CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The issue of African women and their existence in their society has come a long way in contemporary discussions. From time past up until this present generation, the place of women and their role in the society has been debated upon, questioned, and challenged by several groups in the society, with no group arriving at a definite conclusion.
In spite of the improvement brought about by globalization: the intellectual advancement, technological upgrade, increase in scientific knowledge, and the dawn of the internet age, African women still experience challenges in diverse aspects of their lives. The challenges they encounter are both personal and political, and these factors interact in such a way that one becomes a direct consequence of the other and vice versa.
Contemporary African women have emerged from a history of social oppression and subjugation, especially in a society usually defined as a ‘man’s world’, a predominantly patriarchal society that recognises only the voice of males in the society. African women have been relegated to a position of secondary importance by their male counterparts and that situation stems mainly from the nature of African societies which are mostly patriarchal (Overblog, 2006 ).
In ancient traditional African societies, the main concern of heads of families was to have as many male children as possible since the African society was structured as an agrarian society. Thus from childhood up to womanhood, the life of the African female was treated with little or no significant consideration. Being voiceless and totally dominated, the society prescribed to her the roles of child bearing, raising, and home keeping. Society considered her as inferior, a second class citizen, one who had the psychology of a child, thus, in the mind of Pa (SSC,p.13) ‘women were like that. They sat in the house, ate, gossiped and slept.’ In that kind of society, she had little or no chance to attain individuality. Ugwuoke (6), sums it up with these words: African society does not make any allowance for the assertive individual woman, instead , it insists on a way of life which compels women to behave in a certain way: to be seen, not heard, especially where men are around. In the society, they are treated as second class citizens, and no consideration is given to their opinion in matters of serious importance, even when such matters concern them. From childhood, their lives are regulated and they could be betrothed to man they have never seen before and may not get along with in married life.
Contemporary African women, unfortunately, have not been exempted from these challenges, such that although they have become exposed to the benefits of education, they are yet to enjoy the full benefits of emancipation and empowerment, as there are still some challenges to be confronted and conquered. Their battles are not so different from their ancestors, only this time, redefined and modified as a result of the ever changing society. The twenty-first century has witnessed the emergence of the career woman. This woman goes out of the prescribed role of motherhood in search of her identity as an individual, one who can assert her individuality as well as make significant contributions in her society. One of the resulting consequence of this change is the friction between her traditional role as a house wife and her contemporary quest for a professional career.
The reason for this imbalance between family and work is mainly due to revolutionary civilization experienced today. Since women began to fight against the patriarchal society, under the movement known as the Feminist Movement, they began to yearn for significance in the society: to be heard and seen; to feel empowered and capable.
The role of literature as regards societal change cannot be overemphasised. Literature has served as an effective social mechanism in exploring various social issues. The emergence of female writers in the African scene has greatly changed the assumption of literary study as a male dominated field. Female writers have joined their male counterparts in speaking out, especially about matters that concern them. This fact validates Virginia Woolf’s position about female writers when she says, ‘A woman’s writing is always feminine, it cannot help being feminine, the only difference lies in defining what we mean by feminine’ (247). This study explores the works of two indomitable African female writers, Buchi Emecheta and Ama Ata Aidoo, as they delve into the world of women, and reveal as well as respond to the socio-cultural constraints on them through their symbolic narratives.
Second Class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta (1974) is about the struggle of Adah (the main character) and her survival , not only of herself but also her dreams, while growing into a woman, moving from a high class position in her native Nigeria to a very poor class in a predominantly white European society. She struggles with motherhood and with being a wife and supporting her entire family along with being her own independent person( Western Michigan,p.1 ).
Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo (1991) is about a Ghanaian woman searching for her place in a modern world that is steeped in traditional culture. Esi has an advanced degree and she loves her job, but cannot find satisfaction in her marriage due to her demanding and overly pushy husband. While she loves her young daughter, she resents the fact that she is expected to care of her, work and take care of the house as well as being there for her husband. She resents her husband and her expected roles. Although Accra is a modern city, the cultural expectation of her society provide only frustration for Esi( Reid ). As a result of this she leaves her husband and tries to find a new path to fulfilment.
Both books analyse the plight of African women, with each depicting individual struggle for independence, for a voice within their families as well as for respect at their places of work.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The problem with the African society is that it has become so stereotyped that issues that emerge from each individual society have been said to be ‘typical African’. Unlike the western society where change is easy to implement, the African society can be quite slow, unwilling and hesitant in effecting any change into the system. The major concern of this study is to identify the major challenges, both personal and social, faced by the contemporary African woman, especially those that are in existence as a result of the ever changing nature of society.

1.3 SCOPE OF STUDY
This study will essentially be within our primary texts, Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo and Second Class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta, but we are of the view like Macherey that ‘a book never arrives unaccompanied’ (Akwanya, 165). This is to say that our discussion of our primary texts is not in isolation insofar as a text cannot be alone. In other words, we would be discussing our primary text along side any other texts or secondary materials that would aid in the understanding and achievement of our aim of study.

1.4 AIM OF STUDY
This research aims at reawakening the consciousness of the society that women all over Africa still live with several challenges, though unsuccessful attempts have been made ,also by the society, to sweep these issues under the carpet of politics. Using the literary texts as our object of study, the paper brings the African woman, once again, to the spotlight

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
Through this research, the body of knowledge that pertains to the challenges of contemporary African women will be reviewed and expanded. In addition to it’s relevance as an addition to academic scholarship, it is hoped that this research will not only serve as a source of information but also open up a new way of accessing the contemporary African woman. The research serves in furthering her awareness of social, political and economic issues that concern her through the vehicle of literature, as well as present likely prospects available to her.