The sweet Trap

The Sweet Trap (1977) by Zulu SofolaThe Sweet Trap, a play by Zulu Sofola first appeared in 1977, potrays the imbalance of power between women and men as Nigerian society attempts to move from tradition to modernity. Having come in close contact with values of Western feminism that challenge traditional ideas about women's rights, Sofola creates women characters that tends to establish egalitarian relationships with their husbands. Similar to their husbands, Sofola's women are highly educated. But their education and contributions to their households do not exempt them from their husbands ridicule or attempts to have the wives submit to arbitrary decisions. Sofola critiques all ideologies and institutions that limit and impose hardships on women. She depicts traditional practices such festivals to underscore how they can become perverted and be used to denigrate women. Hence, Sofola demonstrates that Western feminism in its pure form creates havoc. However, a hybrid of African and Western feminism. Africana Womanism that supports egalitarian relationships simultaneously with support for positive relations with men fits more with African womanhood. The attitudes and tools that African women use to achieve these results are portrayed in the play.
 * Education is one of the most important means to give women the knowledge,skills and self-confidence necessary for emancipation
 * page 3.5,chapter three


 * Mere woman
 * page 3.8 chapter three