African Female Leadership: It’s Complicated

07 May African Female Leadership: It’s Complicated

When you think of African leadership, what comes to mind? More specifically, African female leadership? In recent times, you may think of: ° Prominent politicians such as Samia Suluhu Hassan, the first female president of the United Republic of Tanzania. ° Well-known trailblazers such as Wangarĩ Maathai, a Kenyan social, environmental and political activist who became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. ° Breakers of glass ceilings such as Unity Dow, lawyer, author, human rights activist and Botswana’s first female High Court Judge. If we look further back in history, there are powerful African woman leaders who have been forgotten or marginalised for a number of complex reasons, stemming from gender discrimination, the predominance of male-dominated colonial narratives and even colourism. Many of these African women became known for: ~ Taking principled stances against European imperialism [Queen Ranavalona I, Madagascar] ~ Resisting colonialism [Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa, Ghana] ~ Assembling formidable all-women armies [Queen Hangbé, Republic of Benin] ~ Shaping key treaties in the early 20th century [Queen Ririkumutima, Burundi] ~ Becoming the de facto ruler of one of the most ancient and powerful African civilisations [Empress Mentewab, Ethiopia] What leadership lessons can we learn from these African women leaders? • Leadership is a dialogue. It is a shared conversation. • Confrontation. Diplomacy. Strategic Retreat – these are 3 key ways to address conflict. • African leadership does not need to mirror what is found in the Global North. We must adapt to what works for Africans. • No leader is perfect. The same person can act selflessly on one occasion and cause harm on another. • Complete objectivity is a myth. Every leader brings their biases and subjectivity with them. If you would like learn about the historical African women mentioned in this article and several more, I recommend reading ‘When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors’ by Paula Akpan. Source • historyextra.com