African Wordview on the Place of Women in the Society
AFRICAN WORDVIEW ON THE PLACE OF WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY BY OKOJIE EHINOMHEN PETER epo4escriva@yahoo.com DECEMBER 2012 PREAMBLE There has been a concerted effort by contemporary scholars to beam the searchlight on the place of women globally with special emphasis on Africa where many are championing the course for women emancipation in religious, political and economic spheres. This is predicated on the existential realities of what modern day scholars hold of African culture with regards to women as always being on the receiving end. It is said of Africa that: from Egypt in the North of Africa to South Africa in the South; from Kenyan in the East to Nigeria in the West, calls for the recognition of the rights of women in each of the countries in Africa are urgent and insistent. Figures abound of cases where African women are denied the basic socio-cultural rights enjoyed by men; infertile or childless mothers are branded; women are constricted into polygamy and other forms of marriages against their will; the female child is often treated with contempt in their families; women are sometimes victims of imposed traditional mourning rites and rituals; many go through genital mutilation; some are made to cultivate lands, nurture babies as well as do domestic jobs while the men folk loaf; many are forced to observe various forms of confinement for religious reasons like the Moslem “purdah”, a good number of them are regular victims of domestic violence like rape and battering without proper compensation.1 Some are given a writ of dismissal simply because their husbands have found ‘better women’. In politics not much attention is given to women participation in leadership positions, all these are evident in the African society.2 Yet, it would not serve as holistic truth to articulate that ‘what is’ is as good as the very standards of the traditional view of African women. African women like other women, enjoy undisputable privileges that their roles provide them. It is
Bibliography: § § § § § § § § § § § § § § § § § § § § Adetunji, H.A. (2001). “Re-Orientating the African Woman Today” in Akintude, D.O. (Ed) African Culture and the Quest for Women’s Right, Ibadan: Sefer. Ajayi, S. A. (2005) “The Concept of Culture” in S. Ademola Ajayi ed. African Culture and Civilization, Ibadan: Atlantis Books. Alexander, Spirkin. (1989) Dialectical Materialism, Moscow: Progress Publishers. Amadiume, Ify (1987) Male Daughters, Female Husband: Gender and Sex in an African Society. London: Zeb Books. Amadiume, Ify (1997) Reinventing Africa: Matriarchy, Religion, and Culture London: Zed Books Ltd. Bannerman, J.Y. (1974) Mantse-Akan Mbebusen (Ghanaian Proverbs), Accra. Chinweizu (1997) “Gender and Monotheism: The Assault by Monotheism on Africa gender Diarchy” in Sophie Oluwole (ed.) The Essentials of African Studies General African Studies, University of Lagos. Cross, Walter (2001) A Blacological Perspective on Contemporary Thought and Traditional views of Women in African Development, Washington, DC: Library of Congress. Ehusani, G. O (2003) A Prophetic Church, Ibadan: Kraft Books Limited. Familusi, O. O. (2012) “African Culture and the Status of Women: The Yoruba Example” The Journal of Pan African Studies, Vol.5, No.1, March 2012 pp.299-313 Kumah, Carolyn (2000) “African Women and Literature” West Africa Review 2.1 McFadden, Patricia (2002) “Becoming Post-Colonial: African Women Changing the Meaning of Citizenship” Presented at Queens University, Canada, Oct. 2002. Ngongo-Mbede Valerie (2003) “The Traditional Mediation of Conflicts by Women in Cameroon” in Women and Peace in Africa France: UNESCO. Njogu, K. and Orchardson-Mazrui, E., Gender Inequality And Women 's Rights In The Great Lakes: Can Culture Contribute To Women 's Empowerment? Ntahobari, J. and Ndayiziga, B. (2003) “The Role of Burundian Women in the Peaceful Settlement of Conflicts” in Women and Peace in Africa France: UNESCO Nwoko, K. C. (2012) “Female Husbands in Igbo Land: Southeast Nigeria” The Journal of Pan African Studies, Vol.5, No.1, March 2012, pp.70-82 Oke, R.O. (2001). “Inheritance in Africa and the Rights of the Female-Child” in Akintunde, D.O. (Ed) African Culture and the Quest for Women’s Rights, Ibadan: Sefers, Olusegun Oladipo ed. (2002) The Third Way in African Philosophy, Ibadan: Hope Publications Ltd. See Oluwole Sophie on “Anti-Women Laws must go” on http://www.the nigerianvoice.com/nvnews/39989/1/anti-women-laws-must-go-says-sophie-oluwole.html (accessed on Dec. 2, 2012) The Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol. 19, Chicago: INTERNET SOURCES § http://www.anc.org-za/ancdocs/history/women/effects.html (accessed on 20/11/2012) § http://www.geocities.com/jywanza1/AfrikanWarriors.html § http://www.nondomesticatedthinker.com/2012/03/africas-warrior-queens-gender-rolespolitical-leadership-and-societal-development/ accessed on December 3, 2012 Page 10 of 10