HARNESSING WOMEN POTENTIALS FOR NATIONAL UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT: A REVIEW OF REGINA YAOU'S LA REVOLTE D’AFFIBA

Abstract

This paper discusses the need for the potentials in women to be harnessed for the unity and development of the nation. The fact still remains that it takes two to tango and so, no meaningful development can be achieved without the full involvement and participation of women. Previously, women have been given little or no room to contribute their quota maximally to the nation's development. However, Régina Yaou's La Révolte d’Affiba  reveals that there are enormous potentials in women that would greatly benefit the nation if properly harnessed. The author’s treatment of the traditional African society in the novel shows that women are still very marginalised and humiliated. A lot of factors including tradition have hindered women from manifesting their full potentials. The research reveals how the negative aspects of the African tradition have denigrated women thereby robbing the entire society of all round development.  It is on this ground that this paper presents the benefits to be derived if women are given ample opportunity to participate like their male counterparts in the affairs of the nation. From the work under review, it is shown that a nation could experience serious setbacks without the full involvement and collaboration of women. Therefore, this paper recommends full participation of women in every sphere and sector of the nation. In addition to the textual analysis, the theoretical framework adopted is socio-criticism.