The African Woman

Myriam Kabongo
Intern at the United Nations Information Center in Pretoria, South Africa

The African woman: how often has she been portrayed in the media as miserable, abused and at the mercy of a violent and chauvinistic man? There is some truth to that brutal description, based as it is on a number of cases reported by the media as well as on true stories in our lifetime. Take the case of Amina Lawal, a Nigerian woman who was sentenced to death by stoning in October 2001 by a Muslim Sharia court in Northern Nigeria for having a child out of wedlock. Whereas such cases may be seen to be religiously motivated, the question remains “what is the role of the African woman in perpetuating detrimental cultural practices that are non-developmental, thus maintaining her poverty status?”

When the issue of poverty is raised from an African perspective, it is regrettable that women are seen as the bearers of their fate. Charlayne Hunter-Gault, in her article on “African Women and the Struggle against Poverty”, argues that poverty in Africa has a woman’s face, and its newest companion is not war, but HIV/AIDS. Articles on women and poverty flooding the internet and printed media underline superficial causes including war, HIV/AIDS and natural disasters. It is indeed true that these are contributing factors to her poverty, but I would like to examine the basic upbringing of the African woman. As an African woman, growing up in the dusty Democratic Republic of Congo, I was often told by the community (this being my mother, aunts, grandmother, sisters and other females in my neighbourhood) that “whatever you do does not have meaning. The emancipation of your mind, by engaging in political debates and academic performance does not have meaning because a real woman is one who gets married, even to an unwanted man.”

Following this argument it is therefore important to remember that the poverty of an African woman is deeply rooted in her upbringing rather than in her lack of formal education, as is the popular belief. She may acquire as many degrees as possible, be the brightest of all academically and even be gifted with some special abilities that could be developed for everyone’s benefit; yet all this means nothing compared to the systematic indoctrination of certain beliefs at home as well as her surroundings, by female role models that will transform her into an actress, with the stage being her marital home. She will become a tool to be used by a man. She must live up to her mother’s expectations, honour her through marriage, even to a man she doesn’t love. Her education is worth nothing and if she does not wed, she must suppress her real self, otherwise her mother will face the wrath of the community. The African woman is compelled to be at the same level as her fellow women, otherwise she will be alienated. In addition she must perform certain rituals simply because her great grandmother, or four successive generations of her female ancestors performed them. When she dares to ask “why?” she is be told, “that is the way it should be, because your great grandmother did so.” The journey of an African woman is filled with so many threats, reprimands, contempt and reproaches that she will not even understand the reason for her existence.

When she is educated, the African woman is often criticized, chastised, sometimes even treated as an outcast by her fellow women, because her knowledge is comparable to that of their men. She becomes a threat, as she will be able to take part in debates considered a male domain, in contrast to her European counterpart who is often encouraged and acclaimed for her achievements and as such may reach her full potential. This is not to say that European woman did not face her own trials and tribulation to reach the freedom and independence she is so enriched with today. Her struggle is also traceable in history through movements such as the suffragettes - a movement for women that began in Britain in 1897 demanding women’s right to vote. Many other similar movements can be traced across Europe and America as women understood that if empowered they could effectively contribute to any aspect of society. This is not an incitement to revolt by African women since not all aspects of African culture are negative and the continent is witnessing slow but gradual changes with the first female president being elected in Liberia. However, for her development and fulfillment, she needs a systematic re-education as powerful as the values she learns from her mother and grandmother and this must begin with her female role models as these are the best people for her to emulate in realizing her potential.■