From time immemorial the subject of woman has constituted a central position in literature. Ancient texts such as the Bible and the Koran have perpetuated the image of a woman submitted to the man, to the society and of a woman as a subaltern subject. Many literatures have echoed this discourse. Underneath the somewhat flattering images of the woman as wife and mother are usually hidden denigrating stereotypes which confine the woman to the role of a social subordinate. These clichés originally upheld by men have been espoused by women through different media such as literature, convinced that they had to defend these roles assigned to women by "nature". Regarding Cameroonian literature, David Ndachi conformed them to "traditional roles". However there is a noticeable evolution in the theme of woman especially with the advent of new writers on the literary arena.

This change is not unconnected to the new order of things: the change of mentality influenced by the migration of populations, ideas but also habits, and the freedom of speech for all in Cameroon. The image of the submissive, resigned woman and mother is gradually giving place to other models such as the revolutionary woman, the liberated woman, the independent woman, and the woman who systematically refuses the domestic space and aspires to more noble projects. Calixthe Beyala, Marie Claire Dati, Anne Tanyi Tang, Margeret Afuh, Angeline Solange Bonono, Nathalie Etoke, Leonora Miano, Frieda Ekotto, Makuchi, Elise Mballa Meka are amongst the women writers to deconstruct the image of the fragile woman and replace it with the strong emancipated woman, to cite Arlertte Chemain-Degrange. Henceforth, women occupy primary roles far removed from the socially subservient position wherein they have been confined by the collective imaginary. The opportunity has thus been given them to elevate
their social role faced with the various concealments of history. However, it is worth-noting that the subject of woman is not only central to writings of women. Male writers such as Alobwed'Epie, John Nkemngong Nkengasong, Bole Butake, Mongo Beti, Jean-Roger Essomba, Gaston Paul Effa amongst others have consecrated important spaces in their creative oeuvres to the woman. Their representations sometimes create strong women only to interrogate their strength while others still continue sustaining the image of a woman as a destructive force. This opens up possibilities of a comparative discourse of the portrayal of women by male and female Cameroonian writers.

The purpose of this book is to present a kind of panorama of the apprehension of the woman from a diachronic perspective in the entire corpus of Cameroonian literature (written, oral, and popular literatures) in its diversity. Papers could seek to answer questions such as: has there been continuity or rupture?, how has the colonial legacy affected the place of the woman as portrayed in literary productions?, how and why is there a stark contrast between literary creations of men and women? The analyses should prioritize a comparative approach and an argumentative dimension. Sociological, socio-political, socio-economic, socio-semiotic, socio- cultural and socio-historical aspects should be perceived in the papers as well as the different cultural influences on the portrayal of the woman.

Cameroon which is generally referred to as "Africa in miniature" is an assortment of culture and know-how whose...is felt in the role of each gender in the society and especially that of women. It would be interesting to see how the different cultures view the woman. A special attention should be given to the socio-cultural differences found in literary productions from the Anglophone and francophone worlds.

The following axes are indicative:
- Parallel discussions on literary productions of male and female writers on the woman
- Parallel discussions on the literary productions of Anglophone and francophone writers
on the woman
- Parallel discussions on writings by authors which valorize opposing views of the woman
- The painting of the Cameroonian woman in a globalized world

Abstracts in English and French of 300 words maximum are expected. This should be accompanied by a brief biosketch, and sent to the following addresses:

Professor Flora Amabiamina; Associate Professor. Specialist in Comparative and African Literatures.
floraamabiamina@yahoo.fr
Dr Blossom N. Fondo; Specialist in Postcolonial Literatures and Critical Theory.
foreverblossom@gmail.com

Important dates
- 15 November 2013: Deadline for the reception of abstracts
- 15 December 2013: Response from the Editorial board
- 28 February 2014 : Deadline for the reception of complete articles