Mzansi Afrika

The Male

The African male's obsession with masculinity is disconcerting. For one, it leads to war and strife. Most African men, most of the time, are in the process of showing somebody who's boss--usually their spouse, who's usually the literal homemaker. Without these women the blokes wouldn't know their left hands from their right feet. But it is precisely with those left hands that the women are slapped around and violated, and with those feet that their arses are kicked.

Most African men think they should screw every other woman -- excuse my French -- plus their spouse for good measure. This tends to belittle women in general and encourage the spread of VD and AIDS. The popular belief among such men is that donning a condom is being a sissy; few African men believe that dying from or transmitting the virus of death is being a sissy. Pity. They have probably never thought of it along those lines.

To be sure, the male can also be found elsewhere. The too-cool rapper or the red-necked hillbilly. Every continent has its share of the male. Africa just seems to have more than its share.

Afmalesy

I have not yet identified the source of the strain in African leaders that makes them go awry, that makes them want to hang onto the reins of power despite evidence that they should not do so. This is often at the expense of their country and their country-people. I do not intend, however, to dedicate such behaviour only to African men, first because other continents have known the same fate, albeit to a much lesser degree, and secondly because African leaders have exclusively been men. Who knows how African women leaders would have turned out?

Here's a quick exercise to do right this minute. Get an atlas. We'll wait for you.

One theory I back is that the African family structure has seeped into politics. At home, the father is all powerful, and his word is carved in stone. The mother and the children are his subjects, literally. Let me quickly point out here that I in no way intend to dedicate this pathology to black, African male leaders only. The Afrikaner has it, too, although not of the same origin. His is tinted with religious overtures, whereas the black African male's has a traditional bent. But, indeed, the woman is treated not in a better way by the Afrikaner, and that fact shows in the way he handles politics.

Got that atlas now? Ok, open it to a political map of Africa. Shut your eyes. Place a finger on the map and move it about for the sake of randomness. Now, open your eyes. Your finger will rarely fall on a country that has not known the African Male Leader Syndrome. Call it AFMALESY for short, and for the fact that it sounds like the disease that it is. Alternatively, do this other exercise: listen to African news on the radio, as I did this morning. What do you hear? So what do you think gives?

Another theory is based on the fact that to date, African leaders have largely been freedom fighters. Put "freedom" in inverted commas for some of those. The result is that you end up with all these heads of government whose main skill is toting a machine-gun and rallying people to fight. In the long run that's exactly what most of them do as heads of government. The bush did not teach them about health insurance and about how to curb unemployment. It taught them how to subjugate others. No wonder they run their countries into the ground. Lech Walesa was a bad president because he was such a good something else, having learned and mastered the art of bugging a regime. President Lech Walesa had  absolutely no regime to bug.

I rather like the idea of having a charismatic freedom fighter run the country she's helped liberate, for a term or so. I rather liked seeing Nelson Mandela as president of South Africa for a while, and I liked seeing him leave the political arena to politicians. Okay, the country's free now, I can go back to doing what I do best. Who can I bug into submission? The same thing happended in Lesotho when Ntsu Mokhehle led the country for a term, following the first free elections in that country, then stepped down and handed the reins to more agile politicians.

Yesterday was Women's Day. It would be good if we used it to remember that there are only 11 female heads of government in the entire world, that Africa has just 1 (one out of 52 countries), and only since November 2005; that numbers for women approach 50% within badly paid sectors of the job market, but remain low in other sectors; that in the Arab world, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Turkey, Venezuela, Argentina and other places, men still commit what they call honour crimes and killings.

Between two laws

Women remain discriminated against in Africa, despite what national constitutions may claim. Part of the blame should go to the fact of following two laws: traditional law and common law. I consider it a fallacy, and I consider it equivalent to following the law of two different countries. It cannot be done, if not at the detriment of part of the population. African countries, Lesotho in particular, should drop traditional law and adopt common law, based on the constitution adopted in 1993; or it should stop pretending, follow traditional law, and have but one, solid and legal reference. The constitution of the kingdom of Lesotho, clause 19, states clearly that, Every person shall be entitled to equality before the law and to the equal protection of the law [Source].

Modern life adds to the dilemma women in Africa are often faced with. Today women work, and some have high positions as civil servants, or in the private sector, but they remain subjects to their spouses, and can hardly undertake anything without their husband's or father's green light. According to customary law, they cannot enter into a contract, such as opening a bank account, without their spouse's permission. After the introduction of colonialism, customary law was reconstructed to serve the political interests of capital; even now, post-independence governments use the law as a tool to oppress women [Source].

Slapping women around, or going as far as forcing sex upon them, is not uncommon. Funny, in a region where some of the biggest insults are aimed at the mother; the insultor knows for certain that the insultee will get hurt. So mothers do hold some kind of respect, but only when it's one's own mother. A spouse, who may also be a mother, gets slapped and insulted in front of her children. In Sesotho, a pregnant, unmarried girl is said to be spoilt (O senyehile, we say), as in "not good anymore." The guy who got her pregnant, on the other hand, is considered a regular stallion. That's just one example. A husband has complete authority over his wife and may punish her as he sees fit. Wife-beating is regarded within the culture as a disciplinary measure, not as a crime [Source].

Either we're a common law-abiding country with courts, a parliament, and a constitution to refer to, or we're a traditional country that hangs onto its customary law, come what may. Then we would know what to turn our sights and our attention to. Alternatively, we could also be a theocracy, and make of the Bible our constitution, although I do not think we should. We cannot, in whatever case, be two or more things and get away with it.

FGM update

According to a new Unicef report around three million girls in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East undergo feminine genital mutilation/cutting every year.

"The report said the custom - "a dangerous and potentially life-threatening procedure" - could be eliminated within a single generation with commitment and support from governments and communities. It is largely a social practice, not a religious one. The practice is one of the most hidden forms of rights violations.

Realising how socially entrenched the practice is, the Unicef report looks at ways to ensure that the decision to abandon FGM reflects "a collective choice" rather than enforcing a ban. Young delegates from Egypt, Sudan, Yemen and others are preparing a declaration on their efforts to promote the abandonment of the practice."

On a more positive note, Irin reports that members of 70 villages in Senegal recently attended a ceremony during which they renounced the practice of FGM, and since 1997, more than 1,600 Senegalese communities, roughly a third of the 5,000 that perform female genital mutilation, have given it up.

Irin also has an online documentary on the subject that portrays the extreme suffering and indigity that the practice imposes on little girls and women. It is really worth watching if you are interested in the issue but be warned it does not make for comfortable viewing.

A velvet-lined jacket

Angela Merkel has become the first woman chancellor of Germany, an important event all around. The consequences of her ascension could change a lot of things, or they could change nothing at all. Whatever the case may be, her election ushers in a new opportunity for women politicians in Europe and hopefully in the world.

To be right, we've had Margaret Thatcher and Golda Meir, and we almost had Geraldine Ferraro who "earned a place in history as the first woman vice-presidential candidate on a national party ticket" [Source]. Could the Merkel effect spill over and get Mrs Clinton into the White House? I hope so but I don't think so. I think we still have a long way to go before women commonly become presidents and prime-ministers. The reasons why that is so do not belong to the present discussion.

So other parts of the world have had women in power. What about us? Where does that leave southern Africa? Well, women actually do hold power in our region, because they run families. But what we're talking about here is political power, elected power. A quick search on the Internet brings up many women as 20th century power-holders in southern Africa. Remember that power-holder is not equivalent to leader:
1895-1959 Rain Queen Khetoane Modjadji III of Balobedu (South Africa)
1896-97 Rebellion Leader Ambuya Vehanda Shonas (Zimbabwe)
1898 Military Leader and Priestess Nehana of the MaShona Nation (Zimbabwe)
1899-1921 Regent Indlovukazi Labotsibeni Gwamile Ndluli laMvelase (Swaziland)
1911-31-? Politically Influential Queen Gagomakwe of the BaKwena (Botswana)
1917-? Head of the Royal House Princess Ranavalona IV (Madagascar)
1923-24 Acting Paramount Chief Queen Mother Gagoangwe Sechele of the baNgwaketse (Botswana)
1924-28 Acting Paramount Chief Queen-Sister Ntebogang a Bathoen of the baNgwaketse (Botswana)
1925-38 Joint Head of State, The Ndlovukati Lomawa Nxumalo Ndwandwe (Swaziland)
1926-41 and 1958-71 Queen Kanuni I of Uukwangali (Namibia)
1928-43-? Chief Mali II of Khaha (South Africa)
1938-57 Joint Head of State, The Ndlovukati Nukwase Nxumalo Ndwandwe (Swaziland)
1941-60 Acting Paramount Chief The Mofumahali 'MaNtsebo Amalia 'Matsaba Sempe (Lesotho)
1941-46 Acting Paramount Chiefess Elizabeth Tshatshu of the Xhosa Tribe of amaNtinde (South Africa)
1941 Queen Mother Mutaleni kaMpingana of Ondonga (Nambia)
1943-57 Acting Chiefess Nofikile a Ngongo of the Xhosa Tribe of imiDushane kaNdlambe (South Africa)
1946-58 Queen Mother Elizabeth Pulane Seeco of baTawana (Botswana)
1947-87 Queen Maria Mwengere of Shambyu (Namibia)
From 1953 Acting Paramount Chiefess Nonayithi Jali a Mthati, Xhosa of imiQhayi (South Africa)
1957-75 Joint Head of State The Ndlovukati Zihlathi Ndwandwe (Swaziland)
1957-62 Queen Dowager Doña Isabel Maria da Gama of Kongo and 1962-?75 Queen Regent (Angola)
1958- Queen Kanuni II of Uukwangali (Namibia)
1959-80 Rain Queen Makoma Modjadji IV of Balobedu (South Africa)
1964-89 Anti-Apartheid Leader Nomzano Winnie Mandela (South Africa)
1966-80 Politically Influential Lady Ruth Williams Khama (Botswana)
1970 and 1990 Regent H.M. Queen 'MaMohato Thabita 'Masente Lerotholi Mojela (Lesotho)
1975-81 Joint Head of State, The Ndlovukati Seneleleni Ndwandwe (Swaziland)
1977- Captain Anna Katrina Christian of Bondelswart (!Gami-#nun) in Namaland (Namibia)
1980-90 Politically Influential Sally Hayfron Mugabe (Zimbabwe)
1981-2001 Rain Queen Mokope Modjadji V of Balobedu (South Africa)
1982-83 Reigning Queen Mother, The Indlovukazi Dzeliwe Shongwe (Swaziland)
1983-86 Queen Regent and Head of State NtombilaTfwala (Swaziland)
1987 Premier Princess Stella Margaret Nomzamo Sigcau, Transkei (South Africa)
1989- Her Excellency Queen Hompa Angelina Matumbo Ribebe of Shambyu (Namibia)
1990- Politcally Influential Grace Marufu Mugabe (Zimbabwe)
1995- Chief Sinqobile Mabhena of the Ndebele Tribe (Zimbabwe)
Ca. 2000- Chieftainess Noiseko Gayilla of the Amambombo Tribe at Keiskammahoek in Eastern Cape (South Africa)
Before 2000- Senior Chieftainess Nopharkamisa Mditshwa of the Pondomise Tribe (South Africa)
Before 2000- Chieftainess Mamatheola Matela (Lesotho)
2001- Temporary Regent HM Queen Karabo Mohato Bereng Seeiso (Lesotho)
Before 2001- Kgôsi Rebecca Banika of Chobe District (Botswana)
2001- Paramount Chief, Kgosi Mosadi Seboko a Mokgôsi of the Balete (Botswana)
2002- Chief (Hosi) Philla Shilubana of the Valoyi (South Africa)
2003-05 Rain Queen Makobo Modjadji VI of Balobedu (South Africa)
2004- Vice-President Joyce Mujunu, (Zimbabwe)
2004- Prime Minister Luísa Días Diogo, (Moçambique)
2005- Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, (South Africa)
2005- Mwadinomho Martha Kristian Nelumbu of Oukwanyama, (Nambia)
[Source]

That's a lot of women, but they are practically all non-elected personalities, getting to sit on the throne because the rightful king is too young, or hasn't been born yet. I told you we had a long way to go. And although Europe has just placed a woman in the driving seat of a big and powerful country, one French newspaper, describing the ceremony at which Mrs Merkel was sworn in, said

Tout sourire et très apprêtée dans un ensemble pantalon avec une veste noire bordée de velours, elle a reçu les félicitations du chancelier sortant, Gerhard Schröder. All a-smile and clearly moved, in black trousers and a black, velvet-lined jacket, she was congratulated by the outgoing chancellor, Gerhard Schröder [Source].

Do you remember anyone describing George Bush's attire when he was sworn in? Schröder's? Chirac's? Mandela's? King Letsie III's? I thought so.

What happens on day 17?

According to the Medical Research Council, in South Africa, a woman is shot dead by her current or former partner every six hours, and such cases rose by 78 percent between 1990 and 1999.

As we approach the end of November, it's that time of the year for the "16 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children" campaign. Don't get me wrong, I think that anything that draws attention to the problem is a good thing, but there is a cynical part of me that questions the value of this campaign which largely consists of 16 days of ongoing media coverage of the issue. We see politicians on our TV screens greeting the inhabitants of woman's shelters in the townships, and making speeches about how we need to stop the violence. Last year the SABC spent R1 million to put a big red ribbon around the Radio Park office block for the duration of the 16 days, and the relevant MEC dished  out"No Violence" sloganed T-shirts to employees while doing the rounds of interviews. One shudders to think of how that money could have been better spent.

It's one thing to have 16 days, but what we really need is an ongoing media campaign like Lovelife - except unlike Lovelife, one that's really meaningful and gets its point accross strongly. We also need education in our schools, proper trained councelors in schools, more community outreach programmes and women's shelters.

What we don't need is big red ribbons and free T-shirts

FGM

It seems that some promising developments may have taken place in the fight to eradicate the horrific practise of female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female circumcision. FGM is widely practised in many African countries where Islam is followed. The practise results in extreme health risks that are frequently life threatening. This can be especially problematic during childbirth, depending on the severity of the circumcision method that was used.

"Beyond the obvious initial pains of the operations, FGC has long-term physiological, sexual, and psychological effects. The unsanitary environment under which FGC takes place results in infections of the genital and surrounding areas and often results in the transmission of the HIV virus which can cause AIDS. Some of the other health consequences of FGC include primary fatalities as a result of shock, hemorrhage or septicemia.

Long-term complications include sexual frigidity, genital malformation, delayed menarche, chronic pelvic complications, recurrent urinary retention and infection, and an entire range of obstetric complications whereas the fetus is exposed to a range of infectious diseases as well as facing the risk of having his or her head crushed in the damaged birth canal. In such cases the infibulated mother must undergo another operation whereby she is "opened" further to insure the safe birthing of her child."

Sapa reports the welcome news that a group of prominent muslim clerics in Somalia have issued a fatwa against female genital mutilation. They have condemned the custom as being against the Islamic religion, and say that it should be a punishable offence. One of the clerics was quoted as saying that every girl "suffering this fate" should be able to take their parents on in an Islamic court and ask for compensation. Unfortunately at this stage, it appears that this last statement was more hypothetical than anything else. Also, there is no such thing as rule of law in Somalia where powerful clan allegiances hold sway, and differences between religious leaders are rife. So, in reality the fatwa will be difficult if not impossible to enforce. Even so, this is an unusual move, and although my optimism is probably completely baseless, the fact that this has happened at all, is to be highly commended.

Women's Day

Tomorrow is Women's Day in South Africa. I will be celebrating this public holiday by going to work, and yes, I feel terribly hard done by. Nevertheless, it is a day to celebrate all that's fabulous and wonderful about us women, so in honour of the occassion - a great article about African women doing it for themselves.

About ten years ago, in reaction to rape and male discrimination, a group of Kenyan women established their own village.

"What started as a group of homeless women looking for a place of their own became a successful and happy village. About three dozen women live here and run a cultural center and camping site for tourists visiting the adjacent Samburu National Reserve. Umoja has flourished, eventually attracting so many women seeking help that they even hired men to haul firewood, traditionally women's work.

The men in the rival village also attempted to build a tourist and cultural center, but were not very successful.

But the women felt empowered with the revenue from the camping site and their cultural center, where they sell crafts. They were able to send their children to school for the first time, eat well and reject male demands for their daughters' circumcision and marriage."

The article goes on to describe how a slowly emerging feminist movement is starting to fight for women's rights on the continent.

"A package of new laws has been presented to Kenya's parliament to give women unprecedented rights to refuse marriage proposals, fight sexual harassment in the workplace, reject genital mutilation and to prosecute rape, an act so frequent that Kenyan leaders call it the nation's biggest human rights issue.

In neighboring Uganda, thousands of women are rallying this month [July 2005] for the Domestic Relations Bill, which would give them specific legal rights if their husbands take a second wife, in part because of fear of HIV infection.

Across the continent in West Africa, Nigerian women are lobbying strongly for the nomination of more women politicians, including a president in 2007, saying that men have failed to run the country properly."

Sharia'h in Nigeria

Kano State in Nigeria is one of the Nigerian states that has adopted Shari'ah- Islamic law. Kano is one of 12 states in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north that adopted the strict Shari'ah code in 2000, but it is the first to introduce segregated public transport. I don't know very much abour Shari'ah, so I don't want to comment on that, but it seems that under this law in Nigeria women are being treated extremely harshly.

Irin reports that the Kano State government has extended its application of Shari'ah law. This means that women have now been banned from riding on the same buses as men, and from riding behind men on motorcycles. The laws are to be enforced by a 9,000-strong religious police force who have the power to fine people who ignore the new rules.

"Transport operators who mix men and women in their vehicles risk a fine of 5,000 naira (US $38) or a six-month suspension of their license. However, some exceptions will still be allowed. A man will still be able to ride in the same car or taxi as his wife and children."