TERRORISM AND GENDER VIOLENCE IN AFRICA: A PYSCHOANALYTICAL READINGOF ADAOBI NWAUBANI’S BURIED BENEATH THE BAOBAB TREE

Abstract

Terrorism as a global cancer continues to ravage the African continent, especially Nigeria as a country. While the effects of terrorism are more often linked with economic devastation, political instability, tribal, ethnical and religious divides, there are also devastating psychological effects of terrorism. “Women” as a category of people represent a marginal group that have a precarious position in terrorinfested environment, due to the fact that there is often an increase in gender-based violence. The case for women suffering has been established in relation to sexual and physical violence but the psychological implications of violence as inspired by terrorism have not gathered much scholarly attention. In fact, literature existing in this field remains scanty and for such a poignant issue with global focus such as terrorism, this cannot remain uncharted. Using the theory of psychoanalysis, this paper seeks to investigate the psychological impact of terrorism on women. This paper also seeks to examine the different ways in which terrorism and gender-violence are linked with one another, focusing attention on the inherent sexist nature of terrorist ideology that has been most represented by Boko Haram in the Nigerian context. The text selected for this study is Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani.