OPPRESSION OF WOMEN IN NORTHERN NIGERIAN FICTION: A STUDY OF ZAYNAB ALKALI'S THE DESCENDANTS AND ABUBAKAR GIMBA'S SACRED APPLES

Abstract

This paper focused on the oppression of women in Northern Nigeria using creative works of two foremost Northern Nigerian writers. Research showed that many Nigeria writers have written several works, particularly on the oppression of women. However, Northern Nigeria has not been adequately explored by critics of Nigerian literary works. It is based on the above gap that the study examined oppression of women in Northern Nigeria in Zaynab Alkali’s The Descendants and Abubakar Gimba’s Sacred Apples with the aim of exploring the condition of women and girls in the Northern region. The theoretical framework adopted for this study is feminism because of its  ability to engender gender balancing in society. The study showed that oppression of women and girls in the region is sustained through the instruments of religion and culture. It also revealed that oppression of women is not inherently due to Islamic teaching, rather it is rooted and perpetuated by men who interpret and use Islamic teachings to justify their power and control over women. The study recommends that early marriage be discouraged. Girls should be allowed to go to school, after which they can choose who to marry. More women should be empowered to contribute more to the development of their societies.