THE ROLE OF WOMEN'S CHARACTERS (POWER & RESISTANCE) IN SELECTED ISIXHOSA WORKS: THE STUDY OF NOBANTU IN INGQUMBO YEMINYANYA AND NOLASTI IN IINKUNZI EZIMBINI

Abstract

This article has argued that African literature often marginalizes and silences women's voices, as exemplified by Ingqumbo Yeminyanya (Wrath of the ancestors) and Iinkunzi Ezimbini (Two bulls). These portrayals reflect and reinforce patriarchal cultural norms, resulting in the devaluation of women within contemporary amaXhosa society. By examining Nobantu in Ingqumbo Yeminyanya and Nolasti in Iinkunzi Ezimbini, the article illustrates that literary narratives significantly influence societal perceptions of gender. Therefore, this article has investigated and highlighted the agency, power, and resistance of African women as represented by Nobantu and Nolasti. To systematically address the topic and achieve the article's aims, a qualitative methodology based on secondary data is utilized, employing a narrative literature review. The article's findings and contributions advance women's agency through a feminist perspective, examining how Nobantu and Nolasti confront patriarchal norms in their literary works and broader society. In line with Rubaya's (2022) findings, the study emphasizes the importance of recognizing women's viewpoints in literature to promote gender equity in education and society. Ultimately, the evolution of time influences the acceptance of equality within the amaXhosa community in both African and modern contexts.