Beyond Culture and Slavery: The Representation of African Women in Contemporary African Women Literature

The study is titled ‘Beyond Culture and Slavery: The Representative of African Women in Contemporary African Women Literature. The investigation is an aspect of literary linguistics. Culture is the sum total of behaviour and ways of life that is acceptable and practiced by people in a given environment while, Literature is the representation of man’s behaviour or culture of a society that is transmitted in written or verbal form. The paper tends analyse the various indices that circumscribed the character of African women and access some cultural challenges that seems to plaque them, dehumanised and situate them in perpetual bondage as they are being treated as objects and animals by their families in Africa. Similarly, they were characterised as incapable of rising above their status as slaves by foreign authors in diaspora. The study adopts descriptive research design. Secondary data was utilised where by three literary text were selected for the analysis. The analysis of the research is informed by the critical view of feminism theory, which portray female protagonist that played complementary roles by addressing patriarchal negativism and misrepresentation of African women. The findings presented through the characters in the narratives clearly shows that African women are neither objects nor slaves, they were able to reclaim their identity beyond culture and slavery, as well as chauvinistic inscription as victims of triple repletion. The theory of African Womanism further strengthens the view and perception of African women. The paper further recommends African women to pursue education with all vigour and they should not reject African culture in wholesome, rather they should re-assess it, to identify and embrace the positive aspects, while it further encourages them to strive for economic empowerment and be self-reliant. In conclusion all the protagonists analysed in the three texts were, able to limit discrimination and bond of prejudice, through positive negotiations which they demonstrated differently.