AFRREV VOL.12 (2), S/NO 50, APRIL, 2018 Copyright© International Association of African Researchers and Reviewer, 2006-2018 www.afrrevjo.net 79 Indexed African Journals Online: www.ajol.info International Multi-Disciplinary Journal, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia AFRREV Vol. 12 (2), Serial No 50, April, 2018: 79-86 ISSN 1994-9057 (Print) ISSN 2070-0083 (Online) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v12i2.8 The Myth of Men’s Supremacy in Flora Nwapa’s Women are Different Gbaguidi, Célestin English Department Faculty of Languages, Arts and Communication University of Abomey-Calavi P. O. Box 1069, Abomey-Calavi République du Bénin Tél.: + 229 97 60 95 68 E-mail: ggbaguidicelestin@yahoo.fr ; celestin.gbaguidi@uac.bj Abstract The objective of this paper is twofold. First, it examines how a post-colonial female fictional narrative deconstructs the theory of men’s supremacy over women no matter the fields of activities. Second, it shows how education empowers women to vie with their male counterparts and even top them in Sub Saharan African countries. Flora Nwapa, a Nigerian and the first Anglophone African woman writer in her novel, Women are Different, portrays female characters playing stronger roles that were formerly said to be men’s prerogative. With the theory of post-colonial criticism, this paper posits that this committed Nigerian female writer shows concern for the misconception of the real and paramount role of the African woman in her community by restoring the real roles that African women play through empowerment. A qualitative descriptive research method and African feminism philosophy have been used to explore the reversal of roles in a man-dominated society. Key Words: men’s supremacy – Flora Nwapa – fiction – gender-based discrimination– empowerment. Introduction Colonialism has had a knock-on effect on the male-dominated literary tradition in Africa South of the Sahara (Ladele). In this wake, one can opine that African women are under the influence of both Western colonialism and African patriarchy. The authoritarian phalluses generally determine what must be the role of the woman folk in society and thus negate the genuine perception of the African woman in society. Kolawole contends that most male writers in the early phase of African literature fuelled the marginalization and stigmatization of women in society. Chukukere confirms that the ideal female character created by male writers often acts within the framework of her traditional roles as wife and mother. Fonchingong supports this notion by saying that social values are so strong that the respect and love which a woman earns is relative to her degree of adaptation to the conventional roles African Research Review