The voice of African woman: A theological reflection of the emerging feminism in Africa

Abstract

The voices of African women cry out with expressions of genuine concerns that are not very well understood from afar. It is therefore extremely important that every one who hears the echo of the voice draws a little closer in order that he or she might hear well and understand this voice. One most important factor portrayed in the study is that the African woman’s voice as expressed by the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians (A Feminist organization) is a universal voice in the sense that from all walks of life, both men and women are sounding the alarm of the necessity to pay attention to this voice that advocates for tangible changes in the lives of women who are marginalized, deprived of the basic necessities of life and/or are underprivileged. It would be seen that the woman’s cry is God’s cry because God has always been seen as the helper of the helpless; the father of the fatherless; the husband of the widow and the lifter up of the head of the marginalized. Feminist theological discourse has seen considerable and consistent improvement on the conditions of women in every society and in every generation as noted in the Chapter on Women’s and Feminist movements. Voices of African Women, the first part of the title describes most of the voices that advocate the full participation of women and tries to enhance the potential of women in Africa. And by, A Theological Reflection of the Emerging Feminism in Africa, I focus on the theological discourse of some of the members of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, emphasizing the theology of Mercy Amba Oduyoye and Musa Dugbe. The study contributes to knowledge by exploring biblical texts such as Numbers 27:1-8 that talks about Moses and the daughters of Zelophehad, the story of Esther and Vasti in the book of Esther and the story of Deborah in the book of Judges Chapter 4. The Imago Dei theology has also been expounded to assert the value of human being and the need to handle everyone with care. The story in Numbers 27:1-8 suggests that customs and traditions as well as cultural elements that have enforced and strengthened female subordination and inferior status can be changed or modified. It also tries to establish that issues raised by African Feminist Theology are global issues running through all societies of the world hence a brief history of women’s right’s movements and Feminists movements throughout all ages in various socio-cultural contexts has been given. Also domestic violence which is currently a major concern of Feminist in Africa and other parts of the world has been examined.