Women and Contemporary African Religion

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how women in Africa are one of the most oppressed and abused women in the world and how they have little, if any legal rights, stemming from the cultural and religious beliefs of the countries. Aside from the female genital mutilations, the nightly news is filled with stories of beheadings of Muslim women for acts or even suspected acts of prostitution, adultery and lesser crimes. It looks at how crimes like these are never prosecuted, women have no rights to land and are constantly oppressed economically, socially, domestically, politically, traditionally, culturally and sexually. It concludes with how awareness and education are the key to rescuing African women from the bonds of oppression.

From the Paper:

"Theologians and dedicated lay persons have for roughly twenty years, shared the passion for an "African Christianity," which sparked Dr. Mercy Oduyoye's "Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. Founded in 1989, in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, this organization promotes women's theological education throughout Africa, and encourages reflection on the "influence of religion and culture on the lives of women"(Evans pg). Their creed, a composition of the women theologians says, "We confess our failures, frailties and imperfections, including our past acceptance of violence and injustice in relations between men and women" (Evans pg). Participants, numbering roughly one hundred from over fifteen African countries, note that "violence against women is any gender-based act which causes physical, sexual, or psychological suffering to women, compromising their gifts or diminishing full expression of their dignity and humanity" (Evans pg)."

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