The encounter with europe and the literary world of the african woman. My major problematic in this chapter is the theorization of the vexing concept of matriarchy, not as a totalitarian systemthat is, the total rule governing a societybut as a structural system in juxtaposition with another system in a social structure. She has lived in nigeria and the uk and is currently associate professor at dartmouth. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Amadiume wins flora nwapa society award for new book. Ifi amadiume born 23 april 1947 is a nigerian poet, anthropologist and essayist.
Ifi amadiume and the writing of gender history in igboland marion g. Ifi amadiume is professor of religion at dartmouth college, new hampshire. Her study examines the womens position in the village of nnobi in south eastern nigeria. Gender and sex in an african society ifi amadiume, zed press, london, 1987. However, ifi amadiume s pioneering work, male daughters, female husbands, published in 1987, is arguably one of the most radical scholarly interventions that had been made at that time in the growing field of women and gender in african studies. Female power and the notion of african feminism 149 grammar ideas and speech actions to the women in the globalsouth.
She did her fieldwork among the igbo in nigeria in africa with a special interest in gender analysis and gained her ph. About the author ifi amadiume is a awardwinning poet and a political activist as well as an academic. Male daughters, female husbands is a 1987 book by ifi amadiume. She has lived in nigeria and the uk and is currently associate professor at dartmouth college, hanover. The kingdom existed as a sphere of religious and political influence over a third of igboland, and was administered by a priestking called an eze nri. A call to honour a biography of apostle joseph ayo babalola. She joined the religion department of dartmouth college, new hampshire, us, in 1993. Gender and sex in an african society is a publication which has begun to receive the renewed notice and attention of gender studies departments in north american universities. Warfare had been made a business enterprise, which meant that there had to be a professional warrior class and a merchant class. Click download or read online button to get joseph ayo babalola book now. In 1987, more than a decade before the dawn of queer theory, ifi amadiume published the groundbreaking male daughters, female husbands to critical acclaim. Exploring the transposition of western mores onto west af. Southeast nigeria by kenneth chukwuemeka nwoko, ph.
This compelling, enduring, and highly original book argues that gender, as constructed in western feminist discourse, did not exist in africa before the colonial imposition of a dichotomous understanding of sexual difference. A reader captures the physical and emotional aspects of african sexualities in their diverse forms and contexts, applying the question of power to these realities. The article is an attempt to interrogate zimbabwes national unity and reconciliation efforts through one of its key organs, the national peace and reconciliation commission nprc. Bodies, choices, globalizing neocolonial enchantments. There, she teaches in both the department of religion and the africanamerican studies programme. Voicing feminisms and democratic futures ifi amadiume t he need to support the cause of feminism and social justice in africa has never been stronger than it is under the present condition of. This compelling and highly original book frees the subject position of husband from its affiliation with men, and goes on to do the same for other masculine attributes, dislocating sex, gender and sexual orientation. Apr 21, 2012 ifi amadiume published by zed books ltd in 1987 i chose the book male daughters, female husbands by ifi amadiume.
Male daughters, female husbands background gradesaver. About the author 1987 ifi amadiume is a awardwinning poet and a political activist as well as an academic. Critically acclaimed, it explores gender roles in africa and poses that before european influence in colonization, african society was largely egalitarian in terms of sex. Pdf how if at all is gender relevant to comparative. This is especially true in africa, where reproductive rights and gender equality are perhaps differently understood or differently positioned by african women. Born in kaduna to igbo parents, ife amadiume was educated in nigeria before. The reason i chose this book is because i have always been curious about the role of women in non western countries and why they were viewed as being subservient to men by their own as well as the western world. The item the penguin book of modern african poetry, edited by gerald moore and ulli beier represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in. She examines the activities of such organizations in nigeria, making comparisons with those in britain and south. In 1987, more than a decade before the dawn of queer theory, ifi amadiume wrote male daughters, female husbands, to critical acclaim. As i engage the discourse on empowering and disempowering agencies in body signs, i will examine collectivist notions of womens solidarity in relation to womens power in traditional cultures and societies in africa. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
Patti henderson some books have a way of toppling old ideas which are taken as naturally given. As in the dramatic dialogues of plato, the characters jj and ia are not the actual persons jacobsen and amadiume but, to a large extent, fictional characters for me to use in exploring the place of love in justice. Mendy bio and assan sarr bio prior to the late 1960s and 1970s, not enough was known about the african woman in western europe and the united states. Sexuality, african religiocultural traditions and modernity. The penguin book of modern african poetry dc public. When two exciting works about gender burst onto the scene in 1987, neither the two authors nor their respective audiences appeared to know each other very well.
Born in kaduna to igbo parents, amadiume was educated in nigeria before moving to britain in 1971. Ifi amadiume author of male daughters, female husbands. Ifi amadiume, professor of religion and of african and african american studies, was unable to travel to ghana, africa, for the official presentation of the 2006 flora nwapa society award, which she won for her new book of poetry, circles of love africa world press. Using the idea of a collectivist, humanist culture of traditional african matriarchal heritage, ifi amadiume contrasts daughters of the goddess to a corrupt and oppressive culture of imperialism that she argues is the heritage of contemporary eliteled womens organizations. Male daughters, female husbands by amadiume, professor ifi. Joseph ayo babalola download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. A workbook and study guide for initiates only by medahochi k. She joined the religion department of dartmouth college, new hampshire, u. Her igbo women are articulate, politically conscious, economically selfsufficient individuals, with powerful female genealogies, immersed. Revisiting female power and the notion of african feminism. Expanding the lens ifi amadiume in this exploratory essay, ifi amadiume, takes a critical look at the normative prescribed sexual practices as well as counter normative alternatives subversive alternatives to sexuality both in africa and in other cultures as they. How if at all is gender relevant to comparative philosophy. Feminism from an african and matriarchal culture perspective.
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