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Women in Tears, Women in Action: Reimaging Anger as Catalyst for Change and Healing in Histoire d’Awu and Carrefour des veuves

“Women’s anger” is a recurring theme in African literary works, often representing the psychological impacts of various traumas and oppressions on African women. Considering emotions and how they are portrayed and provoked in texts has become an imperative of literary theory. This study examines the role of feminine anger as a catalyst for change and healing within African society as portrayed through Francophone sub-Saharan women's literary works, namely the novels Histoire d’Awu by Justine Mintsa and Carrefour des veuves by Monique Ilboudo. The essay explores theoretical framework grounded in African feminist theories and concepts such as Snail-sense feminism and Nego-feminism. Combining these theories allows for a nuanced and multifaceted analysis of the literary works, addressing issues of gender disparities rooted in cultural practices and traditional beliefs within the African context. This analysis aims to reframe the perception of anger as a constructive emotion, transcending its conventional portrayal as a destructive force. Instead, it seeks to elucidate the potential of anger as a catalyst for positive change and the formulation of effective social policies.