The Dynamics of Female Bonding and Liberation in Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo’s <i>House of Symbols</i>

Abstract

Earlier writings on female liberation have centred on a one-sided  reactionary approach to patriarchy with little or no attention to indexes of female liberation that exudes solidarity, friendship and concern. This paper examines female friendship, solidarity, concern and support as valid notions of female bonding and viable tools for the woman’s educational, political and economic independence in Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo’s House of Symbols (2001). The study adopts some aspects of Alice Walker’s “Womanism” and Ezeigbo’s “Snail Sense Feminism” as critical models in reviewing Ezeigbo mode of counter-hegemony discourse. Ezeigbo’s narrative promotes the idea of sisterhood in a way that transits traditional patriarchal dominance to educative and viable gender roles. A close-reading of the text indicates the impact of bonding on female characterization and reveals that education and economic independence constitute tools for liberation. The paper concludes that aspects of awareness and recognition are conscious steps in achieving female liberation.

Key words: Womanism, Snail Sense Feminism, Akachi Ezeigbo, Patriarchal dominance, Counter-hegemony