The Theme of Marriage in Dear Ramatoulaye as a Response to Mariama Ba\'s So Long a Letter

In this present modern society, it is noted that women writers world over, use their works to expose the ills of patriarchy to womanhood thereby raising gender consciousness in the people. The African women writers are particularly noted for this since the African society generally is gender bias. African male writers project this image of subservient on the woman. This image, the woman writer tries to correct by exposing the experiences of the woman through their works in such society. Mariama Ba in her So Long a Letter written from a Senegalese/Muslim socio-cultural milieu has triggered off this campaign although not very much welcome by masculinist or gender bias sexist like Umunnakwe in Dear Ramatoulaye. This lively debate between Mariama Ba and Umunnakwe is what is termed gender war, a war of words. An attempt to moderate the powers of patriarchy which is strongly resisted by Umunnakwe is seen through his utterances in his characters in the novel. This paper highlights issues raised in both novels and the response of the masculinist to such issues as polygamy, wife's battering, mental touchor in words and actions etc. Analysis of words and interpretation of their useage is also made. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research Vol. 5 2008: pp. 192-203