AN EVALUATION OF SELECTED AFRICAN CULTURAL VALUES IN EFO KↃDJO MAWUGBE’S IN THE CHEST OF A WOMAN AND MARIAMA BÂ’S SO LONG A LETTER

Abstract

Literature serves as a vital platform for expressing the concerns and values of society. As such, culture plays a central role in literary works, since authors are often influenced, both directly and indirectly, by the societal contexts in which they are nurtured. At the same time, literature can shape culture by critiquing social practices or suggesting new directions for societal development. This paper examines selected cultural issues presented in Efo Kɔdjo Mawugbe’s In the Chest of a Woman (2008) and Mariama Bâ’s So Long a Letter (2004), using frame analysis as a theoretical lens. The central argument is that, because culture is inherently dynamic, outdated or harmful cultural norms must be critically reassessed to promote a more equitable and functional society. The study concludes that literature should not be viewed merely as entertainment or academic material, but as a powerful tool for social transformation.