Ghanian women and Modernity: Independence?Modern Ghanaian women suffer daily sacrifices, lifelong barriers to their advancement, and an emerging modernity which has multiplied their duties but not simplified their lives. Changes focuses on a three year period in the lives of Esi Sekyi, Opokuya Dakwa, and Fusena Kondey, three women approaching their mid thirties in Accra, Ghana.In Changes we can see the evidence of a complex struggle in the name of modernity between African women and society, families, traditions, and their own desires. From the perspectives of Esi, Opokuya, and Fusena, Aidoo shows us how such modern African women view their lives, and with what methods they are willing to fight to improve their lives.Esi, Opokuya, and to a lesser degree the much-suppressed Fusena, fight against more than just an accumulation of oppressive tradition that favors men. They struggle for appreciation of their talents and for an equal part in guiding their marriages. Esi and Opokuya struggle to build marriages and relationships that allow them to reap their benefits of their individuality and their educations, and exercise their own free wills, without making them overworked, or being labeled mad women and witches. The reaction of their families, husbands and communities to these women reveal modern dilemmas for educated African women.Aidoo's love story traces Esi's distinctly rebellious and independent path to love and marriage, as contrasted to the more traditional married lives of Opokuya and Fusena.; in doing so, the novel illustrates women challenging a postcolonial African society on all fronts. This front is as diverse as the workplace, in hotel bars, in the kitchen, on the road driving alone in their new cars, in the rural traditional village, and in the bedroom. Despite often finding that lonely independence is untenable, Esi and Opokuya achieve moderate success in their fight. Their resiliency indicates shifting gender roles in Africa, and some compatibility between tradition and these new roles.I give this book 5 stars because ot is an extremely rich story told frankly and believably. The material even seems politically important (perhaps all novels should try to be so?) in that it addresses real problems facing Africa and does not always provide answers, although it certainly proveds a rich cast of characters attempting to do so.
I gave this book a 4.5 stars.I found that this novel was a lesson in love for me. Aidoo presents us with the story of Esi, a Ghanain woman who has been thoroughly educated about the world but, not about love. Esi's character reads like a modern soap opera about a woman who has grown tired of her neat marriage and has started to crave adventure even though Esi herself labels this longing as a desire to not be under the thumb of any man especially, her husband, Oko who she sees as a mama's boy who is looking for a maid opposed to a wife. To rectify this conundrum, Esi decides that she will separate from her husband to live the life that she has always wanted. However, while living this life, she finds a new love interests in Ali, a devout Muslim man who offers her the chance to be his second wife after their torrid love affair. From here many emotional and social problems commence.Aidoo writes a novel that is full of cultural nods toward the ever present battle between European and African civilizations. Thankfully, none of these nods come off as preachy or as being blatant PSA's on what the "White man has done to us." This novel shapes up to be an intellectual version of chick lit. Well written and persuasive at some points, the novel gives the reader a look into a modern Africa that is not often talked about. The novel is good for anyone who wants to expand their horizons into a broader sphere of world literature without becoming too overwhelmed. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who wants a chance to look at postcolonial African cultures or just wants a different type of beach read.
Do You like book Changes: A Love Story (1993)?
As a reader, I thought this book was pretty interesting. The plot was fairly easy to grasp, and I liked several elements of the text. I thought at times, there was too much description and/or cultural context given. Some parts of the text were relatively boring to read due to the fact that there were long paragraphs that didn't give me anything in relation to the rest of the story. Overall, I do like the story that is told and the lesson being taught.As a teacher, I don't know if I would teach this text. I think African Literature is an invaluable tool in the classroom because it offers such a different perspective to students that our every day literature cannot. I feel as though high school students would find this text "boring" and not relatable. It would definitely be a book I would have on the shelves in my classroom though, and I would encourage students to read it independently. It just wouldn't be a text I would teach whole class.
—Megan
Read for my Postcolonial Lit class. I've liked all the books we've read this semester, but I really enjoyed this one. There is so much going on - the way the author plays with form and genre are really interesting, but the characters and plot are engaging too. The story is about professional women in West Africa (mostly set in Accra, but they travel a lot) trying to "have it all." In the discussions of monogamous marriage, extramarital affairs, and polygamous marriages, the characters are often grappling with how to define and classify their relationships and practices - are the African? European? Colonial? It paints a vivid pictures of modern characters trying to sort through how to live their lives in a postcolonial society where cultures and value systems intersect in complex ways.
—Natalia
I wanted to love this book. I mean, really, a love story out of Africa? How rare and how very necessary. It can be read two ways. As literature it disappoints. I just never reached the point of caring for the characters -- not even one. But as a sociological text it fares better. You may just want to see how urban Ghanians interact with one other, the balancing act as new aspirations are placed alongside longstanding traditions, ever-changing preoccupations and contemporary worries. Aidoo has much to say about these things. But I was looking for a great love story.
—Essence
