Women Traditional Leaders in Africa
 
Traditional leaders play a key role in governing, and sometimes in ensuring security and justice for men and women in many African countries. Studies have shown that in some countries, women are more likely to rely on chiefs’ courts and other informal forums for the adjudication of cases of rape and domestic violence than on the state. However, despite the central role that traditional leaders play in many African societies, and how they impact the lives of women, there is a dearth of literature on women traditional leaders in Africa. This three-year project adopts a mixed-methods approach to comparatively study women traditional leaders in Botswana, Ghana, Liberia, and South Africa. It seeks to explain how women’s positions and roles in institutions of traditional leadership have evolved and to theorize the impact that women traditional leaders have on governance, women’s rights, and security. Preliminary data collection was conducted in 2019 and early 2020.
 
This project is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation with a grant awarded to the University of Ghana (Adriana Biney, Amanda Coffie, and Peace A. Medie) and is a partnership with the University of Pretoria (Cori Wielenga) and Makerere University (Eria Serwajja). The project has two research officers (Ruth Kaburi and Charlene Debrah) and PhD students (Lydia Amoah and Titilope Ajayi). 
 
 

Publications

Peace A. Medie, Adriana Biney, Amanda Coffie, and Cori Wielanga, 'Women Traditional Leaders Could Help Make Sure the Pandemic Message is Heard,' The Conversation, 24 August 2020.