African STIWA, which is an abbreviation and stands for Social Transformation Including Women of Africa, is one perspective under African Feminism. African feminism was recognized as a theoretical framework in the study of gender issues on the continent as a response to indigenous knowledge by African women philosophers. It was developed by more than two hundred African feminists who sit in Accra, Ghana in 2006. They developed a Charter of Feminist Principles for African Feminists.
The theory was advanced by Ogundipe-Leslie in 1994. It basically suggests the relevance of women’s inclusion in social spheres for the transformation of society and the continent at large. She defines it as, “It is not about warring with the men, the reversal of roles, or doing to men whatever women think that men have been doing for centuries, but it is trying to build a harmonious society. The transformation of African society is the responsibility of both men and women, and it is also in their interest” (Ogundipe-Leslie, 1994, p. 1).
She stresses that both sexes have complementary roles in the process of social change. She believes that if men and women work together without subverting roles or fighting each other, transformation could be fostered and sustainable development could follow naturally.
From the theory, the writer of this article picked up four core points to examine the experiences of the noticeable African women leaders so as to posit lessons for fellow women and young leaders.
The first suggestion from this perspective is that African women need to be conscious of their real situation. They should know and be alerted that they are African and third-world women. As half of society, women are responsible for the transition and betterment of society and the continent. They need to understand their current status and react to it to be part of the solution. In this logical attempt, various women in different times have been portraying their efficacy in certain countries of Africa. Empress Etegie Taytu Betul of Ethiopia is the most notable advisor and solution maker, whom I salute most in the country’s political history. Let’s refer to the two strongest and most capable women presidents’ consciousness.
The former president of Malawi, Joyce Banda, was a strong, passionate, and organized woman who detected her situation very well. At the conference where she presented her case study internationally, she spoke about how she attempts to solve the continent’s challenge, which she found to be the exclusion of women and girls from many spaces. She said the following regarding her concern for her life: “There are two things that I have been passionate about. First is women’s, girls’ education. As an African woman leader, I am making a case study. What can we do to help and support many more women to become leaders and participate in leadership in Africa.”
The president was performing a double burden, I believe. That is the political leadership and beyond that as an African woman to be active in considering the contextual reality of the people. Systematically and scientifically, she did a case study and proposed way outs. She identified the girls’ problem and the women’s one. She said, “Regarding girls, we need to focus on their situation at the household level.”
Women’s challenges as the case study showed were addressed through the association called ‘The Joyce Banda Spa Foundation.’ She reported that this foundation had mobilized over 1.3 million women. This commitment was primarily done by the former Liberian President Ellen Jonson. In her presidency, Ellen had taken a practical measure for combating gender based exclusion. She formed a foundation called “Allen’s Market Women’s Association.” As Joyce remarked, Ellen’s organization had mobilized over one million women. These two women were cautious about the continent and its root cause and reacted to it strongly for the better life of the people of Africa which is the central aim of the theory.
The second point, which the principle raised, is the idea of complementarity. African men and women are not enmities. Rather the one is needed for the sustainable harmony of the other. But the rooted patriarchy which left the man to stay at the top, reserves positions for him. Thus, getting such spaces for the woman is very challenging because of the untransformed society. The sympathetic, active and committed nature of the woman these days is becoming the potential resource for the revolution of societal beliefs and trends in the continent. In his keynote speech at ‘Women’s Leadership in Peace, Democracy and Political Transitions in the Horn of Africa’, U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Amb. Mike Hammer had underlined that “when women are involved in all walks of life but it is certainly in positions and leadership positions that the prospects for peace tend to be greater.”
In the socio-cultural reality of the continent, with the prevailing patriarchy and the religious perspective, which is socialized in a way of preventing male supremacy, women, I believe, are expected to be doubly effective in competing for positions. The challenge is very deep and complicated for African women. To come on top in the front line, women need to be smart in learning and adapting how to work with men who naturally take over the positions. The philosophy is that women should be optimistic in filling gaps and exhibiting their efficacy to be part of the effort of men for inclusive success. To come on top of the front line, women need to be smart in learning and adapting how to work with men who naturally take over the positions.
Ellen Jonson was asked how she got into the situation when working with men during her presidency. She said, “Women are wives and mothers. So their primary priority is the home. They have to take care of their children and pay attention to them. This prevents women from participating at ceremonies, meetings, and conferences. But men are free of these things.” She appreciated the slowly changing trends of these realities. Nowadays, men are giving their hands to the women in the house. Household chores are becoming issues for men too. Here is her utterance. “Men now share some of the burdens in the home. So women are in a much better position to be able to compete and to achieve their leadership goals.”
In Ethiopia, the predisposed attitudes of society and the perception given to marriage, I believe, are gradually changing over time. But as far as my examination of my society and my own personal experiences are concerned, I may say that women are under the exploitation of patriarchy in other African countries.
The principle of complementarity argues that in a meaningful job or responsibility sharing between men and women, the destiny is the cumulative benefit and holistic harmony of the two sexes and the environment too.
African patriarchy can be challenged by the equal contributions and reactions of men and women. Joyce Banda unfolded the role of her husband in her success in political leadership. She said, “Throughout my career, he has stood by me. He has been my best friend, and I think that is very important. What is more, I have been lucky that I have had a wider supportive family.” The well-known and influential lawyer and political leader, Betty Mould Iddrisu, was also amplifying the role of her husband and the family as a whole in her political path and prominent contribution to her career.
The third principle from African STIWA is the idea that says, “African women are not voiceless; the problem is we are looking for their voices in the wrong places.” The theoretician stressed that African women did utter it in various contexts and places. For instance, in churches, markets, farmlands, different social groupings, and even in houses, when they get alone, they pronounce their minds in songs or in any other form of folktale. Thus, the theory advised that the real situation of the women needed to be heard appropriately to react to it for fruitful improvements.
Let’s see this concept in the deeds of the following woman. The former Liberian President, Ellen Jonson, formed an organization that targeted women after realizing the lowest proportion of women in the government’s program, which was centered in urban areas. She addressed various women through different influential methods. She reached massive women with a special approach since most of them were left out of technological devices and didn’t know how to use them. She succeeded. She mobilized a good number of women.
Joyce Benda was also effective in giving ear to women in their places. She did a case study, reached out to the core problem, and formed an association for empowering women. Her organization is working with fellow women and young leaders. Training and support are going to be delivered within the organization. That way, she was equipping women with skills and knowledge of leadership.
Nowadays, in Ethiopia, there are strong female leaders taking positions in various spheres. Having them there is very important for echoing the efficacy of women in doing well there too. But these leaders should shoulder the burdens of their sisters, women, and girls and need to be creative in how capable females are in their own realities.
The fourth paradigm is social transformation. The question is: can women bring about social transformation if they hold leading positions? Those who have been leading in various spheres said, ‘sure’ practically. I will get back to this point in the next article.
BY MEKDES TAYE (PhD)
The Ethiopian Herald June 30/2024
