Decolonial and Postcolonial Feminisms

Abstract

Decolonial and postcolonial feminism has ushered in a historic shift in feminist discourse, confronting dominant Eurocentric ideologies and campaigning for an inclusive and holistic understanding and conceptualization of oppression, gender, and power. To strengthen the agency of African women and challenge the predominance of western conceptions, this chapter explores decolonial and post-colonial feminism within the contexts of the global south. The chapter also explores the use of decolonial and postcolonial feminism in indigenous movements and policy advocacy across the African continent, offering a synopsis of the drawbacks of western feminist perspectives in capturing the diverse lived experiences of African women, scrutinizing the ongoing impact of neo-colonialism, and harnessing indigenous African feminist epistemologies. This chapter suggests a decolonized and postcolonial feminist movement that promotes gender equality, empowerment, and autonomy for African women by opposing patriarchy and neo-colonialism while embracing indigenous feminist epistemologies.