Women's Authority and Society in Early East-Central Africa

This study of more than two thousand years of African social history weaves together evidence from historical linguistics, archaeology, comparative ethnography, oral tradition, and art history to challenge the assumptions that all African societies were patriarchal and that the status of women in precolonial Africa is beyond the scope of historical research. In East-Central Africa, women played key roles in technological and economic developments during the long precolonial period. Female political leaders were as common as male rulers, and women, especially mothers, were central to religious ceremonies and beliefs. These conclusions contribute a new and critical element to our understanding of Africa's precolonial history.

Christine Saidi is assistant professor of history at Kutztown University.

Reviews

Saidi's book is innovative, presenting a new synthesis of "deep-time" history for East-Central Africa and recasting issues of gender and women's authority in the precolonial past. Her multidisciplinary approach-combining linguistics, archaeology, and ethnography-provides a powerful model for recovering gender histories not only for early Africa but for all human societies. --Kairn A. Klieman, associate professor of history, University of Houston

Details

First Published: 15 Mar 2010
13 Digit ISBN: 9781580463270
Pages: 205
Size: 9 x 6
Binding: Hardback
Imprint: University of Rochester Press
Series: Rochester Studies in African History and the Diaspora
Subject: African Studies
BIC Class: GTB

Details updated on 01 Aug 2010

Contents

• 1  Introduction
• 2  The Patriarchal Myth: Deconstruction and Reconstruction
• 3  Correlating Linguistics and Archaeology in East-Central African History
• 4  The Early Social History of East-Central Africa
• 5  Women's Authority: Female Coalitions, Politics, and Religion
• 6  Women's Authority and Female Initiation in East-Central African History
• 7  Pots, Hoes, and Food: Women in Technology and Production
• 8  Sacred, but Never Profane: Sex and Sexuality in East-Central African History
• 9  Kucilinga na Lesa Kupanshanya Mayo
• 10  Bibliography
• 11  Index