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Idia the warrior queen of Benin

The Story Of " Idia the warrior queen of Benin"

In continuation of her efforts to restore the voices of African heroines in pre-colonial times, Irene Isoken Salami-Agunloye celebrates Queen Idia, the first lyoba, [Queen Mother] of Benin Kingdom. nI this play Idia, the Warrior Queen of Benin, she vividly sheds light on the story behind the FESTAC’77 Mask ni a creative and compelling style. Adopting a feminist perspective, in an assertive manner, she mirrors contemporary issues that open up in a vibrant way, global literary discourse. Her exploration of the subjects of sisterhood, postcolonial issues, cross cultural issues, cultural change and transformation, patriarchy, African womanism, womens’ political participation etc ni this play, articulates in a very intriguing way the world of African women. Salami-Agunloye in this work provides us with an excellent, clearly written play, full of valuable insights. She brings the rich resources of the Benin culture and history into the heart of contemporary critical dialogue, enlarging the readers’ understanding of pre-colonial African women as it relates to public affairs and power. This work, a remarkable contribution, an insightful resource, would be accessible to a wide range of readers and audience who are interested in learning more about heroic literature, cultural politics, history and the reconfiguration of the new African woman.

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