Theorizing African feminism

This chapter explores the questions of whether feminism as such exists in Africa and if so in what form. The chapter attempts to answer the questions of whether there is any discernible feminist school of thought that is actively African, traces the history of African feminism, argues that feminism is not "un-African" and that the concept has always existed in Africa. It further discusses perspectives in African feminist thought, the difference between Western feminism and African feminism and men's presence in feminism while at the same time providing an analysis of key determinants of the solidification of modern African feminism. While this chapter is anchored in the phenomenon of African feminism as an important contemporary issue, it is not an exhaustive analysis of the prevalent discourses of African feminism as such because of Africa's diversity. However, it is important to note that despite great cultural diversity between and within the geographies of Africa, there are, too, great commonalities in African women's lived experience. It is these shared experiences that have helped, shaped and developed this distinct brand of feminism, which is universally concerned with the ways women manage and challenge multiple oppressions. Although the polarities of thought on African feminism by scholars suggest some differences, closer examination reveals the intersections that transverse the different perspectives. While all African women experience the world they inhabit differently, they face common struggles.