sempozyum_bildiri_kitabi

You have to accept what is happening to you my daughter. All women go through what
you are going through. Marriage is what earns a girl her dignity. She must be patient even
if it takes her to the farthest place in the world. 8
Determined and inspired by her resolve to end the slavery, Lami urged her sister Fatima to reject
all discriminatory norms against women. She turned to look at her sister and as if predicting their
destiny said;
I believe somewhere far away from here there is a place where a woman has freedom;
freedom away from slavery; freedom to do as she wants to. Try and get to that place. I do
not know where this place is, all I know is that I have the conviction that this place exist.
Look for this place; get there and live there. Do not dwell in this hellish life. I know you
may not comprehend all I am telling you now but hold tightly to my sermon for it will help
you in future. 9
When Lami died during child birth and Fatima was given again by the father to replace her sister
as Mallam’s wife, the mother suggested that the wedding should be put on hold until she was older
since she was only nine years old; the father got angry and threatened to divorce her. Armed with a
determined spirit and inspired by the knowledge and awareness of what happened to her sister,
Fatima followed her heart and did exactly what her late sister had advised and without seeking
advice from anyone, Fatima disappeared from home and coincidentally met Mallama Zubaida the
voluntary health worker who adopted her as her daughter.
The male members according to Abdulmajid look upon women as brainless. When Fatima’s step
mothers had a misunderstanding, her father did not bother to reconcile them. Instead he divorced
the least favored wife and sent her packing to her parent’s home. Without waiting to find out what
her crime was, her father sent her back to her matrimonial home with a whip and looking at the
husband, he said; “You know women, they are not to be listened to or paid attention to. I did not
bother to find out what she did to earn your anger but I know it has to do with one of the stupid
behaviours women exhibit. 10> . So saying he handed him the whip he was holding and said, “Use this
to beat her anytime she misbehaves.” 11> Hence men consider it their duty to guide and put women
in their right place .women are treated as properties sailing from one master to the other.
Abdulmajid’s views of the marriage institution therefore can only be termed contemptuous and
pessimistic. The society she depicts is a society where wives are abused, as we see in actions
exhibited by Fatima’s father; by Mallam in his home and also in Fatima’s marital home. Polygamy in
Mace Mutum is seen as a major point in women's subjugation and suppression. Hausa society which
is also where Fatima comes from has been a polygamous one even before Islam was introduced; the
system expects wives to leave together in harmony. Ideally, a co‐wife can leave her child in trust of
another co‐wife without any fear whatsoever. As a wife, a woman is expected to rely on her husband
for everything. Her views or choices are not taken seriously and she is only recognized and respected
by the society if she obeys the wishes and commands of the husband. She is not expected to
complain against any injustice done to her by the husband. The husband does not seek for her
consent or views when he wants to marry another wife. The man becomes the central icon within
the patriarchal society thereby reducing women to the periphery and silencing them politically,
socially, economically and otherwise.
Another instance of exploitation was when Mallam informed Indo his first wife that he was going
for her only son’s graduation. She did not hesitate to sell her only worldly possession, a goat and
gave the money to Mallam to aid him in fast tracking her son’s return after several years of absence.
But Mallam used the money instead to marry a new bride. This action of Mallam depicts the callous
nature of many men who believe they not only own the women but also what they own. That was
not all, when he came back with the bride no one expected Indo to ask after her son whom Mallam
claimed he had gone to bring home and when she did, all Mallam could do was to insult and divorce
her. This behavior so much provoked her that she challenged her husband and in despair says: