African Possibilities

Contrary to feminist theories that presuppose an almighty patriarchy that is hegemonic globally, Ifi Amadiume has been theorizing, over and over again, the reality that white supremacist imperialist patriarchy never succeeded in wiping out indigenous knowledge systems and women’s agency in toto. Rather, wherever there is patriachiality, careful research methodologies are bound to reveal oppositional matriachiality and vice versa. Drawing from her background in the cultural studies of religion, the inspirational poet-activist intellectual reminds us in African Possibilities that the world would be a more humane place when the marginalization of the immense contributions from poor women and Africans is ended to make way for the democratization and decolonization of economic, political, educational, technological, family, and spiritual institutional leadership in the interest of all. * Onwubiko Agozino, Professor, Virginia Tech, USA *
In this triumphant return, Professor Ifi Amadiume, the foremost scholar of matriarchy in West Africa, further develops the concept of matriarchitarianism, introduced in her influential work, Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society (1987). Rooted in the works of contemporary colleagues in and of the African continent, students of empire and liberation will find African Possibilities to be foundational to the establishment and growth of inclusive epistemologies by African scholars, that imagines a just future for Africa and the world. * Assata Zerai, University of New Mexico, USA *