Tears of Hope: A Collection of Short Stories by Ugandan Rural Women

by Ayeta Anne Wangusa (Editor), Ayeta Anne Wangusa

An anthology of eight short stories, inspired by a project of the Uganda Women Writers' Association (Femrite) working with women attending legal aid clinics in southwest Uganda to encourage these women to relate their experiences. Their stories reflects the plights of African rural women, especially Ugandan rural women, in a traditionally male-dominated environment. They evolve around themes such as women in relation to the land and property, the social position of widowed women and orphaned girls, mental and physical abuse, the bride price, its place in modern relationships, its link with abuse, and how if affects the status of women. Many of the contributors to this anthology are gender and women's rights activists as well as creative writers. They include Monica Arac de Nyeko, Jackee Budesta Batanda and Waltraud Ndagijimana whose stories were published in Words from a Granary (Femrite, 2001).

Genres: Africa

171 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not all that well written, perhaps, but the stories of these rural women were poignant and painful -- and yes, there was some hope as well. It is not an easy life for a Ugandan rural woman.