Women on the Left: Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti
Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti, born in 1900, was the Nigerian daughter of a returned slave who lived in the Yuroba Region. Well educated with a colonial education and a Christian background, she was radicalised through the actions of the British occupation of Nigeria: its racism, sexism and economic violence.
Daughters of the Goddess, Daughters of Imperialism: African Women, Culture, Power and Democracy: African Women Struggle for Culture, Power and Democracy
This volume charts a genealogy of class transformation in the 20th century. Ifi Amadiume contrasts the idea of a collectivist, humanist culture of traditional African matriarchal heritage with a corrupt and oppressive culture of imperialism that she argues is the heritage of contemporary, elite-led women's organizations.
Bori Religion and the Bori Priestess
Bori is a traditional animistic religion of the Hausa people of West Africa. An aspect of the traditional Maguzawa Hausa religious traditions, Bori became a state religion led by ruling class priestesses amongst some of the late pre-colonial Hausa States.
The Power of Women in West Africa: Queen Mothers
For West Africa, one aspect remains consistent: the African people have a very different approach to power among women than the traditional western conception implies. When people in the West consider the concept of equality between the sexes, they think of men and women sharing equal roles in society.
The changing role of Africa’s women
Ramotswa, Botswana - The village elder holds up the skin of a leopard against a vast, cloudless sky. A hush falls over the crowd of thousands. It is the symbol of absolute power. For generations it has passed from father to son - but on this day it spills over the head and shoulders of...