Title: Daughters of Anowa
First published: 1995
Description: Daughters of Anowa provides an analysis of the lives of African women today from an African woman's own perspective. It is a study of the influence of culture and religion - particularly of traditional African cultures and Christianity - on African women's lives. Mercy Amba Oduyoye illustrates how myths, proverbs, and folk tales (called "folktalk") operate in the socialization of young women, working to preserve the norms of the community.

Daughters of Anowa reveals how global patriarchy manifests itself in these social structures, in both patrilineal and matrilineal communities.

Organized as a narrative in three cycles, Daughters of Anowa demonstrates how folktalk alienates women from power, discourages individuality and encourages conformity. It also considers the possibilities for the future. Oduyoye posits that change will come about only when the daughters of Anowa (the mythic representative of Africa itself) confront the realities of culture and religion in perpetuating patriarchal oppression and work to realize the goal of a new woman in a new Africa.
Subjects: Yoruba Women, Women, Ashanti, Religious aspects, Christianity, Women, Yoruba, Women in Christianity, Ashanti Women, Feminist theology, Religious aspects of Patriarchy, Patriarchy, Femmes dans le christianisme, Vrouwen, Femmes yoruba, Cultuur, Gleichberechtigung, Femmes ashanti, Geschlechterrolle, Godsdienst, Frau, Soziale Situation, Patriarchat, Tradition, Patriarches et patriarcat, Controversial literature
Places: Sub-Saharan Africa
People: Mercy Amba Oduyoye
LC classification: BR1430 .O38 1995