No Capital Just Life, Neria, and the Traditional African Property Law


 


1.        Ifi Amadiume’s No Capital Just Life is a very symbolic poem. Literally, it depicts the richness of the African region in gems (diamonds and gold), the people’s ways of living, and their dreams. In deeper sense, it is a meaningful poem as it consists of nationalistic perspectives. To sum up, it is like ‘what belongs to Africa belongs to Africa, what belongs to me I own it’ viewpoint. Also, the poem is about the paradox of free and exclusive things. In structure, the poem used the free verse. According to , free verse or sometimes called vers libre is a term describing various styles of poetry that are not written using strict meter or rhyme, but that still are considered as ‘poetry’ because of the virtue of complex patterns of one sort or another that readers can perceive to be part of a coherent whole. Specifically, the poem can fall under prose poetry because it contains heightened imagery or emotional effect and associated with some prose techniques. The thematic universality is apparent as it depicts the idea of property. The things that belong to a particular place are considered to be their properties and that others can not take nor control them. Like the diamonds and gold, they belong to Azania and not to the speaker in the poem. The poetic techniques are used unmistakably. Since it is free verse and prose poetry, poetic techniques are unreservedly used. For instance, alliteration is very palpable in the phrases like ‘man of mine, diamond is diamond, and gold is gold or longer example like ‘imagine his promises of love placed in diamonds paid in cars!’ For assonance, ‘Now, let me see what else you want to give me…’ is a simple example. For symbolism, the following can be considered:



  • his promises of love placed in diamonds paid in cars – The promises of the global community in aiding most African countries in moving ahead progression is very prosperous, but all these promises are paid or have equivalents such as its natural resources.

  •  I won’t take it if you do, for all we know, it might be from Liberia or even Sierra Leone, not to talk of South Africa! – The things that Africa owns must belong to them and that no other power should interfere. In most cases, the richness and treasures of Africa should be brought back to the place and its people.

  • But diamond is diamond! Gold is gold so therefore I should wear the gem. – The fact remains that Africans and their continent is their legacy. Diamond is diamond and Africans are Africans. The things that belongs to them must be given back and let them make proud and make the most of it. It is also similar with the line: So, not that diamond for me, not the gold either for me, the gold belongs to Azania.

  • Remember the amputee children, our women, our old men, untold terror done to them to steal and sell their diamonds and gold! – This symbolizes the long history of colonization on most African regions and how they suffer all throughout.

  • We cannot give the kids back their arms! – The destroyed reputation of Africa and its people will never be back to its original form.

  • Now, let me see what else you want to give me, this modern African man of mine. Well, well, well this time you want to give me the latest Mercedes sedan SL 600! – This pertains to the effects of globalization and industrial development to the whole region.

  • What then can I want from you untainted? What can you give me freely? – This speaks of the dreams and aspirations of every African lineage.

  • If you can give me pure water to drink, to quench my thirst. If you can give me clean air to breathe, to clear my congested lungs. Just things you shouldn’t be giving, Just things that should be free and clean; no fees no capital, just life, for you! For me! – This clearly speaks on how Africans long for long-standing and establish peace and order in the whole continent.


 


2.        Neria in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s film of the same title is indeed a leader against social injustices in her community. In the film, Neria faces the daily life struggles upon the death of her husband. Being a widow, she is forced to deal with the difficult life without her husband and at the same time the social norms of African life. Her rights in the properties that she and her husband holds are questioned by her brother-in-law, Phineas. With her own conviction and principles in life, she fights for her right to keep their properties and the essential elements of her former life. Apparently, Neria is very brave for she endured the troubles brought about by her immediate community. The hardship of being a widow served as her ultimate challenge to continue her role as a woman and wife as well as her quest for human dignity. As she continues to take part in her daily routines, the emotions and feelings inherent to her heart and mind keeps her going. With the loss of her husband, she achieved human dignity and respect by fighting for her rights and being strong and persistent to live her life even with the absence of her better half. Also, being a widow herself, she recognizes the difficulties and the societal prejudices present in her environment. Neria is just one of those women who seek to be recognized as equal beings. Like Neria, widowed women are entitled with their own rights. The empowerment that Neria possesses is a manifestation that indeed women particularly African women is deserving to take control and autonomy to their feelings, actions and the things that exquisitely and exclusively belongs to them. By means of Neria’s daily battle against social injustices, she is a living proof that women should are just similar to men no matter what. The scene in the courtroom is the most compelling situation that showed how Neria become a leader against social injustices in her community through her quest for justice.


 


3.        According to , “many African women are caught between customary laws that have long governed issues such as marriage, inheritance and land ownership and modern civil law that was first brought by colonialists and later embraced by newly independent African states”. The Traditional African Property Law affects widows and divorcees by giving them lesser or worst, no opportunity to own the things that are connubial in nature. The Law limits widows and divorcees in owning properties as prescribed by a rights-based system and African culture. In Ifeoma Okoye’s The Trial and Other Stories, the short stories Soul Healers, The Voiceless Victim, and Between Women indicate some customs in need of change. In Soul Healers, Somadi was separated from her children upon the death of her husband because of traditional laws. Sent away from all that is ancestral, she is destined to live a life separate from her children. This kind of belief must be changed for there is already legal framework that deals with child custody. For The Voiceless Woman, the young woman, Ebele, lost her husband and was forced into the streets to beg, having been unable to find any work. Ebele is a victim of an unbalanced and unfair system. Today, the prejudice against widows or even divorcees in terms of employment should be addressed. Also, any person like the privilege woman is not entitled to disgrace a widow or other people. Equal opportunity employment as well as rights for equality must be enforced. In Between Women, Ebuka, being maid with an unjust employer must be protected by fair and just employment laws. The traditional and cultural belief of slavery must be changed. The injustices of privilege people against less fortunate individuals must be punished by corresponding provisions or policies prescribed by the state. As women empowerment is clearly propagated in the contemporary times, laws in general might as well address the need and rights of women.


 



Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com


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