AbstractsWomens Studies

The title of this paper is "Two generations of African writers: Women who conform to norms, and women who make noise. Mariama Bâ and Calixthe Beyala”. In this study we analyze two novels, Une si longue lettre by Mariama Bâ (1979) and Assèze l’Africaine by Calixthe Beyala (1994). We examine the similarities and differences in expression, style and themes. Our objective is to determine whether Bâ and Beyala are representing two different groups of African female writers. We have combined a postcolonial approach with a comparative method. Our hypothesis is that the two novels stand in contrast to each other through differences in themes and styles. In order to test this hypothesis we use previous research. Our analysis shows that the work of Bâ has a sober and refined style of writing. Bâ is raising awareness of the situation of women, without deviating from social norms, choosing themes such as polygamy, sisterhood and the value of education. In the work of Beyala we see a more pronounced political criticism, in a bolder and more agitating style of writing. Our conclusion is that the two novels are strongly differentiated through themes and styles. Bâ and Beyala belong to two different generations of female French-speaking African authors.