The Representation of the Journey Motif in Understanding Selfhood in Waris Dirie’s Autobiographies

Ikisiri

The study examines the journey motif to understand the identities of Waris Dirie’s in Desert Flower and Desert Dawn. The study relies on autobiography theory as well as African feminism theory.  Dirie’s two narratives which form the basis of this study: Desert Flower and Desert Dawn, help to define and place women’s contribution to literary and gender issues in the World. Using the autobiography theory, the study uses the tenet of intertextuality to examine how the narratives by Warris Dirie present the factors that problematize the author’s identity. The study employs close reading and interpretation of both the primary and secondary data sources on the rendition of identities in the two primary texts under study since it is qualitative. The study establishes that through the analysis of the journey motif, the study traces the transitions that Waris Dirie undergoes to get freed from the restrictions of traditional customs and patriarchy, enabling her to openly express her emotions and ideas.