AFRICAN WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN GOD'S MISSION FOR JUSTICE AND DIGNITY

Abstract

The call to turn to God is a call to the renewal of relationships. Throughout the centuries, African women have responded to God by playing their part as agents of God's will to transform broken relationships and reconcile estranged members of the community and society. Because the theme of the WCC's Eighth Assembly provides an apt vantage point from which to reflect anew on the implications of turning to God for participating in God's mission for justice and dignity, I would like to share the following personal reflections on the contribution made by African women. They highlight experiences and struggles of several individual women, as well as some of the efforts of organized groups and larger movements in God's mission of fullness of life for all. Perhaps the most challenging contribution of African women to God's mission of justice and dignity is their role in conflict situations. The conflicts in Africa are going on at levels of unbelievable cruelty. The wars alone have displaced one million people internally, and out of an estimated world refugee population of 15 million people, 75% are reported to be from Africa. Of all the internally and externally displaced people, 80% are women and their children. Women's role in conflict resolution must be seen in the light of their overall traditional role in church and society. In many African societies women lived in isolation in their homes or in groups within their communities, with the responsibilities of bearing and nurturing children. Neither white missionary wives nor African women were traditionally seen as contributors and participants in mainstream missionary work, let alone as getting involved in conflict situations. Nevertheless, a considerable number of women have made tremendous achievements in conflict resolution. One such remarkable woman is Mrs Sylivie Kinigi, the current UNDP representative in Equatorial Guinea. She faced enormous challenges when she suddenly found herself the Head of Government of the Republic of Burundi from July 1993 to February 1997 after the assassination of the then president Mr Ntaryamira. This was a volatile conflict situation, and Mrs Kinigi was faced with legal and constitutional dilemmas. She spearheaded dialogue and consultations with different groups of people in search of a peaceful and acceptable solution - not an easy process. First and foremost there was a need to build trust on several fronts: between her and her ministers; between the government and the army; between the government and the Assembly (parliament); between the government and the population, and between the political parties. She embarked on a course of mobilizing the civil society in which religious leaders, human rights groups, and other independent figures were included. These persons were very crucial as instruments of trust and building the confidence of the people, greatly enhancing the government's relief and aid activities. Political parties as well as the military had to be mobilized to support government efforts. Crisis management committees were set up at all levels. According to Sylivie Kinigi, men have often failed to show any willingness to be responsible for the lives of persons dependent on them. But women do have this sense of responsibility, as well as respect for human dignity and development, and patriotism. The role of women in African communities - mainly that of looking after children, the sick and the elderly - requires that they put the interests of others first. From childhood onward, women are trained to be patient and tolerant, both of which are very crucial elements in conflict resolution. Sylivie is an example of those African women who have answered God's call to restore justice and dignity to God's people. She was committed to giving all those concerned in the conflict a fair hearing without belittling them. Different women's groups have adopted different methods, depending on the situation encountered on the ground. …