Women all over Africa organise themselves to pursue their social, cultural, political and economic interests. The now substantial body of feminist-inspired historiography on women's struggles during the colonial period indicates unequivocally that they have often mobilised and resisted as women, in order to pursue interests they had defined for themselves, and that they began to do so long before modern feminism came into being.
Historians continue to unearth far earlier examples of women's scholarly and philanthropic work as well, thus extending the conceptual boundaries of modern feminist thought. At popular level, for example, local Nigerian communities mythologise medieval scholarly and military icons such as Nana Asmau and Amina of Zazzau; in Morocco, Fatima bint Mohammed ben Feheri is remembered as the well-travelled philanthropist who founded the ancient University of Al-Qarawiyin at Fez, Morocco, in the year 859.
Editorial
Editorial
- by Amina Mama
Features
Terms of Engagement: South African challenges
- by Shireen Hassim
She-murenga
- by Shereen Essof
Regional Networking as Transnational Feminism: African Experiences
- by Aili Mari Tripp
Standpoints
Multiple Targets, Mixing Strategies: Complicating Feminist Analysis of Contemporary South African Women's Movements
- by Elaine Salo
The Africa Social Forum Feminist Dialogue: Power, Feminisms and Mobilisation
- by Amanda Alexander
Tribute
A Tribute to Yvonne Vera: 19 September 1964 – 7 April 2005
- by Desiree Lewis
Tribute – Ray Alexander 31.12.1913 – 12.09.2004
- by Helen Scanlon
Profiles
Claiming Cyberspace: Communication and Networking for Social Change and Women's Empowerment
- by Jennifer Radloff
Collaborative Conversations: The Mothertongue Project in Profile
- by Sara Matchett
The African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET): Experiences of Feminist Continental Organising
- by L. Muthoni Wanyeki
ABANTU for Development and Change
- by Hamida Maalim Harrison
In Conversation
The Ghanaian Women's Manifesto Movement
Mobilising Tanzania's Women: Joanne Henry Interviews Fatma Alloo
Reviews
Women and the Remaking of Politics in Southern Africa: Negotiating Autonomy, Incorporation and Representation by Gisela Geisler.
- reviewed by Anne Mager
Silence and the Language of the Body: The Dream in the Next Body by Gabeba Baderoon.
- reviewed by Harry Garuba
Women at Ouagadougou: Yaba Badoe talks to three women directors at this year's Fespaco
Hear Our Voices: Race, Gender and the Status of Black South African Women in the Academy edited by Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, and Zine Magubane.
- reviewed by Thembela Vokwana