These days African scholars and critics are recommending contextual notions and approaches for the continent in order to preeminently understand and solve its own issues. The Nigerian Law Professor logically explained why Africans need their own definitions for especially sensitive issues like democracy. Gender study is one of the most controversial and yet unaddressed issues.
By considering the solid sociocultural and political identity of Africa, philosophers and experts suggest principles as way outs to the unfair treatment of gender based relations. Among these, the theory of Nego Feminism is the leading one, I believe, in suiting the reality of African society. From the concepts raised in this principle, the idea of detonating patriarchy is the most important one.
The speculator of the theory Obioma Nneameka suggests the idea of detonating patriarchy as a principle to be adapted by African females. The model mainly focuses on three major themes which are explained with practical reference to the experiences of African women leaders in politics.
The first one is that African women should know and comprehend the extent and type of patriarchy around them very carefully. In other words women and girls should be very active in detecting their sociocultural reality. Understanding their environment and position is key to looking forward to solutions. Females should be strong and exceed the mean of their challenges they face in the society for the sake of their future. Here the first democratically elected female President Ellen Johnson of Liberia can be mentioned as the best example to show how considering the real situation and looking for elucidations did mean practically. During her visit to America, she said, “we inherited a broken country devastated by war, displacement of people and dysfunctional infrastructure. … but we said that we are going to make Liberia rise again.”
As per her words, she showed her best efforts. As different sources showed, she took a quick measure and revealed a greater commitment to rule of law and performed her judiciary body. She was a very strong and visionary woman who lived for the achievement of her promises. She relatively succeeded and improved the nation greatly. Here is the evidence. The previous US president Barack Obama witnessed the deeds of Ellen as, “the country reformed on development, we see a continued determination on her part to have a fore continuing some of the tragedies that took place earlier making sure that the country is refocused on development and bowering the tackle of corruption.”
In addition to that, President Ellen was the Nobel peace prize winner. The chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee Thorgjoen Jagland praised Ellen’s performances as, “since her inauguration in 2004, she has contributed to secure peace in Liberia, to promoting economic and social development and strengthening the possession of women.”
Since Ellen possessed a problematic country, she was meant to face lots of difficulties. The extreme challenge that she encountered was on how to keep smart so as to be taken as a best example for African women. In this regard she said, “I have an opportunity to open the doors for more African women to hold high political positions though it is challenging because I represent the aspirations and expectations of Liberian, African women and maybe women all over the world, and therefore the pressure is on me to make sure that I succeed.” This responsible view of the President, I believe, gave her the passion and moral to stick on her mission.
She considered her surroundings and the meaning of her in the position then started acting ahead. She transferred the country as she promised and addressed this to the world as “I came today on the behalf of the Liberian people to say that we have made a lot of progress in that commitment.”
This experience is spotted to get in line with the idea of females’ activeness in understanding their situations and their smartness in designing way outs strategically. This is the skeleton of the theory of Nneameka. Ellen had passed through lots of challenges as a woman and as a leader of that nation. She is the most notable leader of the continent. She was the only African woman listed on Forbes as ‘the most powerful woman in the world’. Thus, she did a remarkable job in history to be seen as a model for females in the world.
The second idea that is highlighted in the concept detonating patriarchy is African women need to keep dreaming or set their life goals. Nneameka suggested that after understanding their real context, African females need to have their own targeted fate to be reached at.
Betty Mould Iddrisu, an acknowledged lawyer and politician of Ghana, was talking about the relevance of females’ dreams. She was on VOA to narrate about her experience as an African woman who is successful in politics. She said: “A woman needs to be very confident; she needs to believe in herself. She doesn’t need to surround herself with people who think or may possibly pontificate that ‘you are the best or you add in to the best’. She needs to free herself from the stereotypes. She needs to have a certain comfort level, and that comfort level is very basic within the political climate or environment within which she operates. You know I hate to say this‘I dreamt that it could be … I don’t want to dash any woman’s dreams. She should always…always reach for her dreams. Always try to climb the top. When you tumble, you will tumble down. The secret is to pick yourself up and move on.”
Betty, as the principle equivalently underlined, asserted that though African females are tied up with rooted patriarchy, it is up to the female to stay conscious and goal oriented to succeed in any sector. Females need to have a dream. At the same time, they need to work hard to meet that dream.
The third point under the theory is the idea of detonation. The word ‘detonation’ here is used to mean the efficacy of females in penetrating and winning over patriarchy for achieving their goal. The penetration is systematic and done in a cooperative sense so that the relation with males around them stays peaceful.
Currently, a number of women and girls of Africa are joining the political arena and confronting their counterparts and the sociocultural system too. Some instances can be listed here. The Gambian Vice President is a very strong promoter for women and a human rights defender. The Zimbabwean Vice President was also a very strong woman in debating policies and laws of Robert Mugabe. Diane Rwigara, is a young, energetic and ambitious girl who is challenging Paul Kagames’ regime. She was thrown to jail. But she continued to be a beacon of hope for the women across the continent and the world.
As various studies and reports indicated, Africa has been characterized by patriarchy. This patriarchy is challenging the females from equal participation and inclusion with males. Thus, the nations in the continent are continuing to face unsustainable development and fail to be transformed as it is required. The former UN Executive Director Phumzile Mbambo Ngouka on the 2016th women conference was stressing the issue of gender as, “the governments amend amended constitutions, pass good laws but because we have not transformed society, we have not removed the pillars of patriarchy. We are transforming within a patriarchal society. We are not moving as fast as we need to.”
In Ethiopia too the political sphere is progressively detonated by women and even young girls more than ever before. Very strong women leaders and directors in the past have done a remarkable job in their positions. The current political system, though there are lots to be done, is opening the political scope for females. Even though critics criticized the nomination of President Sahle Work Zewde of Ethiopia saying that it is ceremonial, she is the best example for Ethiopian females in winning over patriarchy. She is, I believe, there to echo the efficacy and potential of women in leadership. This is very encouraging but still the percent to be achieved is not yet addressed. Different organizations, NGOs and stakeholders which centralize women rights and inclusion have also a long way to go.
The conclusion is, till the diminution of patriarchy, serious measures and committed laws and policies with sound executions need to be implemented and applied by the governments of African nations that entertain women participation and inclusion in every sector. It is, I believe, one major act in fostering gender equality and inclusive development since women constitute the half even more than half share of the society in the continent. I need to raise Betty’s wonderful expression as a closing remark. That is ‘When you tumble, you will tumble down. The secret is picking yourself up and moving on… believe in yourself; don’t surround yourself with those who fill you with compliments.
BY MEKDES TAYE (PhD)
The Ethiopian Herald June 9/2024
