The presentation of women in the play reinforced the negative stereotypes that are dominant in African literature about women being confined in the kitchen. The women in the story, apart from the teacher who is a librarian at Kachokolo School, are presented with disempowering roles. However, the writer of the play might have been interested in the reality in Africa in presenting the stereotypes but Adichie warns against the use of stereotypes. In her novels Adichie attempts to avoid the stereotypes that discriminate women.

In her Ted Talk entitled the “Danger of a single story”, Adichie emphasises the importance of avoiding stereotypes and the necessity of multi-faceted portrayal of stories and characters in literature. According to Adichie, “the single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story”. As such, keeping to her literary principle, Adichie portrays multiple female identities that are complex, dynamic and probable. The women represented in Half of a yellow sun and Purple hibiscus are neither glorified nor exalted to perfection.

Rather, they are realistically and remarkably diverse characters that represent positive exemplars for women in text and context. In this case writers should refrain from reinforcing the gender stereotypes that discriminate women in different sectors of the society. For example, the movie reinforces the gender stereotypes that men are strong and they are bread winners while women are passive and depend on men.

In the play only William’s father is portrayed as the source of survival for the family. Only men are farming while women remain docile, waiting for men.

However, it should be noted that William’s mother expresses optimism with education as a tool to emancipate the African woman. She argues that when her child gets university education, she will be a strong and independent woman who will not be like her mother. Here she claims that education is another tool that can be used to empower the disempowered African women who form the majority of the population.

In addition, the presidential event leaves a lot to be desired. When we watch some movies we are given more of reality episodes of some noble things. When they want to present a chief’s setting they strive to make it real, but the presidential setting in the movie is a jumble. The convoy’s cars look more of private cars and not the expensive and posh that are commonly used by African heads of states.

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Tell us: Tell us: Do you believe that the movie portrays women as fragile and only belong in the kitchen?