The Joys Of Motherhood

Another traditional belief that Africa holds onto, despite its taxing nature on the equality of women, is regarding marriage. The belief is that when women are married, they essentially become possessions of their male partners. Traditionally, a girl’s family will give her away to a prospective husband of their choosing in exchange for payment. In addition to this, some villages like that of the Igbo people have a tradition where when a husband dies, the wife is turned over to his brother. In The Joys of Motherhood, Nnaife’s brother dies and he inherits his wife. Nnu Ego is not happy about it, but it does not matter because her opinion on the situation is irrelevant to the custom. In the more modern cities of Africa arranged marriages

The origin of Africa’s patriarchal customs stem from the European colonization that swept over them. It shaped African countries into societies in which women are made out to be inferior to men. The influence is apparent in aspects of their lives such as motherhood and marriage. Motherhood is seen as prominent detail that makes a woman who she is. This concept is accompanied by rituals that are outdated such as female circumcision. The benefits solely pertain to respect for their religion and accepting their role as mothers. The lifestyle accompanying marriages that consists of women as possessions to their husbands is another traditional value that is unjust to women. However, African women have begun to realize that there is a need for feminism so that they can feel equal to men. One way they have shown that they acknowledge this is through literature. Female authors have spoken out about the degrading differences of female characters compared to male, and that their works is not given the same respect as male authors’ works. African women have shown that they see the opportunity to encourage feminist thoughts throughout the nation and this is the way they will achieve the equality they deserve as human beings. According to Sofola (1998), “[t]here is no doubt that a wind of change is blowing strong across our human landscape and it is female” (51). Feminism as a catalyst for gender equality is finally being accepted and acknowledged as important in Africa and to its modern