oppression faced by women in the colonial era. They were deprived of their ability to speak on matters including society as a whole. Sembène, however, raises women to a higher spectrum by considering them equally important. Historical significance The book came out in 1960, the year that Senegal achieved independence. The theme of unity is significant for the building of the newly independent nation. References 1960 novels Novels by Ousmane Sembène French West Africa Labor literature Novels set in Senegal Novels set in colonial Africa Fiction set in the 1940s African Writers Series French-language novels