CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN FEMALE WRITERS TO FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN LEADERSHIP

Abstract

In  recent  times,  female  writers  of  African  Literature  have  played  vita  role  in  ameliorating  the  condition  of  African  women  in  a  patriarchal  society.  This  view  is  observed in the works of the Calixthe Beyala of Cameroun, Mariama Ba and Aminata Sowfall of Senegal. These writers have used the power of the pen to encourage female assertiveness and consciousness in women. Through their works many female sleeping giants  have  risen  up  to  the  challenge  to  take  up  leadership  responsibilities  in  their  chosen  careers,  in  politics  and  other  sectors  of  national  development. This  paper  exposed  how  the  works  of  these  writers  have  opened  up  avenues  of  economic  empowerment for women. It also addressed how the socio-political situation of women has drastically changed and women have evolved from a second class, suppressed and marginalized  group  to  a  class  of  emancipated  and  independent  group  taking  part  in  leadership  positions  in  the  society.  The  feminist  theory  of  Alice  Walker  formed  the  bedrock of this paper. Our finding is that women in leadership are more organized and do better in leadership than their male counterparts.