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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Women chiefs and power in the Volta Region of Ghana
Author:Brydon, LynneISNI
Year:1996
Periodical:Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law
Issue:37-38
Pages:227-247
Language:English
Geographic term:Ghana
Subjects:Avatime
chieftaincy
women
External link:https://doi.org/10.1080/07329113.1996.10756481
Abstract:Even in a matrilineal society such as Asante, women's empowerment both currently and in the past is circumscribed. Women's condition in Asante provides the baseline for a comparison with Avatime, the central part of the Volta Region of Ghana, where the author has been working intermittently since 1973. Having noted the 'contested histories' of the institution, ideology and practices of chiefship in this part of the Volta Region, the author focuses on certain aspects of the history of male and female 'chieftaincy' in Avatime during the colonial and postcolonial periods, considers the status of and opportunities for women in Avatime culture and their roles and responsibilities, both as a 'woman chief' ('odze okusie') and as a woman. While woman village and clan chiefs may have had well-defined roles and made frequent appearances as such in the past, today they have few, if any, roles and responsibilities. Women's most regularly prominent roles today in Avatime are as the body of 'Keda'midzeba', adult Avatime women. As such, they maintain a relatively strong voice in community affairs. However, there was little focus for development by or for women until the setting up of a branch of the 31st December Women's Movement in Amedzofe in 1986 provided women with a platform for organizing both community development and income generating projects. Bibliogr., notes, ref.
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