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Title:Towards an indigenous model of conflict resolution: reinventing women's roles as traditional peacebuilders in neo-colonial Africa
Authors:Isike, ChristopherISNI
Uzodike, Ufo OkekeISNI
Year:2011
Periodical:African Journal on Conflict Resolution (ISSN 1562-6997)
Volume:11
Issue:2
Pages:33-59
Language:English
Geographic term:Africa
Subjects:women
peacebuilding
External link:https://www.accord.org.za/ajcr-issues/towards-an-indigenous-model-of-conflict-resolution/
Abstract:Women have always been at the centre of peace processes across different precolonial African societies. Their peace agency in these societies can be located in their cultural and sociopolitical roles as well as their contributions to the overall well-being of these societies. It is noteworthy that women's peacebuilding roles then were reinforced by perceptions which stereotyped women as natural peacemakers, and as being more pacific than men. However, women in neocolonial African States appear to have lost this myth/sacredness that surrounded their being and social existence in precolonial Africa. This is because apart from being marginalized socially, economically and politically, they have increasingly become victims of male violence. How and why did women transform from being active participants in precolonial politics and peace processes to being passive observers of politics and peacebuilding in neocolonial Africa? And second, given their precolonial peacebuilding antecedents, do women have the potential to transform politics and conflict in neocolonial Africa? In building towards an indigenous model of conflict resolution and peacebuilding, the authors contend that the feminist ethic of care (defined by 'ubuntu') that was appropriated by precolonial African women to wage peace and maintain societal harmony, is still very much a part of the core of contemporary African women, and can be appropriated in resolving subnational conflicts in neocolonial Africa. Indeed, it is possible to develop it into a model of African feminist peacebuilding which can be utilized as an ideological rallying point to transform politics and create a suitable environment for development in the continent. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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