African Women Community Leadership: Utilizing African Indigenous Leadership Frameworks as Protest

• In Event: Decolonial and Feminist Resistance

Proposal

The recognition of the value of gender diversity and the positive impact of women in leadership positions has garnered global attention across various sectors. Despite this progress, women, especially in Sub – Sahara Africa, continue to face exclusion and marginalization in economic, historical, and scientific narratives. This paper critically examines existing literature on African women's community leadership, using Afro feminism and Ubuntu as decolonial lenses.

African women have long been instrumental in community development, yet their contributions often go unnoticed. Gender inequality and discrimination persist, limiting African women's access to leadership roles. This study seeks to decolonize the concept of African women's community leadership by identifying empowering practices and integrating Ubuntu, an Indigenous leadership framework, while centering African women's experiences. Framed within the theoretical lens of Afro-feminism, this research emphasizes its role in shaping African communities' cultural, political, and economic perspectives. Afro-feminism challenges traditional leadership theories that overlook African women's unique insights, highlighting African cultures' emphasis on community and collectivism over individualism and competition. By using Afro-feminism, the study seeks to dismantle Western notions of women and gender issues in Africa, addressing the persistent issues of oppression, patriarchy, and colonization impeding women's progress in community leadership.

The paper delves into Ubuntu, an African Indigenous Knowledge framework that critiques Eurocentric and individualistic research approaches. Ubuntu's humanistic ethos centers on equity and equality, rooted in African interdependency and togetherness beliefs. By addressing critical issues of power, colonial legacies, and local history, Ubuntu offers a lens to examine African women's leadership within their unique social, cultural, and community contexts. By anchoring the research in Indigenous African cultures and epistemologies, the study ensures cultural responsiveness and respect for the communities under investigation. Afro-feminism and the Ubuntu philosophy guide the exploration of how African women localize, empower, and lead within their communities.

The implications of this research are significant, as the use of African Indigenous leadership frameworks as a form of protest through the lenses of Afro-feminism has the potential to empower women community leaders and promote their active involvement in decision-making processes. By centering African Indigenous Knowledge, the study aims to redefine women's community leadership in the African context and address the lack of non-Western and non-Eurocentric approaches in defining and examining community women leadership.

The paper's contribution lies in offering new insights into women's community leadership and strategies to enhance their roles, particularly in African contexts. By questioning existing academic representations of community leadership, the research highlights the importance of Afro-feminism and Ubuntu as tools for decolonization. The study's relevance extends to scholars and social movement building. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the need for greater attention to African Indigenous approaches when defining African women's community leadership. Afro-feminism emerges as a critical lens, challenging stereotypes and facilitating a paradigm shift towards inclusive community leadership. Through the integration of Ubuntu and Afro feminism, this research explores the transformative potential of African Indigenous Knowledge in shaping community leadership for the collective benefit of all.

Authors

• Rachael Kalaba, University of Toronto

• Vongaishe Morrine Changamire, World Vision Canada