Social and Cultural Anthropologist and contributor Scherin Barlow-Massay
Community news. Today, most Hip-hop, R&B and urban music videos depict women of African descent dancing in a provocative manner. These objectified images of semi-naked women, strut around in high-heeled shoes shaking their behinds, or crawling on their knees. It is common to see scantily clad women in bathtubs cavorting with either sex, or stimulating some kind of performance that should not be on public display. The party like atmosphere clearly demonstrates that they are having fun.
From video extras to high earning female singers, who do not need to promote such images: all put their bodies in the public domain and the media portrayal of the woman of African descent has become synonymous with the sexual temptress, a woman with no moral principles. This prompted me to question whether things have always been this way for women of African descent.
Africans in Ancient Egypt had a tradition of female monarchs who ruled in their own right. Queen Hatshepsut, the 18th Dynasty ruler was among such rulers. She defied convention by having herself proclaimed Pharaoh. Hatshepsut established trading relations with the land of Punt, who among other things traded in gold, incense and perfumes. She ruled for 21 years and among her many titles was King of Upper and Lower Egypt.
Born of noble stock and of Kushite ancestry, Queen Tiye wielded a lot of political and military influence, as often is the case for women in matrilineal societies. She introduced the short rounded wig to Egyptian women who had previously worn elaborate plaited wigs under short shaven hair. Married to Amenhotep lll, she was the mother of Akenathen and grandmother of Tutankhamen.
The Kushite culture (in modern day Sudan) revered women as mothers of the offspring of gods. A number of women held the title Kentake, meaning Queen-Mother. These powerful women commanded armies, negotiated political deals with other countries and commanded great building works. Blinded in one eye, Kentake Amanirenas led an army against the Romans and defeated them. The Romans never invaded Kush and after three years of warfare, Rome signed a peace treaty.
Artist’s impression of Yaa Asantewaa. Photo courtesy globalfusionproductions.com
Described in the Bible as the Queen of Sheba (Saba), this queen commanded great wealth. When she visited King Solomon, she gave him as gifts: a large amount of aromatic balsam oil, precious stones and 120 talents of gold, one talent being equivalent to 50kg. In today’s market, 120 talents would be worth approx. $35,000,000. This ancient kingdom incorporated the regions of Ethiopia and southern Arabia.
In the 17th century, the charismatic Queen Njinja (Nzinhga) Mbande of Angola fearlessly fought for the freedom of her people against Portuguese colonisers. Njinja learnt her military prowess from her people the Jagas who with Njinja as their queen, waged war against the slave raids for 30 years. The Jagas bravery had them resisting Portuguese enslavers by forming a human shield.
In Ghana, Yaa Asantewaa exerted great power as Queen Mother and warrior queen of the Asante Empire. When the men were reluctant to go to war, she called upon Akan women to assert their legislative and judicial obligations in waging war against the British after they demanded the Golden Stool, the symbol of divine ruler-ship of the Asante people. Yaa Asantewaa died in 1921.
History attests to the facts that the African woman was powerful and influential and ruled at times when the women of Europe, and other parts of the world, were governed by patriarchal systems. In times of war, they fought beside their armies and demonstrated great leadership qualities.
