GENDER AGENDA
THE LEGACY OF INDIGENOUS AFRICAN WOMEN: LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Women’s leadership has played a vital and yet varied role in numerous pre-colonial African societies. Women were highly respected for their wisdom and experience, fulfilling essential roles in the economy and households. They were crucial for farming, trade, and managing resources, which stabilised the economy, all while managing household affairs, and ensuring the welfare of families and upkeep of traditions. On the African continent, there is a rich history of women serving in leadership roles - for example, Queen Mothers, Queens and Regnants. This tradition continues today as we see women being freely elected as leaders of countries. Women also lead in traditional African religions. It is crucial to acknowledge the substantial gender disparity in highranking leadership roles, highlighting the ongoing challenge in achieving gender parity within leadership positions.
Chwayita Shude (in orange), Nwabisa Shude (in blue) and Makhulu Manstundu (in black)
Dr Babalwa Mgoqwana, the interim Director for the Centre for Women and Gender Studies at Nelson Mandela University, suggests that recognising “uMakhulu” (grandmother or elder mother in isiXhosa) as a wellspring of knowledge can help us to connect different parts of life that we usually separate, like public and private domains, the household and governance, and knowledge and spirituality. By integrating this “informal” knowledge into our formal education systems, we acknowledge the close link between daily life and learning. This approach underscores that wisdom isn’t confined to academic settings, but is deeply rooted in ancient African values and experiences. “If you educate a woman, you educate a nation” - this Ghanaian proverb is true to African women’s leadership style, offering a guiding principle for leaders around the world. It emphasises the transformative power of educating and empowering women, as they play pivotal roles in shaping 51
DEI in the Global South | Edition 1
