(Dis)continuing with Tradition: Tsitsi Himunyanga-Phiri’s Exposition of Contemporary African Women’s Problems in The Legacy

Issues concerning African women have been the subject of many literary writings. Most early female African writers on women’s issues conveyed these from a predominantly feminist perspective, setting a kind of tradition. Amidst this, a few writers emerged whose writings on women’s issues pointed to a departure from such tradition. This article examines Tsitsi Himunyanga-Phiri’s novel The Legacy (1992), ascertaining instances where she departs from or conforms to the tradition set by some earlier African women writers. The discussion centres on her portrayal of contemporary African women’s problems, their underlying causes as well as possible solutions. Amongst the observations are that while the writer upholds sentiments held by her predecessors on the problems encountered by women and their possible solutions, she also departs from their common practice of blaming African men, patriarchy and traditional culture for the challenges encountered by the women. Instead, she singles out the colonial system, its destruction and ultimate abuse of both African customs and men as the chief architect of those challenges. The article concludes that Himunyanga-Phiri in some parts continues while in others discontinues with the tradition set by earlier female African writers.