Women as Central Pillar in Preservation of African Culture - Coursework Example

Women as central pillar in preservation of African culture Women are the central pillars of preserving African culture. This paper discusses the role and importance in preserving African culture with excerpts from four different sources. The paper discusses their roles and contribution to African literature. The themes displayed by these women aims at educating Africans and helps highlighting the level of ignorance, illiteracy, poverty, crime, and racism in African society. Initially, Song of Lawino was a publication of Acholi language before translated to English. Song of Lawino is one of the factious and influential works from Africa. The theme and the style of writing depict war on cultural value and the role of an African woman in preserving the African culture. Lawino is a traditional woman marrying a civilized husband who is educated with a degree from the University. Ironically, Ocol, the husband falls in love with Clementine who is similarly educated and a holder of a degree. In addition, the two have adapted modern life and no longer follows African culture and tradition. Lawino is not educated and cannot dance the way the white people do. Ocol perceives this as a weakness to the blacks and constantly insults the entire black community. Clementine also known as Tina in the poem follows a strict diet. She fears getting fat, applies lipstick on her mouth, and dresses smartly. Lawino interprets this as ugly pictures. She argues that Tina has bleeding mouth, and she looks like a witch because she is modern. Okot, the author expresses his feelings on how African respects their culture and reject the western culture that is a sign of uncivilization to Africans (pBiek). Lawino refuses to adapt the western culture. She criticizes Tina based on African tradition. Women as central pillars in preservation of African culture are a central theme in this book. ‘God’s bits of wood’ is a West African story of the blacks who served as salves and worked in the construction of a railway line. The book talks about the African men going on strike demanding for equality. Their demands advocates for equal pay. Ironically, these black people are so illiterate and ignorant. What is important is that everything is achievable if people come together with a common goal. This book is a revelation of women aim at maintaining peace and stability while still preserving African culture. The book was written when the construction of the railway line was very important to the leaders (Ousmane). African writers do not forget to mention the difference between blacks and white. The difference in culture and behavior makes the difference as to why the whites are much more developed than blacks are. The author Ousmane Sembene shows the parallels between the blacks and white. Because of the illiterate nature of the Africans, the whites take advantage of this and whitewash them. Sembene does not fill to mention the role of the African women in his book. Despite the differences, black women maintain their stand in protecting their culture. Although women are mistreated and handled according to the story, the women play a central role in maintaining peace. Black women play a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability in the families. They go through the problems that affect the black people ad keep their families together. Sembene illustrates the skillful character and persevering nature of an African woman through a song. An African woman contributes so much in the society but their contribution does not receive any acknowledgement. African writers are trying to address this problem through their works. Danticat a renowned female writer paints a picture of how black people suffer and struggle in the hands of powerful Americans. She is one of the important black woman writers. She does not fail to mention the great racial discrimination the whites have over the blacks. The story line was highly reported in 2004, when reports of death about Joseph were released in the media. ‘Brother I am dying’ is a true story of Joseph a pastor in Haiti. He was a passionate and charismatic person. Andres left for New York City to search for greener pastures due to the deteriorating security conditions. Andres left his 4-year girl to live with Joseph. While in America, his brother becomes terminally ill. Joseph remains in Haiti to continue with his pastoral activities. Joseph who is suffering from throat cancer cannot talk to the children over the phone. The writer in her book emotionally expresses the pain. Joseph flees Haiti because of war and terror. Angry mob fighting in the street decides to burn his church (Danticat). While trying to seek asylum in the US, homeland security detains him. His death comes as the family eagerly waits for his release. Danticat who is the author illustrates the love and passion that exist between the two brothers who live far distant apart. The war and terror destroys her uncle’s church. Joseph’s remanding in prison in the US leads to his death. While attempting to go back to Haiti, homeland security detains him and brutally mistreats him leaving him to die. Danticat also draws parallels between life in America and Haiti. She shows how different the lives are. She also painfully expresses the price of seeking asylum in the US. Danticat is a black writer who expresses the suffering that black people undergo. The story is a memoir, which is a true story and not fiction. It is a true representation of what black people undergo. The theme of the book is so somber especially during the last pages when the two brothers end up dead. Sugarcane alley is a story about a young man who works very hard to pass his exams. Palcy the director of this film is a black African woman. She is the first African woman to direct a story that features greatly in Hollywood studios. This is an indication on how African diaspora is increasingly contributing to the world of literature (Garry Cadenat). She contributes to preservation of African culture in her book through different excerpts. The setting is in a form where Jose and the grandmother live in a small village where everyone is growing cane to earn a living. Jose advanced in education. He was the only village kid to earn a chance to study in the city. This forces them to migrate to the city where he joins a city school. Affording school fees is a challenge although Jose earns a partial scholarship. Jose was so bright and very eloquent. He listened to a cane workers narrate a story. He later wrote the story when the worker died on his essay. His teacher punished him for plagiarizing the work yet it was his own originality. The teacher vows to find out how young Jose copied the work from the book. In the evening when Jose returns home late from school, he finds the schoolteacher taking a cup of tea with his grandmother. The teacher apologizes to him. The teacher blesses him and encourages him by telling him that he will become a good writer in future. Just like any other writer in this paper, Palcy expresses her feelings on how African women ply their role in educating the society thereby ensuring that culture is move from one generation to another. She offers signs of hope by showing how education can brighten someone’s future. She boldly shows how the young man finds hope by working hard in school. The young boy finds admission in the city school, which is a rare case. The role of African women is positively expressed wen the author expressed the struggles the grandmother undergoes to ensure that the grandson goes to school and achieves his dreams. All the writers show the importance of education. Despite the problems that African people underwent during the pre-colonial period, the Africans still fought to attain their freedom. Women are passionate and courageous. They play their role in the society ensuring they unite the society. From the stories above, there are no signs of women engaging in war and discrimination. Their role is well established taking care of the society. Although women undergo various forms of discrimination, they are able to persevere. They show humility. Under certain conditions, the women raise their voices in their defense. The expression of these works by the authors is a symbol of totality and an expression of African culture. The works remind us of colonial times and how women managed to attain their independent with the help of African men. Works Cited Danticat, Edwidge. Brother, Im Dying . Franklin Avenue Garden City: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2007. Ousmane, Sembene. Gods Bits of Wood. London: Heinemann Publishers, 1995. pBiek, Okot. Song of Lawino. London: Heinemann publishers, 1966. Sugar Cane Alley. Dir. Euzhan Palcy. Perf. Darling Légitimus, Douta Seck, Joby Bernabé, Francisco Charles Garry Cadenat. 2004. Read More