Gender, Literature and Religion in Africa

Studies in literature and religion are particularly vulnerable to accusations of subjectivity and bias, because by their very nature they deal with subjectivities and people's perceptions of their own identity. In the past, on the basis of a patriarchal worldview, literature and religion were seen as value-free and neutral, and a gendered perspective was not taken into account. Today, an increasing amount of research is revealing the gendered fault-lines in works of fiction and in religious beliefs. This volume showcases the diversity and depth of research that is currently taking place on the African continent in this field. The specifically African gendered experience is brought to the fore, through the critical discussion of proverbs, oral histories, resistance, and male dominance. Gender, Literature and Religion in Africa highlights continuing gender bias, often at the level of the sub-culture.