AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES OF GENDER AND SEX IN AKACHI ADIMORA-EZEIGBO’S TRILOGY

Abstract

The notions of what is male and what is female are cultural conceptions into which all human beings are placed. These conceptions form a sexgender view in African culture. This study examines the concept of gender and sex in Akachi Ezeigbo’s trilogy using Norman Fairclough (1995a), Ruth Wodak (2001) and Tuen Van Dijk (1988) model of critical discourse analysis. It was discovered among other things that Ezeigbo is using these literary texts as a medium to seek for the end of oppression of women in the world outside the texts. This work analyzed issues in Akachi Ezeigbo’s trilogy from a female point of view as Njoku (2004:277) asserts, “Feminist criticism engages issues from the female point of view which reflects the changing nature of society and highlights the protest of a marginalized group (women)”. Akachi Ezeigbo's trilogy is therefore seen as a message of hope to all oppressed women in Africa; that women are already in the ascent and that total liberation is possible and at the threshold. The “benign way” to survive being the pathway of sound education and economic empowerment of women. These will help to facilitate the “coming salvation”.