Death of Shija's heroines and its Implication

on Female Struggle in the Siege, the Saga

By

Omale O. Festus
Department of English Education
National Teachers’ Institute Nyanya-Gbagi
Abuja
festusowoichoomale@gmail.com
0803 628 4297

&

Azan, Baba James (PhD)

Department of English Language
Nasarawa State University Keffi
azanbabajames6@gmail.com
08016 092 4892
Abstract

This paper aims at examining the tragic end of female characters in The Siege,
The Saga with particular attention on Torkwase and the implication of this
phenomenon on female struggle for emancipation and gender rights in Nigeria
and by extension, Africa. In doing so, it examines her character
trait with the view of ascertaining the extent in which her “tragic flaw”
contribute to her tragedy and assert that the rights of womenfolk have been
consistently stifled by patriarchal hegemony. Our society has been unfair to the
female gender; it regards the male gender as superior and relegates the female to
the background. The primary goal of this study therefore, is to examine this
social challenge as explored in Terhemba Shija's The Siege, the Saga using the
feminist theory. The findings of the paper reveal that women have been debased
in the work and conclude that the female gender should be accorded the same
degree of dignity, rights and privileges with the male gender.

Keywords:Dealt,Heroin,Implications,Female,Struggle
Introduction
Aristotle observes that tragic hero /heroine should have a flaw and/or make

some mistakes. Odewale's flaw can be traceable to temper and rash decision,

Okonkwo's flaw is not unconnected with pride. For Torkwase, is promiscuity,

patriarchally created, though. A common personality trait among them ( tragic

hero/ heroin) however, is their quests for the betterment of their societies which

often than not, attract supreme sacrifice. Torkwase for instance, is generally

seemed as an advocate for female advancement and empowerment in what is

largely described in literary circle as feminism. Feminism is simply defined as

"analysis of women's subordination for the purpose of figuring out how to

change it" (Linda Gordon quoted in Alkali's inaugural lecture). Feminist history

reveals that women globally irrespective of age race, religion or era had always

struggled to and are still struggling in one way or the other to effect changes in

their social, political and economic positions. This perfectly describes the vision

of Torkwase and would have certainly fulfilled it, if she had not succumbed to

the pressure of human weaknesses orchestrated by chauvinist order. There is no

doubt that female struggle in Nigeria and by extension, African suffers a major

setback with the tragic dealt or Torkwase.

Since inception, the society has been unfair to women especially Africa. The

female gender is labeled weak, powerless and inferior. They are relegated to the

background because the society is patriarchal in nature, favouring the men

above the women. Yetunde Olukemi Akorede posits “The marginalization and
empowerment of women are dominant realities in the world, especially in the

African environment” (51). This stereotype is reflected in many male authored

writings consciously or unconsciously because a writer is a product of his

immediate environment. According to Kolo, Early African male writers and

some contemporary male writers are guilty of degrading the female characters

in their works. In Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe relegates the women to the

background confining their roles to only domestic activities. Wole Soyinka also

portrays the females in The Lion and the Jewel in a degrading manner. On the

contrary, she opines that women are not despicable as perceived by the male

authors and the society at large. The women's function goes beyond domestic

chores, they also play relevant roles in all sphere of life such as agriculture,

education, politics among others. It is against this backdrop that Mba Nina

argues that “The history of Nigeria's colonial past is replete with powerful

women of substance who had taken their rightful position alongside men as a

result of their achievements. The likes of Queen Amina of Zazzau, Moremi of

lie Ife, Iyalode of Ibadan, Madam Tinubu, Inikpi of Igala, Daurama of Daura,

Nana Asmau Danfodio, the Gumsu of Borno, Queen Emotan of Benin and more

recently Fumilayo Ransome Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, Gambo Sawaba And Laila

Dogon Yaro, among others were recorded as worthy of

Making history.” (quoted in Zaynab:11).

She goes further to assert that, with the emergence of Women's Right

Movement of the sixteenth century and feminism in the nineteenth century, the

female gender has become assertive and refuses to yield to male subordination.

The feminist ideology in the words of Akorede: "rests firmly on the proposition

that women should be given equal rights and opportunities as men. It articulates

the politics of gender discrimination, exploitation and liberation" (19). As a

result of criticisms from feminists on male authored texts where women have

been despised, some male writers have become cautious. Whether this

cautionary gesture is demonstrated in Shija's The Siege, the Saga is a matter of

conjecture. The analysis of this paper will focus on the degradation of the

female gender in Terhemba Shija's The Siege, the Saga and by implication,

impeding the prospect of gender struggle for emancipation.

Degradation of Shija's Heroines in the Siege, the Saga

It is obvious that Shija hugely infringes on the quest for gender impact and

advancement by portraying them in unwholesome manner as captured below:

The Female Gender as Having Insatiable Sexual Appetite

The author portrays the females in the novel as wayward, given to promiscuity

and having insatiable sexual appetite. Torkwase exhibits this trend throughout

the novel, she flirts with different men that come her way. During her university

days in Maiduguri, she dates Targema and flirts with other men. During her

National Youth Service corp at Bauchi, She had affairs with Major Tangaleand

Abubakara business man: “Torkwase loved the lackadaisical and

non challant mien of Tangale towards sex, and infact, his favourite term for it

was ‘fuck’, which, in itself was orgasmic” (92). A tragic end of an important

character as earlier explained is usually preceded by a personality trait that

leads to his or her downfall. This reality is visibly expressed in the circumstance

of Torkwase. Her promiscuous life style seemly a tantamount to debasement of

womanhood is too pronounced to the extent that womenfolk which ordinarily

constitutes her political and gender base protests against her choice of first lady

as expressed by one of the women in a hair dressing salon.

Me, I no care whoever would win. All I want to say,

let not that woman Torkwase take I'm big Nyash
enter that government house, na the wife of my
village man who be I'm husband drive, (19).

By implication, Torkwase is" more or less a liability than an assert in the

eyes of the speaker. Unlike Stella who demonstrates some levels of decency by

scrutinizing her prospective lovers to ensure that the lucky one have the
sophistication that match her expectation, Torkwase is available to all categories

of clients . As for as she is concerned

All men were useful for one reason or the other. There were those
who satisfied her material needs on campus. There were those
others who helped out in her academic work like lecturers and of
course there were those who satisfied her sexual desire for the
sake of it. She need them all and could not afford to be a snobbish
as Stella (21-22).

The above statement reinforces the depth of Torkwase moral degradation.

Here is a woman whose immoral space is so expansive that any man can

be accommodated for varieties of reasons.

However, there are occasions where she is strictly available for the highest

bigger in bid to sustain the jerry-curled hair, expensive cloths, rich perfume that

enhance her natural charm and sophistication. It is also revealed that her so-

called queen's accent is stage managed in order to woo her bourgeois customers.

When men and money are involved, Torkwase' sense of moral perversion

knows no bound. That “ rumours in Gboko had it Chief Shaage was actually the

man in control of both mother and daughter ... (27). Her promiscuous life style

often time exposes her to other vices including smoking. This is seemed in her

confession to Tarqerna that she could not reject any offer of cigarettes from men

when he catches her in the act.

In the same view, Torkwase is not necessarily attracted by Alhaji's glittering

Volks Wagen Santana, but a lust for varieties of male companions. In other
instances, it is the combination of both that becomes the driving force as

observed in the following

She was extremely eccentric and knew exactly what she wanted
from men. She also knew men too well. She knows how sexy
university rascals with huge libido. The rich pot-bellied uncles
with bag of money, the busy luxury-loving married me with
generous bank account ... (84).

Stella is another female character depicted as having insatiable sexual appetite.

She is Torkwase's childhood friend and shares similar habits with her, after been

jilted by Alex her proposed fiancé, she meets Nwachukwuat a garden in Abuja

and did not hesitate to satisfy her libido that night at the garden: "At such times

when she had felt the fierce heat of that intimate flame for sex had kindled

in her, she became breathless and agitated and ill prepared to discuss

any other matter apart from sex" (185). The product of that sharp romance leads

to her having a son whereas, Nwachukwu disappears into the air. Other females

in this category are Madam Esther whose flirtatious characteristic produced

three children for different men, Eno and Zanaria are also all active members of

the fraternity where Torkwase holds sway like Medieval English queen.

The Female Gender as Adulterous and Immoral

It is important to note that the author also reflects the women in his book as

adulterous, lacking regard for their matrimony. Zanaria's extra marital affair

with the minister leads to the questioning of the paternity of her son John.

“There was a slight controversy as to who really was the father of John. It was

only Zanaria that had the final say" (45).She continues in adultery with other
top politicians in the society. Torkwase is depicted as unfaithful to her husband,

she sleeps with her domestic servants and John Sule her husband's driver

resulting into the birth of her first child. Taking cognizance Torkwase

promiscuous antecedent, Shija's audience

are not taken aback with “I Slept with the First Lady Several Times”

Former Driver” as screaming headline in The Gazette. In an interview John

Sule granted the Weekend Gazette, he reveals that

…I had an affair with his wife which cost me my job and almost
cost me .my life. I did not want to have anything to do with her but
I was blackmailed by the woman.
…She threatened that she would lie against me to her husband that
I came to her room and attempted to rape her. .. (111)

From John Sule's account, it could be deducted that Torkwase is not necessarily

constrained by pressure and reproach of childlessness to toe the adulterous' path

but rather by her promiscuous nature: otherwise, she wouldn't have humiliated

her husband's driver for over six months.

Females as Weaklings

In our society which is patriarchal, women are considered as weak, lacking in

strength and reasoning. Hence, Chief Anza's voice is likened to a woman's. "His

voice was as feeble as that of an old woman" (147).

Females as Lesbians

Torkwase and Stella engage in lesbianism after getting seduced while watching

a pornographic movie.
 Silently yet swiftly the two ladies grabbed each other and peeled off
their dresses. They fumbled and kissed and rolled on the bed. While
Stella's fingers tenderly worked their way into Torkwase's, her
friend gently picked on the nipples of her breasts. They gradually
swapped roles, this time discovering many more private and
sensitive areas of their bodies. The velocity of their heartbeats
waxed faster, Torkwase moaned. Stella grumbled unintelligently.
(31)

In the light of all these debasement of morality, it is not surprising when the

readers are ushered into her world of two female lovers , vividly captured as

follows.

As Torkwase walked into small compact room, the colour

television screen fluttered and splashed vivid clips of a
pornographic movie. Torkwase had watched that film over and
over again ... they both turned and watched the film enjoying the
most lewd parts of the film's fornication, silently yet swiftly, the
two ladies grabbed each other. ..(31).

Females as Victims of Domestic Violence

Kolo further asserts that Women are victims of domestic violence in the novel:

Torkwase gets beaten up by her husband: "In a fit of anger he slapped her

across the face twice" (128). Another victim of assault in the novel is Eno who

gets beaten by her boyfriend Isaiah: “Isaiah straightened up, eased his trouser's

belt and lashed the lady several times as she strove to defend herself behind the

door trapped in between her bedroom and her parlour. Every lush of the belt

tore through her skin and drew blood. She screamed, and wept and cursed for a

long time until Isaiah thought she had had enough of the thrash”. (164)
Madam Esther is a victim of assault too, 'The pastor was equally dexterous in

mischief. He gave her an unexpected upper-cut, hard enough to draw blood and

dislocate her dentition" (178). Unfortunately this cruel act is supported by the

society as Eno's friend advises her, it is the nature of all men to beat their wives

or girl friends if they really loved them.

Females as Dependants

Zanaria, Torkwase, Stella, Eno and Madam Esther all relied on men for survival

The Death of all Female Characters and Implication for Gender

Emancipation

All the female characters in the novel die. Sharon, Chief Shagee's white woman

from Newcastle dies, "Sharon, the beautiful bride of the new leader had gone to

bed and not woken up" (80). Zanaria the powerful and influential woman in the

society also dies of HIV AIDS as well as Torkwase, Stella and Madam Esther

who were shot at the military check point.

At this juncture, the stage for requiem mass the expectant first lady has begun to

gather momentum as fate also begins to play its part and in quick succession

too. In a matter of days, the woman referring to as lady Macbeth at the

beginning of the novel comes to her tragic end. It happens in a cross fire

exchanges between the Zaki Biem vigilante group and the federal troop along

side with Stella and Esther on their way to Wukari to consult prophet Abiodun
in bid to safe her marriage which is visibly threatened by a negative newspaper

publication. The tragic death of Torkwase no doubt poises visible impediment

to female struggle for emancipation and gender equality.' Although it may

appears that a woman who breaks out of a norm especially in marriage

institutions stands the enormous risk of being dubbed a cultural deviationist

rather than a freedom fighter, but beyond such casual conclusion lies underneath

a huge social responsibility on Torkwase to expand women's opportunities and

representation in development process. This is demonstrated by the large

number of well wishers who visited her following the damaging newspaper

publication. During this visit:

... two other women from the crowd burst out praying in tongues.
A more zealous Pentecostal Christians among took over and
embarked on long winding prayer evoking the Almighty God with
many praise names .. (119).

To the woman, the negative newspaper publication is an attempt by the

reactionary force to abort the much anticipated era of economic independence

and enhanced living condition for the less privilege, notably: orphans, widows

and the destitute. In their views, Torkwase's opponents are “…children of

darkness. Those who plundered our economy. Those who had denied the

orphans, the widows, the destitute of basic food and water ...” (120). The

volumes of prayer, the depth of commitment and the quality of solidarity

demonstrated can only be accorded to the woman who is seemed as a symbol of

liberation, possessed with enormous intellectual capacity for adequate

representation. It is therefore not surprising that "By the time the prayer and

worship session was concluded, every woman in the second parlour was soaked

in sweat” (121 ).

In the same vein, the size of the mammoth .crowd that gathered in solidarity,

points to personality of Torkwase as a grass root woman who is undoubtedly

committed to struggle for women emancipation and gender rights. The visitors

are so large to the extent that "The congestion in the room had practically

rendered the air conditioners ineffective” A less visionary personality could

have only attracted a handful number of sympathizers. The newspaper'

publication obviously sponsored by her husband’s opponent might have

portrayed her as the “most treacherous and dishonest wife” nevertheless, she

enjoys tremendous support and solidarity especially from women who have

endorsed her as their representative in the development process. The assertion

that the death of Torkwase is setback to female struggle in a men dominated

world is summarized in the epilogue of the novel. “ The casket containing the

remains of Torkwase was conveyed in an ambulance, trailed by a long convoy

of vehicles from her husband's house in Turan, down to the family cemetery

....both governorship candidates of the two parties for .the election, chief

Shaaqee and Barrister Targema were for once, united in grief over the brutal

murder of the lady ...” (211).

Conclusion

It is observed that all the female characters in the novel have been degraded by

author because none of has a record of achievement or successful carrier.

Although they had potentials of becoming useful to the society, their good traits

were suppressed. From the foregoing, the siege, the saga, presents a heroine

who is highly assertive but unfortunately, could not maximize optimally her

assertiveness due to both natural and man-made inhibitions. Torkwase dream

for female advancement though truncated by combination of human weakness

and fate, provides an inspiration for the sustenance of struggle. It is our hope

that scholars and writers alike will continue to demonstrate in their works

greater sense of commitment towards gender rights and emancipation. Authors

should accord their more positive treatment of gender empowerment as

contribution to gender coexistence and integration. On the whole, the female

gender should be given equal opportunities like their male counterparts, and be

accorded respect and dignity.

Works Cited

Primary Source
Shija, Terhemba. The Siege, the Saga. Ibadan: Kraft books Ltd, 2015.
Secondary Sources
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. London: Heinemann, 1958.
Akorede, Yetunde Olukemi. Feminism and Literature: Womanism and the
Intra-Gender Conflict Theory. Porto-Novo: Sonou Press, 2011.
Achebe, Chinua, Things Fall Apart; London: Heinemann, 1958.
Alkali, Zainab. “The Relevance of Gender Studies in Nigeria's Higher
Institutions of Learning”. 8th Inaugural Lecture, Nasarawa State
University, Keffi, 17th December, 2014.
Kolo, Elizabeth. “The Degradation of Female Gender in Terhemba Shija’s
The Siege, the Saga: The Feminist View. Seminar Presentation at Nasarawa
State University, Keffi, July, 2015.
Rotomi, Ola, The gods are not to Blame. London: Oxford University Press,
197
Muhammad, Usman Ambu. “Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel: A
Distortion of Female Image”. JORIND (9), p314 June, 2011.
Nwapa, Florence One is Enough, Enugu: Tana Press, 1990.
Soyinka, Wole. The Lion and the Jewel. London: Oxford University Press,
1963
Www.vhio.edu.people/hert/egg/ref/aristotle/tragedy/htm/