BOOK REVIEW

FEMINISM AND COLONIALISM ARE DOVE-TAILED IN THE LAST OF THE STRONG ONES by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo

    In her novel The Last of the Strong Ones, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo is able to intertwine two critical theories. She explores COLONIALISM and FEMINISM.

    Colonialism and Feminism go hand in hand in the novel. They seem alike in the ideologies they advocate. both theories advocate equality - Feminism advocates equality of the sexes (gender equality), Colonialism advocates equality of all races and countries. Both theories denounce oppression and oppressors.

     Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo fuses these two theories in one narrative. Both theories run together through out the narrative to move the plot further. the narrative explores and depicts the evils of the 'kosiri' (white colonial masters) and colonialism in the African society. It also portrays the freedom, rights, liberation, courage and successes of the females in a male-dominant society.

      The author pushes the story from the eyes of the women ("the recorders") and carries the women along in the colonial domination, the community's revolt, the defeat of the community by the white men and the dark era of Umuga (Africa). people are plunged into the chaos, sadness, confusion, disasters, trouble poverty and uncertainty the defeat in the war by the White colonial masters brings. Their pathetic state can be likened to the dark era when all forms of cultural enlightenment are withdrawn from the people excerpt a small remnant.

     The Feminism and Colonialism themes and theories are dove-tailed in the novel. The novel depicts the equality of "men and women" in an African Patriarchal society as we see in 'Ejimnaka  and Obiatu's marriage'. the Obuofo involves women who represent the females in the society. Women take part in the war plans against the 'Kosiri' (White Colonial masters).

     The novel depicts the evils created by colonialism in Africa. Social ties are broken down, cultural and traditional laws are abolished and the people are left confused and bitter by the new laws and orders enforced on them by the Colonial masters.

      The author successfully marries the two critical theories in the novel and both theories are the major themes in the novel and also promote the plot structure without creating confusion and disintegrating the plot of the novel.

...DETAILED ANALYSIS WILL BE PRESENTED ON NEXT POST.