawal El-Saadawi have
done greatly in addressing issues affecting women in North Africa. Her
works majors on the oppression of women and desire for self expression,
paying particular attention to the practice of female genital cutting
which has caused so much damage to a good number of female children. Her
books have been banned in Egypt and some other Arab countries. Yet her
persistence and determination has not reduced in any way as she
continues to write books and articles addressing various negativisms
against women in Africa. In her book ‘Women at Point Zero’ Nawal
El-Saadawi writes ‘‘They said, ‘‘You are a savage and dangerous woman.’’ I am speaking the truth and the truth is savage and dangerous.’’
Another African writer who is using her art, articles, interviews and
paper presentations in addressing feminist issues in Africa,
particularly Nigeria is the young novelist and poet Chimamanda Ngozi
Adichie. She also feels that the concept of feminism has been
misunderstood; she uses her observance of society and personal
experiences in addressing feminist issues. According to her, a feminist
is ‘‘A man or woman who says yes, there is a problem with gender as it is today and must fix it and must do better.’’
Adichie in buttressing her point as a feminist decided she would
preferred to be addressed as a ’miss’ and not a ‘Mrs’ although married.
She feels that what is regarded as culture or norms has affected how
women see themselves in Nigeria, she went on to argue that the issue of
virginity should not be overemphasised to just the female child but also
to the male child.
She identified the wrongs that have
become rights in the Nigerian society simply because few people have
been able to challenge these wrongs. She gave a practical example of how
she and a male friend called Loiu went to an establishment in Lagos and
a man offered to park her car and afterwards, she offer him tip. But
the man turned to Loiu and said ‘Thank you sir.’ Loui turned to Adichie
and asked ‘why is he thanking me, I didn’t give him the money.’’
Realization dawned on Loiu that the man thought ultimately that
Adichie’s money must have come from a man.
Her works have gained recognition
internationally and she has continuously and tirelessly talked about
women liberation and equality of the sexes in Africa.
Another writer worthy of note is the poet
with roots in Uganda’s mountain, Jessica Horn. Horn has committed her
creative and professional life in exploring the experiences of women and
advocates
for the respect of women rights. As a women right consultant, Jessica
Horn is a founding member of ‘African Feminist Forum and lead author of
the BRIDGE cutting Edge Pack on Gender and social movement. Also as
co-editor of ‘Our Africa on open Democracy 50.50,’ she has written
several articles in spreading her message and beliefs of how women
should be seen, treated and respected in society. She is of the opinion
that the real catalyst for women liberation is not by force or discourse
but by the revolutionary power of love.
One may ask, what is the relationship
between literature and feminism? Literature is a tool for self
expression and with the liberation of some sort of women to study any
course of their choice has helped
in exposing and enlightening women of their intellectual capacities,
creativity and confidence in addressing issues that affects their total
liberation in one way or the other.
Women have now been allowed to
participate in governance and other sectors of the society while some
have chosen to become writers, sharing their experiences, creativity in
fiction and maximising their intelligence towards positive contributions
in society. It is therefore no surprise that many African female
writers are using the medium to seek and pursue their own purposes in
the equality of the sexes and the total liberation of the female gender
from any form of society’s subjugation over them.
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