INDIGENOUS FEMINISM IN POSTCOLONIAL SOUTH ASIA AND AFRICA: RESILIENCE, RESISTANCE, AND RECLAMATION OF IDENTITY THROUGH MONGO BETI’S “MISSION TO KALA” AND MUMTAZ SHAHNAWAZ’S “THE HEART DIVIDED”

Abstract

The paper investigates the relationship between colonialism and female identity formation. This paper also aims to present the development of the female identity in Pakistan and Cameroon that are postcolonial countries. As, it exposes the role of traditions and culture of postcolonial countries in subjugation as well as empowerment of women. The researcher has attempted to present a case for colonial after-effects on the identity of the inhabitants of the two former colonies of Africa and South Asia, based on several background studies. This paper concludes that the genuine liberation cannot be achieved without unity of the sexes. Furthermore, a country's degree of freedom is based on how free its women are to exercise their right to choose. In a similar vein, a society's degree of civilization can be inferred from how its members treat women. This paper derives from an interest in Postcolonial studies. It has used as a tool for researching the phenomena of postcolonialism and colonialism. The theoretical foundation for this paper is formulated by postcolonial discourse theory, and the textual analysis of the novel is limited to matters relevant to this discourse.