Earth, Gender and Religion in Zambia: An Eco-Feminist Reading of Sula and Ja, A Novel by Ellen Banda-Aaku

Earth, gender and religion are three concepts which are interweaved and the female gender or woman/girl is at the centre of the three concepts. The chapter draws on content analysis to explore the intersection of earth, gender and religion as depicted in the novel of Ellen Banda—Aaku’s book entitled Sula and Ja, it is an account of love, power and trepidation. Since feminism is interdisciplinary in nature, the study is in feminist ecclesiology in practical theology and gender partnership within feminist sociology. The feminist theoretical framework will be employed to engage with the existing traditions and structures in the fiction narrative of Sula and Ja; this is a story of a girl and a boy enrolled at an elite school called St. Matthews, the two come from two different backgrounds, however, Sula is paired with Ja, the darling of the school to do a science project together. The chapter will show that the feminist theory of the unequal partnership between the rich and the poor is reflected in the fiction of Ellen’s mention of the two different backgrounds of Sula and Ja. Sula came from a lowly background which made her nervous at the school, and Sula and her sister Joyce didn’t want the other pupils at the school to know that Sula came from a poor family. Although Ja comes from a rich family, he was not a happy person because his mother kept him away from his father whom she and her parents believed was not good enough to be married to their daughter. This is a fiction story which portrays what a human being experiences when one’s background is not well acknowledged especially when one is poor. Furthermore, the author describes what Ja felt because of the way the mother’s family treated his father, he was in pain to see his father being treated like a leper. It will further show how relationships among peers and families can be destroyed and hurt themselves in the process. Ellen also illustrates that relationships can also change as it’s seen between Sula and Ja. The analysis of Ellen Banda-Aaku in relation to earth, gender and religion shall contribute to the existing body of knowledge on gender and relationships so that humanity can appreciate and value the female gender as an equal partner in development.