Ever Wondered the Role of Women in Pre-Colonial Cameroon?






It is a long week-end and I am excited as I browse the internet to find out the place of women in precolonial Africa, specifically Cameroon. The reason being that I read a few articles which underscore the colonial role in re-shaping the status of women within African societies. Some of the articles argue that colonialism possibly reconfigured gender roles relegating women to the domestic sphere while men were given the opportunities to integrate into the restructured societies established by colonialists. The historical accounts hold that during the pre-colonial periods, women assisted in agriculture something which they still do till present, particularly in countries like Cameroon. According to some researchers like Goheen (1996) and Nana-Fabu (2001),  an estimated 90% of the food crops in Cameroon are cultivated by women. The implication is that women are very productive in sustaining the livelihood of the people. Before I run the risk of diverging too much, my focus is to define the role of women in pre-colonial Africa with greater focus on Cameroon. Following an article published online, titled: Women and the Colonial Economy: an African Case study, the author clearly demarcates the roles assigned to women and men with women responsible for farming, planting, weeding, cooking, cleaning and nurturing children whilst men were responsible for clearing the land, herded the cattle and built houses. This division of labour assigned much to women and when the Europeans arrived, during the colonial period, the men shifted their focus to producing cash crops meant for exportation. It is in this regard that it is suggested that women were left with more work to do as men got involved in exportation. A case study revealed that during the colonial era, women's working hours increased from 46 during the week to more than 70 by 1934.



Women as Warriors
Elsewhere in Africa some women were great warriors. As per a comment on pininterest.com, Madam Yoko or Mammy Yoko (ca. 1849–1906) led the Mende people in Sierra Leone. "Combining advantageous lineage, shrewd marriage choices and the power afforded her from the secret Sande society, Yoko became a leader of considerable influence. She expanded the Mende Kingdom and at the time of her death, she was the ruler of the vast Kpa Mende Confederacy.”

The late Madam Yoko (1849–1906), Chief of Moyamba - Madam Yoko or Mammy Yoko (ca. 1849–1906) was a leader of the Mende people in Sierra Leone. Combining advantageous lineage, shrewd marriage choices and the power afforded her from the secret Sande society, Yoko became a leader of considerable influence.    She expanded the Mende Kingdom and at the time of her death, she was the ruler of the vast Kpa Mende Confederacy.



Scholar John Henrik Clarke called Nzingha (or Anna Nzingha) the “greatest military strategist that ever confronted the armed forces of Portugal.” As queen of precolonial Angola, she sought to end the Portuguese capture and enslavement of African people, sending ambassadors and other representatives throughout West and Central Africa in an attempt to build a massive coalition of Africans to eject the Portuguese. Born c. 1582-1663.

Scholar John Henrik Clarke called Nzingha (or Anna Nzingha) the “greatest military strategist that ever confronted the armed forces of Portugal.” As queen of precolonial Angola, she sought to end the Portuguese capture and enslavement of African people, sending ambassadors and other representatives throughout West and Central Africa in an attempt to build a massive coalition of Africans to eject the Portuguese. Born c. 1582-1663. Posted by Audrey Myrie

diasporicroots:  Amazon warriors from Dahomey The Amazon Women of Dahomey, a precolonial West African kingdom, in the present-day Republic of Benin at the Crystal Palace exhibition. Circa 1893
diasporicroots: Amazon warriors from Dahomey The Amazon Women of Dahomey, a precolonial West African kingdom, in the present-day Republic of Benin at the Crystal Palace exhibition. Circa 1893 posted by Sarah Unwin.The Dahomey Amazons were an all-female army that fought for the Kingdom of Dahomey (now Republic of Benin) for almost 200 years.

Ndatté Yalla was Queen of the Kingdom of Waalo, a Kingdom located where is now the Republic of Senegal, after the death of her sister, Djeumbeut Mobdj. She exhibited all the attributes of a Waalo leader : Father David Boilat took a photo of her smoking, surrounded by her female warriors in ceremonial clothes. She fought against the French colonisation and for example refused to ceade the island of Saint Louis to the French, despite the threats of the French governor
Ndatté Yalla


                                                     
"Ndatté Yalla was Queen of the Kingdom of Waalo, a Kingdom located where is now the Republic of Senegal, after the death of her sister, Djeumbeut Mobdj. She exhibited all the attributes of a Waalo leader : Father David Boilat took a photo of her smoking, surrounded by her female warriors in ceremonial clothes. She fought against the French colonisation and for example refused to ceade the island of Saint Louis to the French, despite the threats of the French governor." Posted by Dana


The Daily routine of women in pre-colonial Cameroon. Who can recognise the hair style of the Fashionista sieving some corn flour?
Two African women preparing food, Cameroon, n.d. Missionary Postcards   Yale University Divinity School Library New Haven, CT,  2006  Postcard has a printed caption "Mission des P.P. du Saint-Esprit - Les preparatifs du diner." There is a handwritten message in French on the back.   Digitized from a postcard in Missionary Postcard Collection, Record Group No. 101, Special Collections, Yale University Divinity School Library.

Two African women preparing food, Cameroon, n.d. Missionary Postcards Yale University Divinity School Library New Haven, CT, 2006 Postcard has a printed caption "Mission des P.P. du Saint-Esprit - Les preparatifs du diner." There is a handwritten message in French on the back. Digitized from a postcard in Missionary Postcard Collection, Record Group No. 101, Special Collections, Yale University Divinity School Library

Beauty

Aristocratic ladies' style in the early 20th c. Hair is dressed over a frame, a style inspired by the Fulani, but with a Bamum twist. QE-30.006.0158 :: International Mission Photography Archive, ca.1860-ca.1960

Aristocratic ladies' style in the early 20th c. Hair is dressed over a frame, a style inspired by the Fulani, but with a Bamum twist. QE-30.006.0158 :: International Mission Photography Archive, ca.1860-ca.1960


Africa |  Vintage postcard, circa 1920, publisher & photographer unknown, author’s collection. Fulani or Peul woman.

Africa | Vintage postcard, circa 1920, publisher & photographer unknown, author’s collection. Fulani or Peul woman.

In all, the role of women has not changed very much, but just like it was in Europe, things are transforming. It would seem education is key in providing the opportunities for women to permeate spaces that have long been held by men. Education unlocks the closed doors for women not only in Cameroon but a broad section of Africa.


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