SOCIAL AND FEMININE ENGAGEMENT ON AKACHI ADIMORAEZEIGBO’S POETRY

ABSTRACT

This study examines the poetry in two of Adimora-Ezeigbo's collections, Broken bodies and Dancing masks, with the view to show societal concerns and feminine engagement. The study adopts Feminist and Marxist theories of literary Criticism in exploring the poems and shows how the poetess exposes and enforces a sense of responsibility; a responsibility of educating the masses on the social concerns and gender roles. The work emphasise on the need to capture the socio-economic issues within the populace and unmask those veiled experiences of women in different regions. o achieve this objective, the research employs the qualitative method of research which involves the critical analysis of the selected poems from Adimora-Ezeigbo’s poetry collection. These poems serves as a window, which explores the interplay between societal issues and feminine experiences. The poem studied serves as formidable tools to redress and advance the agitation for equal rights for the female folk in all spheres of a society perceived to be predominantly a male dominated world. This research contributes to the existing body of literature on African Feminist poetry, providing a nuanced understanding of Adimora-Ezeigbo’s work and African literary traditions.