Quickly changing concepts on gender roles are a pivotal issue in after-colonial African societies... more Quickly changing concepts on gender roles are a pivotal issue in after-colonial African societies. Many women (and men) are calling for a radical change as they feel traditional gender concepts as being oppressive, inhuman and un-Christian. Gender equality, gender fairness is on their agenda. On the other hand, for many men (and women) these societal changes are painful “gender troubles” and seem to be dangerous for gender-based identity, threatening traditional African values. Volume 22 of the BiAS series deals with this central topic by asking what gender troubles have to do with the Bible. Are biblical texts an obstacle for women’s liberation? Is the Bible a divine guaranty for male supremacy or rather an advocate for gender equality? What are “redemptive masculinities” and how do they relate to a new, truly Christian understanding of the role of women in church, society and state? – Scholars from different disciplines and several countries are dealing with these urgent questions to help scholars, students, pastors, politicians and members of Christian churches to find a way to more gender fairness and “gender joy”.
Genders, Sexualities, and Spiritualities in African Pentecostalism, 2020
This study explores the paradox of Botswana Pentecostal masculinities. It demonstrates how the do... more This study explores the paradox of Botswana Pentecostal masculinities. It demonstrates how the doctrines of born again, new creation and the Holy Spirit construct distinct Pentecostal masculinities characterized by mutuality and egalitarian existence and simultaneously Pentecostal hermeneutics is entrenched in patriarchy and therefore encourages the performance of hegemonic masculinities.
Nokuthela Linderely Dube, one of the first black women to qualify as a teacher, author of the fir... more Nokuthela Linderely Dube, one of the first black women to qualify as a teacher, author of the first Zulu songbook and wife to John Langalibalele, the first president of the African National Congress, is a significant figure whose memory has been buried in history. She represents the first generation of African women who pioneered women’s struggle against cultural, racial and political oppression. She attributed her opposition to forms of oppression to have been a result of being raised in the church and growing up in a mission station. In spite of her outstanding contribution to the education of Africans and her support to the work of the ANC and the church, she remains unknown by many South Africans. This article seeks to examine her legacy and to contribute to it. The aim is to bring forth lessons gleaned from her legacy that can be used in a democratic South Africa, where women continue to struggle for a culture of gender equality to be fully inculcated at all levels of society. Woman has from time immemorial been looked upon as inferior to man, and in order to destroy this mischievous idea we desire to have girls as regular boarders and to give them work with the young Zulu men and boys. The latter will then get an idea of the intellectual strength of womankind and lose his erroneous ideas of his own mental superiority. We cannot hope to raise the Zulu men to any very high standard unless we show them that they are not superior to the women.
Quickly changing concepts on gender roles are a pivotal issue in after-colonial African societies... more Quickly changing concepts on gender roles are a pivotal issue in after-colonial African societies. Many women (and men) are calling for a radical change as they feel traditional gender concepts as being oppressive, inhuman and un-Christian. Gender equality, gender fairness is on their agenda. On the other hand, for many men (and women) these societal changes are painful “gender troubles” and seem to be dangerous for gender-based identity, threatening traditional African values. Volume 22 of the BiAS series deals with this central topic by asking what gender troubles have to do with the Bible. Are biblical texts an obstacle for women’s liberation? Is the Bible a divine guaranty for male supremacy or rather an advocate for gender equality? What are “redemptive masculinities” and how do they relate to a new, truly Christian understanding of the role of women in church, society and state? – Scholars from different disciplines and several countries are dealing with these urgent questions to help scholars, students, pastors, politicians and members of Christian churches to find a way to more gender fairness and “gender joy”.
Genders, Sexualities, and Spiritualities in African Pentecostalism, 2020
This study explores the paradox of Botswana Pentecostal masculinities. It demonstrates how the do... more This study explores the paradox of Botswana Pentecostal masculinities. It demonstrates how the doctrines of born again, new creation and the Holy Spirit construct distinct Pentecostal masculinities characterized by mutuality and egalitarian existence and simultaneously Pentecostal hermeneutics is entrenched in patriarchy and therefore encourages the performance of hegemonic masculinities.
Nokuthela Linderely Dube, one of the first black women to qualify as a teacher, author of the fir... more Nokuthela Linderely Dube, one of the first black women to qualify as a teacher, author of the first Zulu songbook and wife to John Langalibalele, the first president of the African National Congress, is a significant figure whose memory has been buried in history. She represents the first generation of African women who pioneered women’s struggle against cultural, racial and political oppression. She attributed her opposition to forms of oppression to have been a result of being raised in the church and growing up in a mission station. In spite of her outstanding contribution to the education of Africans and her support to the work of the ANC and the church, she remains unknown by many South Africans. This article seeks to examine her legacy and to contribute to it. The aim is to bring forth lessons gleaned from her legacy that can be used in a democratic South Africa, where women continue to struggle for a culture of gender equality to be fully inculcated at all levels of society. Woman has from time immemorial been looked upon as inferior to man, and in order to destroy this mischievous idea we desire to have girls as regular boarders and to give them work with the young Zulu men and boys. The latter will then get an idea of the intellectual strength of womankind and lose his erroneous ideas of his own mental superiority. We cannot hope to raise the Zulu men to any very high standard unless we show them that they are not superior to the women.
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