Resistance, Transformation, and Empowerment: The Development of Feminine Identities in Mokámbo, aromas de Libertad and Kanga, la tierra de los sueños by Victoria Evita Ika

Abstract

Abstract: Equatoguinean female authors have experienced a sort of Boom in literary production in the 21st century. Although there is still a relatively small number of women authors, they have made a significant impact on the Equatoguinean literary scene. Victoria Evita Ika explores the complexity of the formation of the multifaceted identity of a contemporary African woman in her novels Mokámbo, aromas de libertad (2010) and Kanga, la tierra de los sueños (2016). This analysis aims to explore how these two novels transform the development of identities of the modern Equatoguinean woman through surviving horizontal violence into a call for resistance and change. Her ability to learn from her experiences leads to finding a voice of resistance which is analyzed through the lens of the postmodern concept of "radical Black subjectivity." The struggle to negotiate between victimization and activism in order to realize her dreams, challenges the protagonist to make difficult choices. Both novels champion the resilience of women in their ability to adapt to the constant challenges they face in modern day Equatorial Guinea. This flexibility in the spirit of women is the true success and what ultimately keeps hope alive for the future of Equatorial Guinea.