Women

Mawuli Dake looks at the ways in which women are being locked out of the democratic processes in Ghana and argues that societies “cannot claim to be committed to the principles and ideals of democracy and the universal values of equality” if groups within are marginalized.
[Pambazuka]

Pius Adesanmi met en cause l’omission des érudits féministes africaines dans l’ouvrage “Norton Anthology” et lance un défi aux rédactrices en demandant “pourquoi un continent entier donne l’impression de n’avoir rien produit de la théorie sur le féminisme. [Pambazuka]

“I grew up knowing that domestic violence was wrong and un-African thanks to African values rather than feminism or human rights (…) By pointing to the divisive politics of ‘women’s rights’, I am not excusing the African men who collude with Europeans to impoverish us and oppress us…” By Wandia Njoya. [Zeleza Post]

What gains and what challenges do we have two years after the entry into force of the protocol? This is the overall question that the various articles presented in this special issue of Pambazuka News aim at addressing. And what is clearly coming out is that the challenges outweigh the gains made so far, writes Faiza Mohamed. [Pambazuka]

Pius Adesanmi questions the omission of African feminists scholars from the Norton Anthology and challenges the editors as to why “an entire continent is seen to have produced nothing of feminist theorizing”. [allAfrica]

Edited by Roselynn Musa, Faiza Jama Mohammed & Firoze Manji. The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on Women’s Rights is arguably one of Africa’s most ground-breaking and progressive rights instruments for gender equality in Africa. This book is the product of a conference jointly convened in Addis Ababa by the African Union Women, Gender and Development Directorate and Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR), a coalition of more than 20 gender, human rights and development NGOs. The book is published with the full endorsement and support of the African Union Women, Gender and Development Directorate. [Full E-Book, pdf, 0,9 MB]

Edited by Patrick Burnett, Shereen Karmali & Firoze Manji (Pambazuka). The traditional perception of African women is that they face grinding poverty and harsh cultural, traditional and social prejudices. Yet while it is true that African women are not equal to men, this is only one part of the story. For in Africa, women are fighting for their rights. And they are fighting with grace, tenacity and eloquence. The contributors describe how African women won a cross-continental campaign for a protocol to protect their rights. In a rich variety of articles, they consider topics such as: women and conflict, the impact of current US policies on women’s health in Africa, women’s rights in Islam, and the implications of the Jacob Zuma trial for women in South Africa. [Full E-Book, pdf, 1,3 MB]

The Gender and Trade Network in Africa (GENTA) write an open letter to President Mbeki of South Africa criticising his failure to address gender issues in his economic development and poverty alleviation policies. [Full Text Letter]

The AU Protocol on women’s rights has breathed new life into the feminist movement in Africa and centralised the issue of women’s rights on the continent. But Janah Ncube says African women cannot afford to be complacent. [Full Text Artcle, Pambazuka]

Par Rosa Amelia Plummelle-Uribe. Discours prononcé le 23 juin 2006 à Paris dans le cadre de la conférence intitulée «La Femme et les Enjeux de la Renaissance», organisée par une initiative de Femmes africaines et de la Diaspora. [Afrikara]

By Paul Zeleza. In: Feminst Africa, 1: 64-85. The challenges that face African universities and intellectual communities are simultaneously internal and external, institutional and intellectual, paradigmatic and pedagogical, political and practical. [Full Text Article, html]

This online exhibition looks at women and their struggle for democracy. The year 2006 is a landmark year in which we celebrate the massive Women’s March to the Union Buildings in Pretoria 50 years ago. [South African History Online]

This article by Charmaine Pereira focuses on the sexual politics of zina and the selective recognition by Sharia implementers of some expressions of illicit sex, and not others, as a sexual crime. [Full Text Article, html]

It is those who do not conform strictly enough with local patriarchal regimes who are vulnerable to such accusations. These accusations can lead to violence, abuse, familial rejection, segregation and banishment. Perhaps most tragic of all is the extent to which some of these women internalise the fear and loathing of their communities and families, writes Yaba Badoe. [Full Text Article, html]

The connection and collision between human sexuality, power and politics provided the major inspiration for this piece of research. Specifically, Sylvia Tamale explores the various ways in which the erotic is used both as an oppressive and empowering resource. [Full Text Article, html]

On 9 August 1956, about 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act of 1950. The march was organised under the banner of the Federation of South African Women, and challenged the idea that ‘a women’s place is in the kitchen’, declaring it instead to be everywhere’. [Full Text Article, html]

Heinrich Boell Foundation, Conference Documentation, Nairobi, 1-3 April 2002. [Full Text Article, pdf]

Entretien d’Achille Mbembe avec Célestin Monga publié par Africultures en partenariat avec Le Messager. [Africultures] (more…)

By Ali A. Mazrui, Paper presented at the Africa Centre Conference, “African Renaissance - From Vision to Reality”, London, March 1999. [Full Text Article, html]

By Dr. Evelin G. Lindner. In: New Routes: A Journal for Peace Research and Action. Special Issue: Targeting Women, 6 (3), 2001, pp. 10-12. [Full Text Article, pdf]