BEYOND THE MANTRA OF SEXUAL ALLEGORY: AN EXAMINATION OF NEGO-FEMINIST COMPLEMENTARITY IN ABUBAKAR GIMBA’S SACRED APPLES

Abstract

It has long been established that in African literary-creative space, Andro-texts have mostly succeeded in articulating the patriarchal norm far above the matriarchal credo. This has been partly attributed to the fact that for a very long time, male authors have dominated the writing and criticism of African Literature. However, in recent male writings, there is evidently a shift of concern to the plight of women. This study, using Gimba’s Sacred Apples as its text-for-criticism and adopting Nego-Feminism as its theoretical tool, seeks to establish this seeming thematic shift and focus now visible in African literary creative space. Nego-Feminism is a relatively new theoretical premise which confronts the issues of patriarchy and female dominance through negotiation and non-confrontational attitudes in dealing with the feminist struggles that occur on the continent. It considers the implications of patriarchal traditions and customs and aims to dismantle them and negotiate for a better position for women thereby suggesting for social freedom that ensures equal treatment of both sexes. Gimba, on the other hand, in his Sacred Apples, reveals the growing gender consciousness among Northern Nigerian male writers. His concern in the text indicates the extent to which male writers also portray the ways in which the patriarchal society of Northern Nigeria oppresses women and the primacy of complementarily between the sexes for the socio-economic and political growth and development of the society. This study therefore establishes that, far from the clamour of radical and liberal cravings of feminist ethos in the Northern Nigerian context, complementarily between the sexes, as entrenched in Nego-feminism, encourages better gender relations.