Masculinity in Ahmadou Kourouma's The Suns of Independence
Date
2010-04-12T07:14:31Z
Authors
Chiliboyi, Obed
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
The study examines the construction of African masculinities as portrayed in Ahmadou
Kourouma’s novel The Suns of Independence. The study relies on theories of Robert
Morrell, Andrea Cornwall, David Mills, Richard Ssewakiryanga, Robert Connell and
Frank Salomane amongst others in identifying masculinities in the novel. Different
definitions of masculinity have been given but the study hinges on Morrell’s definition.
Chapter one introduces the study and gives the aim, background and contextualises the
masculinities discussed in the study. Chapter two looks at the power and masculinities of
traditional leaders such as praise singers, fetish priests and hunters and how these lost
their power after independence. Chapter three focuses on the factors that led to the
emasculation of Fama and how Salimata constructs female masculinity. Chapter four
looks at religion and politics as two sites where tradition and modernity interacted and
influenced construction, reconstruction and/or deconstruction of African masculinities.
Chapter five summarises the preceding chapters.