women in egypt
WOMEN’S ACCESS TO POLITICAL POWER
IN ANCIENT EGYPT AND IGBOLAND:
A CRITICAL STUDY
A Dissertation
Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
by
Antwanisha V. Alameen
January 2013
Examining Committee Members:
Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, Advisory Chair, African American Studies
Dr. Ama Mazama, African American Studies
Dr. Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, Theater
Dr. Adisa Alkebulan, External Member, San Diego State University
i
Copyright
By
Antwanisha Alameen
2012
All Rights Reserved
ii
ABSTRACT
This is an Afrocentric examination of women’s use of agency in Ancient Egypt and Igboland. Most histories written on Kemetic women not only disconnect them from
Africa but also fail to fully address the significance of their position within the political spiritual structure of the state. Additionally, the presence of matriarchy in Ancient Egypt is dismissed on the basis that patriarchy is the most visible and seemingly the most dominant form of governance. Diop contended that matriarchy was one of the key factors that connected Ancient Egypt with other parts of Africa which is best understood as the Africa’s cultural continuity theory. My research analyzes the validity of his theory by comparing how Kemetic women exercised agency in their political structure to how
Igbo women exercised political agency. I identified Igbo women as a cultural group to be compared to Kemet because of their historical political resistance in their state during the colonial period. However, it is their traditional roles prior to British invasion that is most relevant to my study. I define matriarchy as the central role of the mother in the social and political function of societal structures, the political positions occupied by women that inform the decisions of the state and the inclusion of female principles within the religious-political order of the nation.
IN ANCIENT EGYPT AND IGBOLAND:
A CRITICAL STUDY
A Dissertation
Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
by
Antwanisha V. Alameen
January 2013
Examining Committee Members:
Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, Advisory Chair, African American Studies
Dr. Ama Mazama, African American Studies
Dr. Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, Theater
Dr. Adisa Alkebulan, External Member, San Diego State University
i
Copyright
By
Antwanisha Alameen
2012
All Rights Reserved
ii
ABSTRACT
This is an Afrocentric examination of women’s use of agency in Ancient Egypt and Igboland. Most histories written on Kemetic women not only disconnect them from
Africa but also fail to fully address the significance of their position within the political spiritual structure of the state. Additionally, the presence of matriarchy in Ancient Egypt is dismissed on the basis that patriarchy is the most visible and seemingly the most dominant form of governance. Diop contended that matriarchy was one of the key factors that connected Ancient Egypt with other parts of Africa which is best understood as the Africa’s cultural continuity theory. My research analyzes the validity of his theory by comparing how Kemetic women exercised agency in their political structure to how
Igbo women exercised political agency. I identified Igbo women as a cultural group to be compared to Kemet because of their historical political resistance in their state during the colonial period. However, it is their traditional roles prior to British invasion that is most relevant to my study. I define matriarchy as the central role of the mother in the social and political function of societal structures, the political positions occupied by women that inform the decisions of the state and the inclusion of female principles within the religious-political order of the nation.