Francophone African women writers: destroying the emptiness of silence

459 Pages·1994·1.25 MB·English

by  Irène Assiba d'. Almeida

Francophone African Women Writers :
title:
Destroying the Emptiness of Silence
author: Almeida, Irène Assiba d'.
publisher: University Press of Florida
isbn10 | asin: 081301302X
print isbn13: 9780813013022
ebook isbn13: 9780585200286
language: English
African literature (French)--Women
authors--History and criticism, Feminism
subject and literature--Africa--History, Women and
literature--Africa--History, Women--Africa-
-Intellectual life.
publication date: 1994
lcc: PQ3980.5.A46 1994eb
ddc: 840.9/9287/096
African literature (French)--Women
authors--History and criticism, Feminism
subject: and literature--Africa--History, Women and
literature--Africa--History, Women--Africa-
-Intellectual life.
Page i
Francophone African Women Writers
Page ii
UNIVERSITY PRESS OF FLORIDA
Gainesville Tallahassee Tampa Boca Raton
Pensacola Orlando Miami Jacksonville
Page iii
Francophone African Women Writers
Destroying the Emptiness of Silence
Irène Assiba D'Almeida
Page iv
Copyright 1994 by the Board of Regents of the State of Florida
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
All rights reserved
99 98 97 96 95 6 5 4 3 2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Almeida, Irène Assiba d'.
Francophone African women writers: destroying the emptiness of
silence/Irène Assiba d'Almeida.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8130-1302-X
1. African literature (French)Women authorsHistory and
criticism. 2. Feminism and literatureAfricaHistory. 3. Women
and literatureAfricaHistory. 4. WomenAfricaIntellectual
life. I. Title.
PQ3980.5.A46 1994
840.9'9287'096dc20 9426083
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for
the State University System of Florida, comprised of Florida A & M
University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International
University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida,
University of Florida, University of North Florida, University of
South Florida, and University of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611
Page v
A l'affectueux souvenir de Thérèse Tossivi Kpénou
et de Philippe Tossou d'Almeida, ma mère et mon père
et qui ont trop tôt rejoints les Ancêtres et qui sont
pourtant si près, si près de moi.
A ma grande Sênami, ma fille, rayon de soleil
dans mon coin de ciel.
A toutes les femmes d'Afrique qui ont levé la voix,
tracé la voie et continuent de lutter pour
"tuer le vide du silence."
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
To the fond memory of Thérèse Tossivi Kpénou
and Philippe Tossou d'Almeida, my mother and father
who, too soon, returned to the Ancestors and
yet are so close, so close to me.
For Sênami, my daughter, a ray of sunshine
in my corner of the sky.
For all the women of Africa who have paved the
way, raised their voices and are still struggling to
"destroy the emptiness of silence."

Page vii
Contents
Preface ix
Introduction 1
Prise d'écriture 1
Feminist/Misovire Consciousness 11
Remarks on Methodology 23
Chapter 1 32
The Self: Autobiography as Dé/couverte
Nafissatou Diallo: A Legacy for the Future 36
Ken Bugul: The Process of Self-Discovery 44
Andrée Blouin: Growing Up as a Métisse in Colonial 55
Africa
Chapter 2 71
Speaking Up, Disclosing Family Life
Calixthe Beyala: Becoming a Woman/Resisting 72
"Womanhood"?
Angèle Rawiri: "I Have Children, Therefore I Am" 87
Page viii
Mariama Bâ: Intersections of Gender, Race, 98
Class, and Culture
Chapter 3 123
W/Riting Change: Women as Social Critics
Werewere Liking: Initiation as a Tool for Social 125
Change
Aminata Sow Fall: Political Responsibilities 140
Véronique Tadjo: Toward a Loftier Ideal 154
Conclusion 169
"It will take a long time, but the story must be told."
Notes 179
Bibliography 199
Index 215