IMPLICATIONS OF AFRICAN VALUES ON FEMINISM: ILLUSTRATIONS FROM SELECTED WORKS FROM NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper aims to highlight the contribution of women writing from northern Nigeria to women liberation movements. It also elucidates the impact of Western feminism on the hitherto traditional gender social relationship and complementarity in Nigeria/Africa. However, the paper is conceived on the premise of Homi K. Bhabha (2001) notion of hybridity in postcolonial space which allows for the interrogation of colonial histories and legacies by the colonised. It deploys the qualitative text based method of analysis as its tool of analysis. The paper argues that feminism, as conceived and propagated by the West is alien to Africa. Feminism, derive from the construct of imperialist ideology of gender fragmentation is a covert extension of imperialism which conflicts with the African philosophies of collectivism, family system and gender relationship. It is discovered that the postcolonial writings of African women in northern Nigeria have, instead, sought to redefine the woman and her goals within the context of African milieu, values, worldview and philosophy as their unique contribution to the global feminine discourse. The paper concludes by recommending the adoption of the lofty direction taken by the writing women as ideal.