The Conflicting Roles of African Women in Sefi Atta's "Hailstones on Zamfara

Abstract

This dissertation examines the conflicting roles and marginalization of African women in Sefi Atta's novel "Hail Stones on Zamfara," in reference to Nigerian women. Atta highlights the lack of attention given to the education of women and employs feminist perspectives to challenge patriarchal hegemony. The study delves into the feminist discourse within the context of Sharia law in Zamfara, the first Islamic state in Northern Nigeria, where the punishment of stoning to death is enforced. Furthermore, the study explores the mistreatment and cruelty experienced by women within domestic institutions, revealing a disparity in the punishment of crimes committed by influential individuals compared to impoverished women who face immediate sentencing regardless of mitigating circumstances. In order to fulfill the desired aim, the researcher applies the feminist approach to examine the atrocities against Nigerian women. The study resulted in the following: The protagonist chooses her faith by taking the road not taken. Thus, it resulted in her punishment by patriarchal society. In fact, her attempt to escape her reality deemed to failure, and at the end her society wins. According to Islamic Sharea, Adultery is not tolerated, and punished