Analysis of zenzele a letter
Analysis of: Zenzele:
A Letter for My Daughter
By J. Nozipo Maraire
Dominique Kemp
History 1210-01
Professor Adejumobi
November 17, 2014
The novel, Zenzele1, is so much more than the telling of a good, touching story. Zenzele informs and educates its reader to what it means to be an African. The story is unfolded as a letter from a mother, Amai Zenzele, to her daughter, Zenzele. Reading a mother's perspective on the many different lessons that Amai attempts and hopes to teach and impart upon her daughter is a privilege in itself. Amai Zenzele recollects several anecdotes from her past as inspiration to inform and educate her daughter through her words, her verbal pearls of wisdom. These valuable lessons from her life include what it means to be an African while studying abroad, to be a strong and educated woman and the meaning behind being a true revolutionary. There is a battle; a continual struggle between Amai Zenzele and her daughter- Amai's traditionalist and grass roots of a time long past conflicts puts separation between the two. Zenzele is a part of the ever-evolving world around her, and it is from this new world that she becomes a fearless independent woman and charges full force into the future unafraid of what may come.
One of the main lessons to be learned is that of the role that African women play in African society, as well as global society2. On a whole, African women were mostly subject to living in male-controlled conditions. This is best shown in the ninth chapter of Zenzele in which Amai Zenzele's cousin, Tinawo's occupation is working as a maid for a white general. Tinawo is in charge of cooking and cleaning the house, under the direction of a white family. Throughout history, African women and women in general have been treated as an inadequate adversary to men, constantly placed in patriarchal positions. Amai and Zenzele, despite their many differences surely have similar ideals when it comes to feminism. Zenzele’s views seem
A Letter for My Daughter
By J. Nozipo Maraire
Dominique Kemp
History 1210-01
Professor Adejumobi
November 17, 2014
The novel, Zenzele1, is so much more than the telling of a good, touching story. Zenzele informs and educates its reader to what it means to be an African. The story is unfolded as a letter from a mother, Amai Zenzele, to her daughter, Zenzele. Reading a mother's perspective on the many different lessons that Amai attempts and hopes to teach and impart upon her daughter is a privilege in itself. Amai Zenzele recollects several anecdotes from her past as inspiration to inform and educate her daughter through her words, her verbal pearls of wisdom. These valuable lessons from her life include what it means to be an African while studying abroad, to be a strong and educated woman and the meaning behind being a true revolutionary. There is a battle; a continual struggle between Amai Zenzele and her daughter- Amai's traditionalist and grass roots of a time long past conflicts puts separation between the two. Zenzele is a part of the ever-evolving world around her, and it is from this new world that she becomes a fearless independent woman and charges full force into the future unafraid of what may come.
One of the main lessons to be learned is that of the role that African women play in African society, as well as global society2. On a whole, African women were mostly subject to living in male-controlled conditions. This is best shown in the ninth chapter of Zenzele in which Amai Zenzele's cousin, Tinawo's occupation is working as a maid for a white general. Tinawo is in charge of cooking and cleaning the house, under the direction of a white family. Throughout history, African women and women in general have been treated as an inadequate adversary to men, constantly placed in patriarchal positions. Amai and Zenzele, despite their many differences surely have similar ideals when it comes to feminism. Zenzele’s views seem