What events in the novel support female and male bonding as an aspect of life

Throughout the novel, Ramatoulaye must navigate the love she has for her husband and the love she has for her best friend. Despite the fact that traditionally, both of them should be happily married, both Ramatoulaye and Aissatou find that marriage does not fulfill all of their needs, and that romantic love often proves to be insufficient for living a full life. Over the course of their lives, they learn that their permanent friendship is stronger than their temporary marriages. At the end of the novel, Ramatoulaye is ready to explore happiness through the friendships she's built with others, choosing not to find her fulfillment through a man or a romantic relationship—a significant rebellion.