African Women Legends and the Spirituality of Resistance

Musa W. Dube, the William Ragsdale Cannon Distinguished Professor of the New Testament, is a Humboldtian awardee (2011) and winner of the Gutenberg Teaching Award (2017). She is a biblical scholar based at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, USA. Dube is also Professor Extraordinaire in UNISA, Centre for Gender Studies. Telesia K. Musili is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She is a national coordinator of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. Sylvia Owusu-Ansah is Dean of the School of Theology at Perez University, Ghana. She is Vice-President of the Missiological Society of Ghana based at Trinity Theological Seminary and Head Pastor of Revival Temple, Perez Chapel International La.

Foreword by Elias Kifon Bongmba

Part 1: Women-Centred Origins and Solidarity with Mother Earth

1 “ Bones Shall Rise Again!” African Legendary Women and the Spirituality of Resistance

Musa W. Dube

2 “Powerhouse of Feminism”: Sitting with the Nine Daughters of Gīkūyū and Mūmbi, at the Ecological and Gender Hearth

Mary Wanjiku Kihuha

3 Wangari Maathai’s Environmental Spirituality as Grounded in African Indigenous Community Wisdom

Fancy Cheronoh

Part 2: Rain Queens and Rain Priestess, and Sangoma

4 The Modjadji Rain-Queendom of South Africa: Women as Guardians of the Traditional Mantle

A Lefatshe Moagi and Mr. B. Mtombeni

5 Towards makewana eco-theology: Motherhood, wife god and rain priestess

Fulata Lusungu Moyo and Joyce Mlenga

6 Isangoma and Wosana the Rain Priestess: women as vehicles to the sustainability of African Indigenous Religions

Senzokuhle Doreen Setume

Part 3: Legendary Women and Political Rebellion

7 Kimpa Vita: Revolutionary Prophetess and Martyr of the Kongo Kingdom

Maleke Marthe Kondemo

8 Wallata Petros of Ethiopia: Wife, Mother and Freedom Fighter

Meklit Mitiku Mamunu

9 Mbuya Nehanda: Priestess and Freedom Fighter of Zimbabwe

Molly Manyonganise

10 Nwanyeruwa: leading the nigerian women's war of 1929

Martina I. Oguntoyinbo-atere

Part 4: Sister Kings, Regent Queens and Queen Mothers

11 Makhadzi: The Salient Venda Cornerstone of Indigenous Public Leadership

Yvonne Winfildah Takawira-Matwapa

12 “The Indomitable Queen Labotsibeni of Eswatini: Where Gender and Religion Meet in a Patriarchal Space

Sonene Nyawo

Part 5: Founders of African Independent Churches

13 Lenshina Alice Mulenga: The Spirit of Resistance and Liberation

Dorothy Tembo

14 Mma Christinah Nku: Legendary spiritual woman

Linah Simimba Ndhlovu

15 Mai Chaza//Matenga: A Legendary African Woman Leader in Zimbabwean Spirituality

Amos Muyambo and Joseph Muyangata

Part 6: Legendary African Women Writers

16 “We should all be feminists”: A critical analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s African feminist resources for gender activism in Africa

Pauline Mateveke