The Cry of the African Woman

Through this impressive selection of books, the reader is presented with a kaleidoscope of female figures depicted by female African writers. Unmediated by the bias of male authors, these writers illuminate the oppressive relationship between man and wife in many African households. Through their eyes, readers from the Western world can begin to understand the vast cultural differences that separate Western women from African women. Therefore, in their attempt to forge an united stance against female oppression, it is essential that Western feminists acknowledge these fundamental differences. The predominant difference is fact that African women have also suffered from colonial oppression, along with the men in their live. Therefore, they feel a sense of loyalty towards their male counterparts. However, in order for African women to rise above their oppressed status, they need to tap into the powerful and unique female energy that radiates from these incredible voices.

The Hierarchy of Oppression: Intersection between Gender and Race

From the day of their inception, women are controlled by men, first in their fathers' houses, and after marriage, in their husbands' house. In Buchi Emecheta's The Joys of Motherhood, the tug-of-war for Ona between her father and her lover, Agbadi, highlights clearly the status of women in African society (26-7). Ona's unwillingness to decid

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onsidered to possess supernatural powers (Ogunyemi 46). According to Isma in Djebar's A Sister, life for the woman "can begin at forty, or at sixty" (128). During that period, women are considered to have paid their dues. All they are expected to do is to "talk, giving orders, calling down blessings or cursesà" (Djebar 128). The respect accorded to the African matriarch stems from that fact that she has devoted her life to ensure the survival of her children. African mothers are often the only people shouldering the burden of raising their children. Therefore, it is important for Western feminists to recognize the power and strength exuded by the mother figure. In many ways, in their self-sacrificing nature, the traditional African mothers embody positive female qualities of creativity and enterprise that distinguish them from the men who are incapable of creating and maintaining life (Ogunyemi 61). Considering the fact that motherhood can place women on a pedestal in African society, it is a powerful instrument that can be used collectively to create changes for women. Although this vision seems ideal, the reality deviates far from this vision. African women are overwhelmed by their duties as mother and wife. Their struggle
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Approximate Word count = 5981
Approximate Pages = 24 (250 words per page)

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