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Tell It to Women
An Epic Drama for Women

Osonye Tess Onwueme		 A post-feminist epic drama, Tell It To Women transcends current feminist theories to critique the western feminist movement from an African traditional perspective. Through Yemoja and Sherifat, traditional semiliterate Idu women, and two western educated feminists, Daisy and Ruth, Onwueme sets up ideological oppositions, such as urban and rural, modernity and tradition, poverty and wealth, illiterate and literate, and mistress and servant, which she further dismantles. Tell It To Women gives traditional rural women a voice: the women from Idu break from their assumed position of silence and powerlessness to confront the urban women who believe their western education gives them the authority to speak for all women. Using the devices of humor and metaphor, the magic of movement, dance, and drama, Onwueme has created a rich, vibrant play that stimulates the intellect and soul. "Onwueme is eminently a political dramatist, for power affects every other aspect of society. She explores these themes with a dazzling array of images and proverbs. Her drama and theater are a feast of music, dance, mime, proverbs, and story-telling. With Tell It to Women, Onwueme consolidates her position among the leading dramatists from Africa."—Ngugi wa Thiong'o

African American Life Series

$21.95s paper / ISBN 0-8143-2649-8

240 pages

1997