Resisting Cultural Gender Domination in Africa: Insights from Drama and Legal Discourse

Most traditional societies in Africa have long been patriarchally organised, keeping women in secondary positions in social, economic, as well as political life. This study looks at the denial of such cultural domination through a study of dramatic portrayal as well as legal discourses that aim to knock down deep-rooted gender hierarchies. Focusing on a selected play by Ahmed Yerima, in conjunction with relevant African legal instruments ensuring gender equality, the research utilises a qualitative, text-based approach. Drawing on Socialist Feminism and Feminist Legal Theory, the study explores how dramas contain stories that act as sites of patriarchal resistance. Yerima's drama accounts for women characters exercising agency, challenging social oppression, and remaking themselves within the contexts of male-constrained worlds. Such dramatic constructs are consistent with recent legal efforts to intervene in gender discrimination, illustrating the way drama serves as both a reflection of and impetus to social change. The discussion draws attention to the intersection of drama and law as a critical location for contesting gender oppression and making the case for justice. By merging literary and juridical discourses, it emphasises the transformative potential of cultural and institutional coordination towards achieving gender equality. Lastly, the paper makes a contribution to intellectual debate in gender, power, and representation, calling for a new African society where women's agency is both recognised and institutionalised.