Rethinking African Cultural Portrayal of Women with Reference to Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi’s Selected Novels

Abstract

The study explores a literary comparative examination of female characters from an African cultural perception using fictional texts such as Americanah(2013), Half of a Yellow Sun(2006), and  Purple Hibiscus(2004). The author Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi’s selected novels are used as primary texts for analysis. Gender role expectations are mostly influenced and perpetuated by patriarchy whereby women are marginalised by their surroundings, while men are granted the will to do as they wish. The institution of patriarchy thrives on oppressing women in many ways and silencing them is one of those various ways. The purpose of the study is to explore the experiences that surround African women and that of women in the diaspora with regard to muted voices of marginalised females. Their inability to express themselves in the name of respecting the culture and conforming to the expected behaviours. The study is a literary analysis of Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus(2004), Americanah(2013), and Half of a Yellow Sun(2006). The author explores patriarchy through romantic relationship, family, and religion. Furthermore, it is textually analysed. This current study aims to explore gender roles and equality. It is a qualitative study which is grounded in the feminist theory. The study highlights the perception of feminism through the female characterisation of the novel.