“Our Women Keep Our Skies from Falling”: Representation of Women’s Challenges and Resilience in Three Contemporary African Novels Cover Image

“Our Women Keep Our Skies from Falling": Representation of Women’s Challenges and Resilience in Three Contemporary African Novels
“Our Women Keep Our Skies from Falling”: Representation of Women’s Challenges and Resilience in Three Contemporary African Novels

Author(s): Zoly Rakotoniera Rakotondravelo
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Gender Studies, Governance, Comparative Study of Literature, Victimology, Corruption - Transparency - Anti-Corruption, Asylum, Refugees, Migration as Policy-fields
Published by: Universitatea Hyperion
Keywords: African women; representation; victimhood; resilience; transnational solidarity; storytelling;

Summary/Abstract: One of the major changes occurring on the African continent during the last 40 years is the feminist redefinition of gender roles. Yet, in a fast-changing context and despite all the critical advances in terms of women's conditions, a lot still needs to be achieved. A deeper exploration of how African women are represented in an era of globalization marked by State failure, migration crises, and extreme poverty is essential. This paper aims at analyzing the way women are represented in contemporary African literature. A feminist comparative analysis of three international prize-winning novels, namely Americanah (2013) by Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, We Need New Names (2013) by Zimbabwean author NoViolet Bulawayo, and Juillet au Pays: Chroniques d’un retour à Madagascar (2007) (July in the Country: Narratives of a Return to Madagascar) by Malagasy writer Michèle Rakotoson enables us to shed light on hitherto unexplored images of African women. According to these writers, African women are victims of several forms of violence and injustice; however, they are resilient and are able to achieve agency thanks to national and transnational feminist solidarity. Such solidarity offers them freedom and the power to cause changes to their country. The novels also highlight the symbolic importance of storytelling for women.

  • Issue Year: 2021
  • Issue No: 10
  • Page Range: 27-37
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: English