Sisterhood, Feminisms, and Power

There is a developing recognition that sexism, racism, and class all figure significantly in the subjugation of women across societies and across ethnic groups. For feminism to be a viable agent for change in Africa, false distinctions of gender, race and class must be understood and overcome, and women must be incorporated within the movement at the grassroots. The strength of this volume of collected essays is in the candor and rigor with which these important questions are addressed. The essays confront conflict between indigenous Africa n feminism and the radicalism of western variants with their emphasis on sexuality and seeming opposition to motherhood. They collectively argue that the African environment specifically should provide the context for any meaningful analysis of feminisms on that continent. The collection spans Africa and the diaspora -- from women organizing for social change in South Africa, to fighting colonialism in Nigeria, researching women's issues in Uganda, and building sisterhood in Memphis, Tennessee (USA). It makes a convincing case for dialogue crossing geographic and ethnic lines, across, and of course within, gender. In aggregate, the book is an important step towards that critical dialogue.