The Question of Identity in Ifeoma Okoye’s behind the Cloud and Buchi Emecheta’s the Joys of Motherhood
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The backward position of women in African societies contributed to the feminist ideology that is found on the need to develop awareness on the plight of women who are oppressed, deprived and subjugated. This had attracted the following feminist writers, Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa, Ama Ata Aidoo, Ifeoma Okoye and a handful of others whose writings are concerned with social, political and economic inequality between men and women. Moreover, these writers use their fictional characters, themes and plot in their stories to ask questions and mobilize an awareness of women’s recognition. This is why Terry (2007), opines that African women are placed inferior to men and this makes it difficult for some women to participate in politics, economic and social activities. While men continue to dominate political activities and benefit from economic power, women are relegated to the roles of housewives, child bearer and trader.
Moreover, these female writers also portrayed to the entire society that woman’s identity is oppression and tied sexually. This is because woman and men’s biological differences are reflected in the organization of society most especially in the African settings. Based on these differences, women are treated as inferior to men, whether as a theory, a social movement or a political movement. For instance, Mariam Ba, another prolific African female writer, calls for the emancipation of women from the shackles of male oppression. She advocates understanding, fortitude and love between men and women as the principles that should guide the African women in the bid to cope with her oppression.
The above question on socio-cultural identity and issues affecting the female gender concernedthis research work on the investigation of the question of identity in the novels of Ifeoma Okoye’s Behind the Cloud and Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood with the aim of investigating the main problems behind the obnoxious socio-cultural practices in Africa.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Ifeoma Okoye and Buchi Emecheta are African feminist writers who used their female characters in their novels to portray and depict how women were able to endure the struggles and challenges imposed upon them in the male domineering society. Their novels have also examined men discrimination against women and forcing them to do what they do not want to do all because of their gender. This goes with all areas of life which many women are politically, economically and socially discriminated.
The Question of Identity in Ifeoma Okoye’s behind the Cloud and Buchi Emecheta’s the Joys of Motherhood
Their writings therefore prove that African women have been contributing positively to their societies in one way or the other. Their contribution to the literary world is also prominent especially in the area of oral literature that brought about what is known as African women writers forum (AWWF). These African women writers write about the challenges faced by African women and the social injustices in their various works of art where African Women have been involved in revolution.
Also, many women in Nigerian society can now boast as: engineers, doctors, lawyers, large farmers and so on. Women can also boast of some professions, their identity therefore have to be recognized.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to examine the question of identity in the novels of Nigerian female novelists using Ifeoma Okoye’s Behind the Cloud and Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood. The study will also analyse various obnoxious African practices that makes many women not to be identify as well as alienated in many African societies.
1.4 Significance of Study
The study will be significant by justifying the fact that the role of women in the African society has promoted the society educationally: in many Universities, female lecturers teach students what education entails as well as socio-economic and political empowerment of more African women. The reader of this research work will also find this work important because one will have more knowledge on the writings of Ifeoma Okoye and Buchi Emecheta what it entails and how their writings can promote, improve the women conditions in Africa.
This study will also be significant to students and researchers because they will have more understanding on women’s predicaments such as socio-cultural problems and economic deprivation of the women.
1.5 Objectives of the Study
The objectives are:
- To investigate what the two novelists handle the issue of women identity Nigeria,
- To examine the contributions of Ifeoma Okoye’s Behind the Cloud and Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood in Nigerian literature and African as a whole,
- To show the various issues and cultural challenges affecting the women in their novels and find a way of bringing social equality between men and women in the society,
- to understand the dept of women subjugation and victimization
1.6 Research Methodology
This research work is on the question of identity in the novels of Nigerian female novelists in Ifeoma Okoye’s Behind the Cloud and Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood as the main source. The secondary methods are the use of internet information, library works and academic journals.
1.7 Scope and delimitation of the study
The scope of this research work is delimited to Ifeoma Okoye’s Behind the Cloud and Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood. With feminism, the scope of this study will also be limited the works of other African female writers that focus on raise issues relating to women’s identity and cultural discrimination affecting the women. In order to make a thorough investigation, the research has adopted the two authors under investigation and the views of female scholars in African literature.
1.8 Bio-Data of Ifeoma Okoye
Ifeoma Okoye started her writing career when she discovered herself to have the potentials for writing. She also discovered that children did not have adequate books on children especially stories on Nigeria children, so she was surprised to write some children’s books which are The Adventures of Tolu, The Little Monkey, Eze goes to School, No School for Eze, Village Boy, Only Breed to Ezeall of which were published in 1980.
Her first novel was Men Without Esars was published in 1984.Her second Novel Behind the Clouds was published in 1988. Her novel Men Without Ears won the 1984 prize for the Association of Nigerian Authors best fiction of year.
She is happily married to famous husband, Mokwogo Okoye whom she respects and cherishes so much. They have a son and four daughters
1.9 Bio-Data of Buchi Emecheta
Emecheta was born in Lagos, Nigeria. She was born of Ibuza heritage. She is a Nigerian writer with a B.Sc discipline. She attended Methodist Girls High School, Yaba Lagos in Nigeria and University of London U. K. She is also a graduate of sociology from the University of London. She was appointed Senior Research Fellow, in the Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria in 1980.
She has written many novels that focus on her life. For instance, her first two novels, In the Ditch, and Second Class Citizen 1975, are loosely based on her own experiences as a single parent and are regarded as most accomplished works. Both books revolve around a young Nigeria woman named Adah and her search for a better quality of life. Other novels like The Slave Girl (1977), winner of the New Statesman Jock Campbell Award and The Joys of Motherhood (1979), an account of women’s experiences bringing up children in the face of changing values in traditional Igbo society.