National Allegory Through Her Own Voice: A Reading of Wangari Maathai’s Unbowed: One Woman’s Story

Abstract

This paper examines Wangari Maathai's Unbowed: One Woman’s Story as a national allegory, exploring its portrayal of Kenya's socio-political and cultural identity. Anchored on Hall’s theory of the nation as a site of inclusion and exclusion, the study foregrounds Maathai’s articulation of Kenya’s gendered nationhood. Further drawing on the theoretical postulations of Butler, McClintock, and Yuval-Davis, the paper interrogates how Maathai critiques patriarchal structures and the instrumentalization of women in national narratives. Her story intertwines personal struggles with national challenges. Her marriage and subsequent divorce reflect Kenya's tumultuous journey through independence and post-independence disillusionment. Through the lens of orature, Maathai revisits Kikuyu myths, colonial disruptions, and postcolonial challenges, revealing the interplay of gender, power, and nationalism. Maathai's leadership, grounded in her Anjiru clan heritage, underscores her unwavering commitment to national development through political, environmental, and social activism. Despite setbacks in politics and personal life, she emerges as a resilient figure, confronting issues such as ethnic division, governance failures, and environmental degradation. Maathai’s autobiographical reflections on identity, social justice, and environmental activism underscore her resistance against colonial and neo-colonial legacies. This allegorical reading posits Unbowed as a narrative of Kenya’s ongoing struggle for equality, inclusivity, and self-determination. Using metaphors such as the African stool with three legs (democracy, sustainable resource management, and peace), Maathai offers a blueprint for a just and sustainable Kenya. Her story celebrates persistence, hope, and collective responsibility in the quest for nation-building, providing a powerful feminist and nationalist perspective.