• Home
  • Bio
  • Media
    • Read
    • Watch/Listen
  • Speaking
  • Work with me
  • Contact

MsAfropolitan

FEMINISM. PAN-AFRICA. SOCIAL CRITICISM. DIASPORA. CULTURE.

  • feminism
  • Africa
  • Pop Culture
  • Social Criticism
  • decolonisation
  • Afropolitanism
  • seven
  • Sensuous Knowledge
    • Sensuous Knowledge references and recommended reading
    • International
    • Sensuous Knowledge news
  • Other Books
  • The MsAfropolitan Philosophy Book Club @ Waterstones

Discovering African feminism

August 13, 2012 By MsAfropolitan 9 Comments

 

‘Blackfeminism is not white feminism in blackface‘ – Audre Lorde

As a young girl I could not get my head round the society I lived in, where Nigerian men seemed to have many more privileges than women just for being men, a reality I later discovered applied in different ways to other societies as well. In a sense my feminist consciousness was developing then—in childhood—but it was first in my early 20s that I began to seriously engage with the work of feminists like Susan Faludi, Gloria Steinem, Erica Jong and Simone de Beavouir to name a few. By then I lived in Sweden and these writers were the most available. They taught me a lot about feminism and about liberating the mind from patriarchy, especially in the context of the west, a part of the world that I love, and that shapes me both genetically and culturally. I regard their work highly and dearly.

Yet while their works tackled patriarchy, I began to seek out work of black feminists and especially black African women, women whose thoughts about gender, race, culture, tradition and the continent of my roots resonated with mine. Reading women like Amina Mama, Filomina Chioma-Steady, bell hooks, Buchi Emecheta, Nawal el-Saadawi, Mercy Amba-Odudoye, Toni Cade-Bambara, Angela Davis etc. I felt less lonely in my thoughts, but admittedly also burdened. I knew that life would never be the same. I would become a woman who people falsely considered man-hating. Whom people would wrongly accuse of being influenced by western values. I’d have family members warn me,”No man will marry a woman who is this stubborn”, or a woman who is “too smart for her own good”, and it would indeed be challenging dating as a heterosexual woman in a world where we aren’t conditioned to foster equal loving relationships between men and women and where black men often feel reluctant to examine the one privilege they have of male advantage in an otherwise undermining political structure.

The resistance that I’ve encountered has, however, only strengthened the insight of how necessary it is for us to speak up. To declare that we are comitted to expressing and exposing the oppression of women in African societies. To refuse to live as the perpetual second sex.  To understand the urgency in challenging racial and gendered subjugation in our lives. And to seek the right words with which to express our individual and collective frustrations and to encourage progressive growth.

When I came to African feminist writing, I saw the extent to which our realities were neglected in the work of the white feminists I’d read. I saw that by claiming to speak for all women, many white feminists had rendered non-white women invisible, the worst colour to be politically. It was easy to recognize this making invisibile as I’d encountered it often in scholarly African writing that I’d been studying, writing by African men who unapologetically neglected women and their roles as teachers, fighters, revolutionaries and leaders as they (often otherwise brilliantly) problematized African society, psychology, history….

I began this post with the Audre Lorde quote because it succinctly answers the question, “What is black feminism?”
The same answer goes for African feminism, which indeed could also be called black feminism. The nuance in the terms has to do with an added commitment to gender in African contexts but the terms are often used interchangeably.
I’ll be posting seven of those contexts here tomorrow or the day after or after (pardon my fickleness). Check back in during the week or subscribe to my posts via email or RSS to get the upcoming post “7 key issues in African feminist thought” directly in your inbox/feed.

In the meantime I’d love to hear if you have questions about African feminism, or any particular angles of feminism you’d like m to cover here?

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Africa, feminism, Social Criticism Tagged With: African feminism, decolonisation, gender, identity, Life, women's issues

Comments

  1. teachermrw says

    August 13, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    Thank you for sharing your writings and perspectives re: African feminism. As a Black woman, born and raised in the United States, yours is a perspective I truly appreciate.

    I find that many Black women in the US are resistant/unwilling to embrace feminism, in any form. Womanism seems more easily digestible for Black women in the United States in general However, my core problem with womanism is that it ignores the sexism and misogyny of Black men. Black women seem unable or unwilling to accept the fact that Black men are sexist and misogynistic. After all, we need to be united with Black men. We cannot fully unite with Black men unless we point out their sexism and misogyny, and until they acknowledge, embrace and eradicate it.

    The issues raised with the recent Summer Olympics, and its representation of Black women in the media, is a prime example. Many Black women insist that the issues are not rooted in sexism and misogyny, and believe that if Black male athletes like LeBron James are subjected to racism, then why should not Black female athletes? After all, sports should be “equal opportunity” in the way Black male and female athletes are treated by the media. In fact, many Black females responded with their own brand of sexism and misogyny, which was not only shocking, but revealed an ignorance which, quite honestly, I found disgusting.

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      August 14, 2012 at 7:01 pm

      We really need to foster a culture of action and intellectual thinking that does not equate women’s (and men’s) struggles against sexism in black communities as an attack on black life. Thanks for raising that important point.

      I also find that womanist writing tends to see racism as a priority over sexism, which I don’t, and the revolutionary, direct approach in feminist thought always appealed more to me because for example through that lens it would be unlikely to make such damaging claims as you explain re sports since misogyny is up for scrutiny.
      Yet that said I think there is also affinity between black/African feminism and womanism. The aim should anyway always be about building solidarity across differences as Alice Walker and Gloria Steinem, for instance, set a great example of.

      Reply
  2. Lesley Agams says

    August 13, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    Great topic. Looking forward to the next piece.

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      August 14, 2012 at 7:01 pm

      Thanks Lesley

      Reply
  3. HOLAAfrica says

    August 21, 2012 at 2:04 pm

    This is an amazing piece and speaks to the need for African women to stand up and define themselves and figure out who they are. There truly is a need for African women to be seen in their light and not the various counterparts they engage with, be they of a different sex or race. This is a truly inspirational piece.
    Can I ask how would one begin to describe black feminism or even African feminism as so many different contexts. Is it not dangerous to blanket bomb?

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      August 21, 2012 at 4:48 pm

      Thanks HOLAAfrica for the comment and kind compliment.

      I think there might be some risk in blanket definitions, and in the subsequent post in this series “7 key issues in African feminism” I make it a point to say that we should speak of feminisms rather than feminism because of the multiple contexts.
      That said,… I’m somewhat weary of postmodern views that I think dominate the fields of ideas in the world…you know, where nothing can be defined because of its nuances. There are nuances even within African feminism, depends on what sees as “African”… And sometimes those definitions are crippling too, mostly enriching…I think the postmodern approach, whilst necessary for individual expression, also place too much emphasis on existentialist individualistic approach to feminism.
      Black feminism and African feminism are first cousins, if not sisters. And the danger in separating the two is in my opinion larger than that in illuminating the differences whilst still remaining intact. We are fighting the same struggle in so many ways, aren’t we?

      Reply
  4. Alfred says

    January 2, 2013 at 10:43 pm

    Interesting read. What role (if any) do black feminist men play in the continent in advancing black feminism. Do you have recommended literature on this.

    Reply
  5. MsAfropolitan says

    January 3, 2013 at 1:34 am

    Hi Alfred,

    Thanks for asking, the black male feminist role is certainly important. I have a post with black male feminist links https://goo.gl/yRYOg and here’s a few sites that may be of interest.
    https://www.manupcampaign.org/
    https://www.genderjustice.org.za/

    Hope they are a good start?

    Reply
  6. Wonuola says

    March 6, 2014 at 11:41 pm

    I love how you explained the invisibility of black feminism by white feminists… What books can you recommend by black African feminists that can teach me more about African feminism. Thank you!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Feminism. Africa. Popular Culture. Social Criticism.

Hi! I'm Minna Salami, I'm a Nigerian-Finnish and Swedish writer and social critic, and the founder of the multiple award-winning blog, MsAfropolitan, which connects feminism with critical reflections on contemporary culture from an Africa-centred perspective. As a lecturer and keynote speaker, I have spoken at over 300 universities, cultural events and conferences, on five continents. I am the author of "Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone - a collection of thought provoking essays that explore questions central to how we see ourselves, our history, and our world." (Harper Collins US) Read full bio

View My Blog Posts

Follow My social media

Visit Us On InstagramVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On FacebookCheck Our Feed

Subscribe to my newsletter

* indicates required

An African Feminist mixtape

Essay: Oyalogy – A poetic approach to African feminism through Yoruba mythology

ESSAY: A brief history of African feminism

ESSAY: A brief history of African feminism

VIDEO: TEDxTalk – To change the world, change your illusions

VIDEO: TEDxTalk – To change the world, change your illusions

VIDEO: ARISE TV TALKING AFRICA INTERVIEW

VIDEO: ARISE TV TALKING AFRICA INTERVIEW

Recent Comments

  • Evgen on There were no matriarchies in precolonial Africa
  • ทางเข้าเล่น joker on The challenge for western feminism in the 21st century
  • Schües on On Abortion
  • AneM on Polygamy in Africa has little to do with sex
  • Khalifa on Polygamy in Africa has little to do with sex

Sensuous Knowledge – Get the book (US version)

Sensuous Knowledge – Get the book (UK version)

Archives

  • August 2022 (4)
  • May 2022 (1)
  • January 2022 (2)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • August 2021 (1)
  • May 2021 (5)
  • April 2021 (3)
  • March 2021 (4)
  • December 2020 (1)
  • October 2020 (1)
  • September 2020 (3)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (2)
  • March 2020 (4)
  • February 2020 (2)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (4)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • December 2018 (2)
  • November 2018 (1)
  • October 2018 (2)
  • August 2018 (1)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • March 2018 (2)
  • February 2018 (2)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (2)
  • September 2017 (3)
  • August 2017 (6)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (3)
  • May 2017 (6)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (3)
  • January 2017 (2)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (3)
  • October 2016 (3)
  • September 2016 (2)
  • August 2016 (2)
  • July 2016 (2)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (3)
  • April 2016 (1)
  • March 2016 (2)
  • February 2016 (2)
  • January 2016 (3)
  • December 2015 (2)
  • November 2015 (3)
  • October 2015 (4)
  • September 2015 (4)
  • August 2015 (3)
  • July 2015 (2)
  • June 2015 (3)
  • May 2015 (4)
  • April 2015 (4)
  • March 2015 (10)
  • February 2015 (4)
  • December 2014 (3)
  • November 2014 (5)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (4)
  • July 2014 (3)
  • June 2014 (3)
  • May 2014 (5)
  • April 2014 (4)
  • March 2014 (2)
  • February 2014 (4)
  • January 2014 (3)
  • December 2013 (3)
  • November 2013 (4)
  • October 2013 (3)
  • September 2013 (4)
  • August 2013 (5)
  • July 2013 (4)
  • June 2013 (4)
  • May 2013 (6)
  • April 2013 (3)
  • March 2013 (7)
  • February 2013 (3)
  • January 2013 (5)
  • December 2012 (4)
  • November 2012 (9)
  • October 2012 (8)
  • September 2012 (4)
  • August 2012 (6)
  • July 2012 (6)
  • June 2012 (5)
  • May 2012 (8)
  • April 2012 (7)
  • March 2012 (5)
  • February 2012 (4)
  • January 2012 (6)
  • December 2011 (5)
  • November 2011 (6)
  • October 2011 (6)
  • September 2011 (8)
  • August 2011 (6)
  • July 2011 (5)
  • June 2011 (5)
  • May 2011 (5)
  • April 2011 (4)
  • March 2011 (7)
  • February 2011 (6)
  • January 2011 (7)
  • December 2010 (5)
  • November 2010 (9)
  • October 2010 (7)
  • September 2010 (5)
  • August 2010 (4)
  • July 2010 (6)
  • June 2010 (5)
  • May 2010 (3)
  • April 2010 (3)
  • March 2010 (1)

more articles

A Historical Overview of African Feminist Strands

August 24, 2022 By MsAfropolitan 3 Comments

… [Continue Reading...]

On Abortion

August 23, 2022 By MsAfropolitan 1 Comment

… [Continue Reading...]

Privacy Policy

https://msafropolitan.com/gdpr

Copyright MsAfropolitan © 2023