Androgyny and Women‘s Identity in Ari Katini Mwachofi’s Mama Ee

Abstract

A reading of Ari Katini Mwachofi’s Mama Ee reveals it as an analysis of gender relations specifically within the institution of marriage in a patriarchal social order. The playwright portrays an antagonistic relationship between women and men. However, different from earlier Kiswahili works, the woman’s voice here is new, aggressive and revolutionary as she negotiates for her identity. The main female character Mwavita, can only be likened to Lanina the main character in Alamin Mazrui’s Kilio cha Haki. But different from the latter, woman here not only fights for her rights, equal treatment, self-identity, and self-determination, her freedom, her sexuality, she is also on a mission of sensitization and consciousness- rising.......