How Francophone writers emancipated women from colonial stereotypes – NOUN Prof.
By Emmanuel Afonne
A professor of French Language and Literature at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Doris Obieje, has commended the Francophone African Women Writers for challenging the stereotypes and colonial representation of women in Africa.
Obieje gave the commendation while delivering the 24th Inaugural Lecture of the university titled “Herstory in the Words of Francophone Africa Novelists”, held on Thursday in Abuja.
“The writers succeeded in challenging colonial representation of women by creating complex and nuanced female characters who asserted their identity and creativity,” she said.
Obieje, a senior lecturer in the university’s Department of Linguistics, Foreign and Nigerian Languages, argued that Francophone African literature, which emerged in the first decades of the 20th century, was largely dominated by male voices.
She said those male voices often portrayed African women as passive, oppressed or exoticised.
Obieje said Francophone African women writers had challenged the representation by creating female characters who asserted their identity, giving rise to the term “Herstory” which saw things from the perspective of women.
She said that the women perspective were taken from various contexts resonating betrayal, adultery and poverty.
Some of the writers the professor analysed included Mariama Bâ, Aminata Sow Fall, Eric Touya de Marenne, Calixthe Beyala, Aurore Koechlin, Aja Awa Thiam, Claire Marie Matip, Therese Kuoh Moukory Hemley Boum and Maïssa Bey.
Others were Ken Bugul, Nafissatou Diallo, Marie Ndiaye, Fatou Keita and others.
She asserted that these writers represented different regions, generations, and backgrounds of Francophone Africa, adding that they were influenced by various literary movements, trends and societal norms.
Obieje said: “Through their writing, these novelists have provided a platform for women to tell their own stories, to assert their agency, and to reclaim their place in society.”
The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, commended Obieje for her scholarly contributions to the field of French language and literature.
Peters commended Obieje for her dedication to promoting the study of Francophone African literature and for her commitment to advancing gender equality in academia.
Peters described the lecture as “the first of its kind”, pointing out that her lecture was not only informative but also thought provoking, and sparking important conversations about the role of women in African literature and society.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Chinedu Mafiana, who chaired the lecture’s organising committee, thanked the academic community for honouring the event and urged them to watch out for more explosive events coming from the Faculty of Arts this year.
The event ended with the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Omolara Nwabueze, presenting an award to the inaugural lecturer, Obieje, for her outstanding performance and delivery of the lecture. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Vivian Ihechu
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