Women Without Men:   Feminist Perspectives in Akayi’s Mary, When Will You Marry and Olu’Dolapo Ojediran’s Omolewa

Akaenyi Nkiruka Jacinta

doi:10.18535/sshj.v8i05.1100

Abstract

This study investigates how the empowered African woman negotiates her identity in two feminist plays written by prominent Nigerian female playwrights. By delving into the themes of female empowerment and self-assertion in Akayi’s Mary, When Will You Marry and Oludolapo Ojediran’s Omolewa, these Nigerian female playwrights allow their female protagonists to break away from oppressive marital bonds, they find themselves in. These feminist plays by African women corrects the mysogynistic portrayal of women from the institutionalized sexism of contemporary African life. Drawing from Stiwanism, a theory propounded by Omolara Ogundipe, this study finds that the patriachal notion of marriage as the one and only path for women's fulfillment, is not only sexist but a misleading one. The sense of fulfilment of the female heroines in these plays, even though they live without men, stems from their economic independence and this shows that a woman can be happy outside marriage.

Keywords

Legislative InattentionConstitutional OversightConstitutional CourtConstitutional Jurisdiction.

References

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Akaenyi, Jacinta Nkiruka. "Beyond Sheer Entertainment: A Voyage Around Emeka Nwabueze’s A Parliament of Vultures and Osita Ezenwanebe’s Giddy Festival”. A Lion on the Ijele Dance: A Festchrift in Honour of Professor P. Nwabueze. Anyachonkeya Ngozi, Ed. Ojiaka Press, 2015.Google Scholar ↗
Akaenyi Nkiruka Jacinta. “Exploring Moral and Ethical Principles Through Drama: A Study of Ifeyinwa Uzondu’s Which Way is Right?”. International Journal for English Literature and Culture, vol. 12 no. 1, 2024, pp. 13-20.Google Scholar ↗
Akaenyi Nkiruka Jacinta. “Transitioning from the Margins to the Spotlight: A study of Emily Oghale God’s Presence Beyond the Boundaries”. ISRG Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, 2024, pp. 85-90.Google Scholar ↗
Akaenyi Nkiruka Jacinta. “Femininist Perspectives on Girl Child Rape in Ahmed Yerima’s Aetu and Osita Ezenwanebe’s The Dawn of Full Moon”. Sapientia Foundation Journal of Education, Sciences and Gender Studies (SFJESGS), vol. 6, no.1, 2024, pp. 9 – 21.Google Scholar ↗
Akaenyi, Nkiruka jacinta. “Culture as a Vessel for Women Oppression: A Critical Study of Female Genital Mutilation in Mabel Evwierhoma’s The Cut Across”. ISRG Journal of Education Humanities and Literature, vol. 2, no.2, 2024, pp.1-6Google Scholar ↗
Akayi. Mary, When Will You Marry? Abuja: NIRPRI Publishers, 2023.Google Scholar ↗
Amadi, Elechi. The Concubine. Heinemann, 1996.Google Scholar ↗
Aniagor, Emeka. “Familial Plight and Gender Victimhood: Modern and Traditional Life Ideologies in Osita Ezenwanebe’s Adaugo.” African Female Playwrights: A Study of Matter and Manner. edited by Emeka Nwabueze. Abic Books, 2016.Google Scholar ↗
Apena, Adeline. “Bearing the Burden of Change: Colonial and Post-Colonial Experiences in Flora Nwapa’s Women Are Different”. Emerging Perspectives on Flora Nwapa: Critical and Theoretical Essays. Edited by Marie Umeh. Africa World Press, Trenton N J, 1998.Google Scholar ↗
Badian Seydou. Caught in the Storm. Lynne Rienner publishers, 1998.Google Scholar ↗
Bertrand, Marianne, and Emir Kamenica. "Gender roles and the marriage market." American Economic Review, vol.6 no.101, 2011, pp. 259-263.Google Scholar ↗
Budig, Michelle. "Are women’s employment and fertility histories interdependent? An examination of causal order using event history analysis." Social Forces, vol. 32. no. 3, 2003, pp. 376-401.Google Scholar ↗
Cakpo-Chichi Zanou, Gbaguidi Celestine and Alfred Djossou. “Amma Darko‟s Contribution in Beyond the Horizonto: Contemporary Gender Portrayals”. Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies, 10 no.1, 2017, pp. 111-139.Google Scholar ↗
Cherlin, Andrew. "The deinstitutionalization of American marriage." Journal of marriage and family, vol. 66, no. 4, 2004, pp. 848-861.Google Scholar ↗
Chukwuma, Helen. “The Feminist Dilemma in Four African Novels” Voices and Choices: Literature and Black Aesthetics. Edited by Emenyonu, Ernest N. Heinemann Educational Books Ltd, 1990.Google Scholar ↗
Chukwuma, Helen. “Marital Stress and Female Health in Literature by Select African Women.” Beyond The Marginal Land: Gender Perspective in African Writing. Edited by C. C. Opara. Belpot, 1999.Google Scholar ↗
Coontz, Stephanie. "The Evolution of American marriage." American Historical Review, 91, no.3, 1986, pp. 308-312.Google Scholar ↗
Edin, Kathryn, and Maria Kefalas. Promises I can keep: Why poor women put motherhood before marriage. Univ of California Press, 2011.Google Scholar ↗
England, Paula. "Gender inequality in Labor Markets: The role of motherhood and segregation." Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society 12, no.2, 2005, pp. 152-180.Google Scholar ↗
Evwierhoma, Mabel. Issues in Gender, Drama and Culture in Nigeria. Concept Publications Limited. 2002.Google Scholar ↗
---. Female Empowerment and Dramatic Creativity in Nigeria. Concept Publications Limited. 2013.Google Scholar ↗
---.Nigerian Feminist Theatre: Essays on Female Axes in Contemporary Nigerian Drama. Wits Publishing Ltd., 2014.Google Scholar ↗
----. “Gender specific proverbs in Ola Rotimi’s Plays: An interpretative analysis”. Nigerian Theatre Journal. vol. 6, no. 3, 1999, pp. 93-95.Google Scholar ↗
Ezeigbo, Akachi-Adimora. Gender issues in Nigeria: A feminine perspective. Vista Books Ltd., 2000.Google Scholar ↗
______ “Literature: A tool for gender activism in Nigeria”. Paradox of gender equality in Nigerian politics. Edited by S. Akinboye. Concept Publictions, 2004.Google Scholar ↗
Ezenwanebe, Osita. “The Representation of Women in African Theatre: An issue in Theatre Development”. Nigerian Theatre Journal: A Journal of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes, vol.8, no.2, 2005, pp. 61 – 73.Google Scholar ↗
_______ . The Dawn of Full Moon. Ibadan: Kraft Books Limited, 2009.Google Scholar ↗
_______ “Male Ego and the Crisis of Gender in Modern African Drama”. Technical Theatre and the Performing Arts in Nigeria: Celebration of Otateju Wasee Kareem. Edited by Oni, Duro and Ododo Sunday. NANTAP & CBAAC, 2011, pp. 268-336.Google Scholar ↗
Gbaguidi, Celestine. “The Myth of Men‟s Supremacy in Flora Nwapa‟s Women are Different.”AFRREV, vol.12, no.2, 2018, pp. 81-92.Google Scholar ↗
Goldscheider, Frances K., and Linda Waite. New families, no families? The Transformation of the American home. Univ of California Press, 1991.Google Scholar ↗
Guttentag, Marcia, and Paul F. Secord. “Too many Women?: The sex ratio question”. The Social Science Journal, vol. 24, no. 3,1987, pp. 98-100.Google Scholar ↗
Hochschild, Arlie Russell, and Anne Machung. The Second Shift: Working Parents and the Revolution at home. Penguin, 2012.Google Scholar ↗
Kalmijn, Matthijs. "Gender differences in the Effects of Divorce, Widowhood and Remarriage on Intergenerational Support: Does Marriage Protect Fathers?." Social Forces, vol. 85, no. 3 (1999): 251-283.Google Scholar ↗
Kumah, Carolyn.“African Women and Literature” West Africa Review, vol. 2 , no. 2,1999, pp. 48-53.Google Scholar ↗
Methuselah, Jeremiah. “Fecundity, Barrenness and the Importance of Motherhood in Two Nigerian Plays”. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol.4, no.2, 2014, pp. 213-221.Google Scholar ↗
Nzekwu, Onuora. Highlife for the Lizards. Heinemann, 1965.Google Scholar ↗
Obi, Nwagbo Patrick. When Women Go Naked. Kraft Books Limited, 2018.Google Scholar ↗
Ogundipe-Leslie, Molara.Re-creating Ourselves: African Women and Critical Transformations.Trenton. African World Press, 1994.Google Scholar ↗
Okoh, Julie. The Trials. Pearl publishers, 2008.Google Scholar ↗
Ojediran Olu’ Dolapo. Miss! Mrs!!Mrs!!!. University of Ilorin, 2021.Google Scholar ↗
Ojediran, Olu’ Dolapo. Omolewa. Performing Arts Creative Writing Series, 2018.Google Scholar ↗
Orjinta, Aloysius. Women’s Experiences in Selected African Feminist Literary Texts. Diss., University of Ibadan, Oyo State, 2011.Google Scholar ↗
Olufunwa, Harry. No Woman’s Land: Marriage in the Fiction of Buchi Emecheta.” Asian Women, 24 (2008): 25-41.Google Scholar ↗
Oluwakemi, Emmanuel and Daniel Confidence. “Women, Marriage and Choices in Olu’Dolapo’s Omolewa”. EDE: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, vol.2, no. 1, 2020, pp. 11-22.Google Scholar ↗
Oppenheimer, Valerie Kincade. "Women's rising employment and the future of the family in industrial societies". Population and Development Review, vol.20, no.2, 1994, pp. 193-211.Google Scholar ↗
Salami-Agunloye, Irene. “Language and gender: A Feminist Critique of the Use of Proverbs in select Nigerian Dramatic texts”. Ibadan Journal of Theatre Arts, vol.1, no. 1, 2007, pp. 85-103.Google Scholar ↗
_____ “Challenging the Master’s craft: Nigerian Women Playwrights in the Theatre of Men”. African women, Drama and Performance. Edited by Salami, Irene. Evergreen books, 2008.Google Scholar ↗
_______ . Sweet Revenge. Saniez Publications, 2004.Google Scholar ↗
________. The Queen Sisters. Saniez publications, 2002.Google Scholar ↗
______.Idia, the Warrior Queen of Benin. Saniez publications, 2008.Google Scholar ↗
_______. Emotan. Jos: Mazlink publishers, 2001.Google Scholar ↗
Sani, Hajo. Women and National Development: The Way forward. Spectrum, 2001.Google Scholar ↗
Sayer, Liana. "Gender, Time and Inequality: Trends in Women’s and Men’s Paid work, Unpaid Work and free time." Social Forces, vol.84, no.1, 2005, pp. 285-303.Google Scholar ↗
Schwartz, Christine, and Robert Mare. "Trends in Educational Assortative Marriage from 1940 to 2003." Demography, vol. 43 no.1, 2006, pp. 621-646.Google Scholar ↗
Shaka, Femi. and Uchendu Ola. “Gender Representation in Nollywood Video Film Culture”. The Crab: A Journal of Theatre and Media Arts, vol.7, no. 3, 2012, pp. 1-30.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-1] Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Heinemann, 1958.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-2] Akaenyi, Jacinta Nkiruka. "Beyond Sheer Entertainment: A Voyage Around Emeka Nwabueze’s A Parliament of Vultures and Osita Ezenwanebe’s Giddy Festival”. A Lion on the Ijele Dance: A Festchrift in Honour of Professor P. Nwabueze. Anyachonkeya Ngozi, Ed. Ojiaka Press, 2015.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-3] Akaenyi Nkiruka Jacinta. “Exploring Moral and Ethical Principles Through Drama: A Study of Ifeyinwa Uzondu’s Which Way is Right?”. International Journal for English Literature and Culture, vol. 12 no. 1, 2024, pp. 13-20.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-4] Akaenyi Nkiruka Jacinta. “Transitioning from the Margins to the Spotlight: A study of Emily Oghale God’s Presence Beyond the Boundaries”. ISRG Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, 2024, pp. 85-90.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-5] Akaenyi Nkiruka Jacinta. “Femininist Perspectives on Girl Child Rape in Ahmed Yerima’s Aetu and Osita Ezenwanebe’s The Dawn of Full Moon”. Sapientia Foundation Journal of Education, Sciences and Gender Studies (SFJESGS), vol. 6, no.1, 2024, pp. 9 – 21.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-6] Akaenyi, Nkiruka jacinta. “Culture as a Vessel for Women Oppression: A Critical Study of Female Genital Mutilation in Mabel Evwierhoma’s The Cut Across”. ISRG Journal of Education Humanities and Literature, vol. 2, no.2, 2024, pp.1-6Google Scholar ↗

[refR-7] Akayi. Mary, When Will You Marry? Abuja: NIRPRI Publishers, 2023.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Amadi, Elechi. The Concubine. Heinemann, 1996.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-9] Aniagor, Emeka. “Familial Plight and Gender Victimhood: Modern and Traditional Life Ideologies in Osita Ezenwanebe’s Adaugo.” African Female Playwrights: A Study of Matter and Manner. edited by Emeka Nwabueze. Abic Books, 2016.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-10] Apena, Adeline. “Bearing the Burden of Change: Colonial and Post-Colonial Experiences in Flora Nwapa’s Women Are Different”. Emerging Perspectives on Flora Nwapa: Critical and Theoretical Essays. Edited by Marie Umeh. Africa World Press, Trenton N J, 1998.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-11] Badian Seydou. Caught in the Storm. Lynne Rienner publishers, 1998.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-12] Bertrand, Marianne, and Emir Kamenica. "Gender roles and the marriage market." American Economic Review, vol.6 no.101, 2011, pp. 259-263.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-13] Budig, Michelle. "Are women’s employment and fertility histories interdependent? An examination of causal order using event history analysis." Social Forces, vol. 32. no. 3, 2003, pp. 376-401.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Cakpo-Chichi Zanou, Gbaguidi Celestine and Alfred Djossou. “Amma Darko‟s Contribution in Beyond the Horizonto: Contemporary Gender Portrayals”. Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies, 10 no.1, 2017, pp. 111-139.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Cherlin, Andrew. "The deinstitutionalization of American marriage." Journal of marriage and family, vol. 66, no. 4, 2004, pp. 848-861.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] Chukwuma, Helen. “The Feminist Dilemma in Four African Novels” Voices and Choices: Literature and Black Aesthetics. Edited by Emenyonu, Ernest N. Heinemann Educational Books Ltd, 1990.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-17] Chukwuma, Helen. “Marital Stress and Female Health in Literature by Select African Women.” Beyond The Marginal Land: Gender Perspective in African Writing. Edited by C. C. Opara. Belpot, 1999.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] Coontz, Stephanie. "The Evolution of American marriage." American Historical Review, 91, no.3, 1986, pp. 308-312.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-19] Edin, Kathryn, and Maria Kefalas. Promises I can keep: Why poor women put motherhood before marriage. Univ of California Press, 2011.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-20] England, Paula. "Gender inequality in Labor Markets: The role of motherhood and segregation." Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society 12, no.2, 2005, pp. 152-180.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-21] Evwierhoma, Mabel. Issues in Gender, Drama and Culture in Nigeria. Concept Publications Limited. 2002.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-22] ---. Female Empowerment and Dramatic Creativity in Nigeria. Concept Publications Limited. 2013.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-23] ---.Nigerian Feminist Theatre: Essays on Female Axes in Contemporary Nigerian Drama. Wits Publishing Ltd., 2014.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-24] ----. “Gender specific proverbs in Ola Rotimi’s Plays: An interpretative analysis”. Nigerian Theatre Journal. vol. 6, no. 3, 1999, pp. 93-95.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-25] Ezeigbo, Akachi-Adimora. Gender issues in Nigeria: A feminine perspective. Vista Books Ltd., 2000.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-26] ______ “Literature: A tool for gender activism in Nigeria”. Paradox of gender equality in Nigerian politics. Edited by S. Akinboye. Concept Publictions, 2004.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-27] Ezenwanebe, Osita. “The Representation of Women in African Theatre: An issue in Theatre Development”. Nigerian Theatre Journal: A Journal of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes, vol.8, no.2, 2005, pp. 61 – 73.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-28] _______ . The Dawn of Full Moon. Ibadan: Kraft Books Limited, 2009.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-29] _______ “Male Ego and the Crisis of Gender in Modern African Drama”. Technical Theatre and the Performing Arts in Nigeria: Celebration of Otateju Wasee Kareem. Edited by Oni, Duro and Ododo Sunday. NANTAP & CBAAC, 2011, pp. 268-336.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-30] Gbaguidi, Celestine. “The Myth of Men‟s Supremacy in Flora Nwapa‟s Women are Different.”AFRREV, vol.12, no.2, 2018, pp. 81-92.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-31] Goldscheider, Frances K., and Linda Waite. New families, no families? The Transformation of the American home. Univ of California Press, 1991.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-32] Guttentag, Marcia, and Paul F. Secord. “Too many Women?: The sex ratio question”. The Social Science Journal, vol. 24, no. 3,1987, pp. 98-100.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-33] Hochschild, Arlie Russell, and Anne Machung. The Second Shift: Working Parents and the Revolution at home. Penguin, 2012.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-34] Kalmijn, Matthijs. "Gender differences in the Effects of Divorce, Widowhood and Remarriage on Intergenerational Support: Does Marriage Protect Fathers?." Social Forces, vol. 85, no. 3 (1999): 251-283.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-35] Kumah, Carolyn.“African Women and Literature” West Africa Review, vol. 2 , no. 2,1999, pp. 48-53.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-36] Methuselah, Jeremiah. “Fecundity, Barrenness and the Importance of Motherhood in Two Nigerian Plays”. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol.4, no.2, 2014, pp. 213-221.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-37] Nzekwu, Onuora. Highlife for the Lizards. Heinemann, 1965.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-38] Obi, Nwagbo Patrick. When Women Go Naked. Kraft Books Limited, 2018.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-39] Ogundipe-Leslie, Molara.Re-creating Ourselves: African Women and Critical Transformations.Trenton. African World Press, 1994.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-40] Okoh, Julie. The Trials. Pearl publishers, 2008.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-41] Ojediran Olu’ Dolapo. Miss! Mrs!!Mrs!!!. University of Ilorin, 2021.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-42] Ojediran, Olu’ Dolapo. Omolewa. Performing Arts Creative Writing Series, 2018.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-43] Orjinta, Aloysius. Women’s Experiences in Selected African Feminist Literary Texts. Diss., University of Ibadan, Oyo State, 2011.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-44] Olufunwa, Harry. No Woman’s Land: Marriage in the Fiction of Buchi Emecheta.” Asian Women, 24 (2008): 25-41.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-45] Oluwakemi, Emmanuel and Daniel Confidence. “Women, Marriage and Choices in Olu’Dolapo’s Omolewa”. EDE: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, vol.2, no. 1, 2020, pp. 11-22.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-46] Oppenheimer, Valerie Kincade. "Women's rising employment and the future of the family in industrial societies". Population and Development Review, vol.20, no.2, 1994, pp. 193-211.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-47] Salami-Agunloye, Irene. “Language and gender: A Feminist Critique of the Use of Proverbs in select Nigerian Dramatic texts”. Ibadan Journal of Theatre Arts, vol.1, no. 1, 2007, pp. 85-103.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-48] _____ “Challenging the Master’s craft: Nigerian Women Playwrights in the Theatre of Men”. African women, Drama and Performance. Edited by Salami, Irene. Evergreen books, 2008.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-49] _______ . Sweet Revenge. Saniez Publications, 2004.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-50] ________. The Queen Sisters. Saniez publications, 2002.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-51] ______.Idia, the Warrior Queen of Benin. Saniez publications, 2008.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-52] _______. Emotan. Jos: Mazlink publishers, 2001.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-53] Sani, Hajo. Women and National Development: The Way forward. Spectrum, 2001.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-54] Sayer, Liana. "Gender, Time and Inequality: Trends in Women’s and Men’s Paid work, Unpaid Work and free time." Social Forces, vol.84, no.1, 2005, pp. 285-303.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-55] Schwartz, Christine, and Robert Mare. "Trends in Educational Assortative Marriage from 1940 to 2003." Demography, vol. 43 no.1, 2006, pp. 621-646.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-56] Shaka, Femi. and Uchendu Ola. “Gender Representation in Nollywood Video Film Culture”. The Crab: A Journal of Theatre and Media Arts, vol.7, no. 3, 2012, pp. 1-30.Google Scholar ↗