Nigerian feminist agenda and the dynamism of revolution: A study of selected Nigerian plays

Abstract

Revolutionary dynamism motivated by the various stages of development which the society has undergone over time, has  impacted on feminism in Nigeria. Hence, definition and redefinition of feminism have continued to cast doubt on what actually constitutes an  acceptable Nigerian feminist agenda. Thus, this study identifies constant proliferation of feminist movements in Nigeria as a factor that weakens concrete definition and realisation of an acceptable Nigerian feminist agenda especially as the achievements of Nigerian feminist playwrights have obviously been dwarfed by discordant tunes of radical and conservative feminist playwrights. This paper examines the goals of various feminist movements in Nigeria and assesses the suitability of their agenda for liberating the female folk from male  domination with a view to determining what constitutes an acceptable Nigerian feminist agenda. However, the study reveals that Nigerian conservative feminist writers have achieved a reasonable level of acceptance more than the radical feminists whose approach are separatist. Emeka Nwabueze’s The Dragon’s Funeral is examined to interrogate the contributions of contemporary Nigerian playwrights towards achieving gender equality championed by conservative feminist playwrights. The study is hinged on the theoretical premise of womanism and motherism as offshoots of conservative feminism that support gender equality rather than a female-dominated matriarchal society. It is in the light of this that the researcher recommends that gender equality championed by conservative feminist playwrights should be the Nigerian feminist agenda