Abstract:
Like most literature around the world, African literature initially portrayed women poorly. This is in accordance with
Kalu’s (2001:14) observation that the role of women in society is constantly questioned and ‘for centuries women
have struggled to find their place’ in a world that is predominantly male oriented. Inaccurate and incomplete portrayals
of female characters littered early African works. This may be largely due to the fact that African literature was first
written by men, whose education was put above that of women. Educated men not only came from a patriarchal
society but were educated by missionaries and colonisers, who also came from a patriarchal society. The article
attempts to investigate the representation of women characters in BM Khaketla’s texts. His penchant to portray
androcentric narratives is at variance with the female gender that is trivialised through patriarchy, culture, a gender
socialisation process, marriage and domestic enslavement. The images of African women in these texts will be
reassessed and redefined. The article concludes with some contemporary issues showing that women do have
control over their own lives and are therefore the designers of their own future. There is room for contemplation of
individual responsibility in women’s plight apart from their cultural classification and expectations.
