GENDER AND REDEFINITION OF HEROISM IN WAR NARRATIVES IN AKACHI EZEIGBO'S ROSES AND BULLETS AND UZODIMMA IWEALA'S BEASTS OF NO NATION

Abstract This work examines gender and redefinition of heroism in war narrative in Akachi Ezeigbo's Roses and Bullets and Uzodimma Iweala's Beasts of no Nation. It is noted that many African writers do not often give heroic roles to their female characters especially in war narratives as a result of the patriarchal system of Africa and this has continued to dim the light of achievement of women in the social setting. It is against this backdrop that this study highlights how heroism in the primary texts are redefined to include women. This work adopts a qualitative research methodology. The research relies on the theory of African Womanism. The study discovers that women play active role in time of war and other social movements but sometimes their contributions are stampede because of gender stereotypes. Also, the patriarchal force in which African societies possess does not give room for women's contribution to be accepted or celebrated. The work concludes that, women's contribution in any social activity should always be recognised and duly referenced so as to help them submerged patriarchal dominance.