The Representation of Women in Postcolonial African Literature: Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah and Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions

Abstract

The present dissertation analyses the literary representation of women in two postcolonial novels by two well-known African writers: Anthills of the Savannah by Chinua Achebe and Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga. By means of textual analysis, the study investigates the double oppression of women by patriarchy and colonialism in postcolonial Africa and how these women struggle against it. The study reveals that the eagerness of the female characters, in both novels, to get a decent education reflects the importance of education as an empowerment tool for women to transform their social and political statuses within their patriarchal families and in communities. The study further indicates that if modern women will be given the opportunity for personal development they can successfully take up leading social and political roles within the new African society.