Women and Mozambican land: oppression and struggle during colonial era

Abstract

After a brief historical contextualization of the situation of women during the Mozambican War of Independence, we will focus on the works of two authors who sought to portray the female condition during that period. We will begin by analyzing the narratives of Ninguém matou Suhura (1988), by Lília Momplé, and O Alegre Canto da Perdiz (2008), by Paulina Chiziane, with the aim of identifying points of convergence within a female discourse that echoes the multiple voices of women silenced by hegemonic power. Momplé’s work emphasizes the cruelty of the fate reserved for Mozambican women in their relationship with men who represent colonial power. The novel O Alegre Canto da Perdiz is filled with origin myths that seek to present a sometimes mythologized image of womanhood. Both novels highlight the fragile position of Black women during this period, as they endure double oppression: racism and sexism. Based on the theoretical framework of Hooks (2015), Owen (2007), Secco and Miranda (2013), Bourdieu (1998) regarding the marginalization of the feminine, and Hall (2007), Castells (1998), and Mucchieli (1986) concerning postcolonial cultural identities, we will seek to answer the following question: In what ways is the theme of land a meaningful axis for discussing female oppression during the colonial period in Mozambique?