Challenging a Tradition

In many cultures and civilizations, the superiority of Man over Woman is a common phenomenon. It is believed that woman is weak in almost everything when compared to their male counterparts. However, in recent times, both in literary writings and in real life situations, this trend has been challenged. The perceived endangered female gender has proved to be worthy of adequate recognition in the affairs of the society in various forms. This study examines Regina Yaou’s La révolte d’Affiba and John Pepper Clark’s The Wives’ Revolt through the lens of postcolonial feminism with a view to challenge the barbaric traditions and practices that militate against the social transformation of women. The two literary texts are purposively selected because the two African writers have an inclination towards solving a major problem surrounding gender inequality. A thematic-textual analysis within a postcolonial feminist framework is adopted as research methodology. Findings reveal that culture and tradition particularly the patriarchal system are the root causes of the relegation of women. The efforts of a new generation of committed male and female writers, to reconstruct the status of women has started yielding good fruits. Apart from building the self-consciousness and confidence, there are now formidable female employers of labour, and State actors such as state house of assembly members; house of representative members, heads of agencies, commissioners, ministers, senators as well as female Vice Chancellors of Universities among others.