Impact of Pan-Africanism on African Feminism: A Study of Buchi Emecheta’s Destination Biafra
Dr. (Mrs) E. D. Simon; Dr. (Mrs) M.I. Obeten

Abstract
Women’s contributory roles in the development of their nation have been demonstrated by female writers as well as male writers like Sembene Ousmane, Ngugi wa Thiongo among many others. In the war novels, especially Buchi Emecheta’s Destination Biafra, the author demonstrates the changing roles of the African woman in her effort to actualize self and contribute to the growth of nation building, as well as the development of children, women and the society at large. The women’s war efforts help to highlight the need for collective action which fosters female bonding and enhance growth. These women, Debbie Ogedemgbe, Uzoma, Babs, Dorothy etc take up the challenge of caring and nurturing of children and the elderly. They even venture into male domains like digging graves and burying the dead. They mobilize, educate and encourage other women. In so doing, they build up confidence and help develop other women’s consciousness. These are feminist ideals which underscore the life of African women. This paper therefore sets out to demonstrate the ideals of Pan-Africanism and African feminism. The paper shows that Pan-Africanist ideals are closely linked to feminism since the thrust of these ideologies are cognition of dignity, recognition of fundamental human rights of people-men and women, especially the black women who have suffered marginalization, oppression, deprivation etc, because of their sex. The paper advocates that equal opportunities be given to women to showcase their talent, instead of being tied down with the tedium of life as wives, mothers, farm hands, punching bags, sex partners, hewers of wood and drawers of water.

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