Both Les Bouts de Bois de Dieu and Xala underscore the significant role to be played by Africa's women, in forging a new world. When secondary plots and characters are put aside, one finds that the consistent focus in both works has been upon the strong base provided by the female configuration: traditional mother/modern daughter. Sembene invests the future of Africa in the hands of the politically astute and committed young women (Adjibidji and Rama), who are supported and encouraged by the more traditional, yet less actively involved female figures (Assitan and Awa). The essence of this female solidarity has been captured in the final scenes of both novels.
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References
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SembeneO., Les Bouts de Bois de Dieu, Presses Pocket, Paris, 1960.
2.
SembeneO., Xala, Présence Africaine, Paris, 1973.
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FanonF., The Woman Question: Selections from the Writings of Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, V. I. Lenin, Joseph Stalin, International Publishers, New York, 1975.
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AnozieS., Sociologie du Roman Africain: Réalisme, Structure et Determination dans le Roman Moderne Ouest-Africain, Tiers-Monde et Développement, Paris, 1979.
