An Ecofeminist Analysis of Aminatta Forna’s Ancestor Stones

<ns3:p> Background This article examines Aminatta Forna’s <ns3:italic>Ancestor Stones</ns3:italic> from an ecofeminist point of view. Aminatta has four novels, and <ns3:italic>Ancestor Stones</ns3:italic> is one novel that addresses various significant themes of ecofeminism. Methods Textual analysis was applied as a method to investigate the extracted texts from the novel. This approach enabled an in depth examination of the novel’s themes and characters representations. Results The analysis of the novel portrays the deep interconnection between women and the natural environment by representing women as expert gardeners, which shows their deep indigenous knowledge. Beyond becoming daily consumption, these gardens convey history, which passes from generation to generation. This signifies women’s great accomplishment at gardening and cultivating their land and their intimacy with the natural environment in Africa. The novel also portrays the substantial relationship between women and rivers, forests, and other elements of the natural environment and depicts how seriously women take the degradation of nature and its impact. Similarly, the novel portrays the patriarchal exploitation of women, the natural environment, and the indigenous people at large. It reveals the exploitation and suppression that of women under polygamous marriage. It also recounts colonialism and its chained impact on women, nature and the indigenous people. The novel shows the patriarchal domination and its multifaceted impacts on marriage, family and the society at large. Conclusions In short, the novel acknowledges and values the knowledge that African women have about gardening, natural conservation, and agriculture. The novel also shows the culture, history and practice of African women and the impact of patriarchal domination they experience in many ways. Besides, it urges the active inclusion of women in environmental decision making, emphasizing their crucial role in addressing ecological crisis and the roles women play in democratization of their nation and stability of their society. </ns3:p>