Male Daughters, Female Husbands

In 1987, more than a decade before the dawn of queer theory, Ifi Amadiume wrote Male Daughters, Female Husbands, to critical acclaim.

This compelling and highly original book frees the subject position of 'husband' from its affiliation with men, and goes on to do the same for other masculine attributes, dislocating sex, gender and sexual orientation. Boldly arguing that the notion of gender, as constructed in Western feminist discourse, did not exist in Africa before the colonial imposition of a dichotomous understanding of sexual difference, Male Daughters, Female Husbands examines the structures in African society that enabled people to achieve power, showing that roles were not rigidly masculinized nor feminized.

At a time when gender and queer theory are viewed by some as being stuck in an identity-politics rut, this outstanding study not only warns against the danger of projecting a very specific, Western notion of difference onto other cultures, but calls us to question the very concept of gender itself.

Ifi Amadiume is an award-winning Nigerian poet, anthropologist and essayist. She is associate professor at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.

'A groundbreaking work in the study of gender in Africa. This new edition of Amadiume's magnum opus deserves to be widely read.'
J. Lorand Matory, Duke University

'A brilliant inspiration to open up gender theory to the originality of African philosophies of being, social life and power.'
Jane Guyer, Johns Hopkins University

'Required reading in a cross-cultural women's studies course... A book well researched, clearly written... that can be depended upon to provoke lively discussion.'
Choice

'Essential reading for anyone interested in fundamental thinking about the issues of gender and sex in pre-colonial societies.'
Guardian, Nigeria

'This is a text that should be read widely and includes women's studies, social sciences and history. It will surely be an important statement in the catalogue of anti-colonialist historiography.'
West Africa

'Meticulously researched... An extremely important contribution.'
Africa