Question

Women led miserable lives in the pre colonial times. Explain :D

Answer 1

It is important when studying the status of women in Africa, one should bear in mind that the continent is huge and there are significant differences between countries. In addition, within one state there are several traditions and values that are different. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to use specific examples within the communities in Africa to show the role of women which contributed to their status. The status of a pre-colonial African woman is very difficult to define because there are many examples where she dominated and other instances where she faced discrimination. Hence, it one will see that the pre-colonial woman was both a leader and a woman on the sideline. In both cases, analysis of the status  show the strength and the weaknesses of the individual communities or people and not a broad standpoint of ‘African.’

One of the issues involved in the debate on the status of women in pre-colonial Africa is women and governance. Generally the belief is that women held very submissive political positions in most of the African countries. There has been a cry from feminists and other women advocates who cry out against the patriarchal system which existed in most countries. Whilst it is true that patriarchy did exist in Africa, women were not entirely removed from political positions. According to C. Magbaily Fyle, although men dominated politics in Africa in the pre-colonial period there were a quite a few women who played an active role in politics and government. For example, in the Yoruba political culture, there was the Iyalode who was a member of the Alafin’s council – judiciary body in Yoruba. The Iyalode was a female representative whose was responsible for women issues and their spokeswoman at the Alafin’s meetings. Additionally, in Sierra Leone among the Mende and Sherbro people by the 19th century women can be heads of towns and sub-regions – a good example is Madame Yoko. Furthermore, according to Fyle  the queen mother  gave women influence and leverage in the political sphere of some African countries. In this writer’s opinion, the place held by the queen mother and queen sister was important politically but did not afford them much power ;authority but  no opportunit to exert any power to that place ; some of the Wolof and Serene People had the place of the Linguѐre (King’s mother). Her place was ceremonial, she was in charge of sacred objects and the Awa (king’s first wife) possessed fields and slaves. The two positions did not make decisions that influence the economic or political spheres of the empires or countries.

From the outside looking into the pre-colonial life of many Africans, it may seem like women were totally insubordinate both in the public and private sphere. However, according to Onaiwu W Ogbomo, women sometimes use informal means to influence decisions made in the household. For example, in Owan, Edo State Nigeria before a title system, the household was the smallest unit of administration. The leader of each household would frequency hold meetings to help discussions between family members; it was here that women got the chance to express their views. Furthermore, women created organizations that served them both in the private and public sphere. For example, in Owan, the Idegbe was a group for the unmarried and married daughters of a particular lineage. Additionally, there were the Ikhuoho and the Ikposafen groups for married or wives of the family. Since the Owan family line was patrilineal, the Idegbe  perceived  as ‘males’ of the family, got certain authority. According to Ogbomo, they had a great influence on their husbands and brothers that they were able to family problems such as marriages. In addition, because they operated as a group the man consulted them before a final decision. The Idegbe were active in birth, death and marriage activities, thus demonstrating part of their “social, economic and political consciousness.” In this writer’s opinion, it is important to bring attention to the grouping of women in positions as ‘males.’ In this instance in the Owan communities, it shows that men were not able to negotiate with women unless the men saw the women as one of them.

It is interesting to note that for some African women and men power came with titles based on economic gain and prosperity. The title was as involuntary because of tradition. For example, the Ekwe title in Nnobiq was a woman or girl whose fortune looks prosperous. The involuntary title opened to all women but for some men it is reserved, according to their lineage.

Answer 2

It is important when studying the status of women in Africa, one should bear in mind that the continent is huge and there are significant differences between countries. In addition, within one state there are several traditions and values that are different. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to use specific examples within the communities in Africa to show the role of women which contributed to their status. The status of a pre-colonial African woman is very difficult to define because there are many examples where she dominated and other instances where she faced discrimination. Hence, it one will see that the pre-colonial woman was both a leader and a woman on the sideline. In both cases, analysis of the status  show the strength and the weaknesses of the individual communities or people and not a broad standpoint of ‘African.’

One of the issues involved in the debate on the status of women in pre-colonial Africa is women and governance. Generally the belief is that women held very submissive political positions in most of the African countries. There has been a cry from feminists and other women advocates who cry out against the patriarchal system which existed in most countries. Whilst it is true that patriarchy did exist in Africa, women were not entirely removed from political positions. According to C. Magbaily Fyle, although men dominated politics in Africa in the pre-colonial period there were a quite a few women who played an active role in politics and government. For example, in the Yoruba political culture, there was the Iyalode who was a member of the