Women and Democracy: The New Political Activism in Africa

Abstract

Until the 1990s, it was unheard of for an African woman to run for the presidency of her country. To be sure, Africa had a few female rulers earlier in the twentieth century, but none had been elected. Empress Zauditu, for instance, ruled Ethiopia from 1917 to 1930; Queen-regents Dzeliwe Shongwe (1982-83) and Ntombi Thwala (1983-86) reigned over Swaziland; and Elizabeth Domitien of the Central African Republic was appointed as Africa's first female prime minister, serving in 1975-76. It was only in the 1990s, however, that significant numbers of African women began aspiring to positions of national leadership.

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