Association urges women to adopt “motherism’’ play down on feminism

Published on March 18, 2020By ADEROGBA GEORGE (News Agency of Nigeria)

Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), FCT chapter has called on women to adopt the concept of “motherism’’ rather than feminism, which is  foreign and alien to the African culture.

Mrs Halima Usman, Chairman of the association made this known on Wednesday at a programme organised to celebrate women in literature and national development.

The association particularly used the programme to celebrate one of the foremost Nigeria authors, Prof. Catherine Acholonu who died in March 18, 2014 , and had many literary works, particularly her

book titled: ”Motherism”.

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The Nigeria News Agency reports that the event was also organised to commemorate the International Women’s Day celebrated March 8 of every year.

“Feminism idea is a culture associated with the western countries and civilised world, it is an opposite meaning to the concept of motherism written by Prof. Acholonu.’’

She urged women to work towards giving their best and make their impacts felt in the society instead of clamouring for gender equality “that is contrary to the true culture of Africa’’.

According to her, in the book written by Acholonu, the concept of motherism admonished women to take her pride of place in the society and at the home front by showing total humility wherever they found themselves.

She said that the book portrayed the notion of respect by all women instead of demanding for equality.

“In the northern part of the country where I come from, there are some functions women are not allowed to perform, equality of women to men is not practicable in the northern part, women must be dignified and focused and complement their male counterparts,” she said.

According to her, Prof. Catherine Acholonu, who is being celebrated with the programme has written so many books on issues that redefined women in her little place in the society and her place in reshaping the world.

She advised that women must emulate the virtue of Acholonu, who she described as a hard worker who did not limit herself to literature written but worked hard to contribute her quota to the nation development.

Mrs Nneka-Acholonu Egbuna, one of the daughters of the late professor, who described her mother as a visionary woman,  said that her book on motherism encouraged women to be in  partnership with the men”.

“Our mother was not a feminist, her book was on motherism; and motherism is all about nurturing; a man can be a father and nurture a woman, so why don’t we go back to African culture where men and women are in partnership as described by our mum”.

Mrs Ifunaya-Brown Okoroafor, Acholonu’s eldest daughter, said that feminism was doing more harm, adding that there was need to delve into motherism as portrayed by her mother.

Okoroafor said her mother was a woman of many parts, who did not follow the crowd but was focused and was determined  to achieve something.

“We wish to spread the work of her hand and tell the world that feminism is doing more harm than good, the world needs to know that there is need to delve into motherism as a way of working with the men to create a balanced society,” she said.

Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma, a lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, University of Abuja urged women writers who inhabit the world of literature to constitute major pillars of development for the country.

According to her, the role of the woman in all spheres of development must be concrete and palpable that will make her an epitome of goodness to bring results.

“I use this opportunity to recommend that women writers should network and build bridges and consensus. Efforts to mainstream creative writing into the curriculum at early childhood education stage should continue and women should continue to shape the dialogue for equity and equality through literature.’’ She said.