Editorial: Special Issue on Womanism & Culture

Abstract

Articles in this Issue celebratewomanhood, aspects that characterize it and directs our attention to gendered discourses that seek to unearth the idea that women have always fought for their rights and actively participated in various ways in the sustainable development of African societies. Articles approach the concept of ‘Womanhood’ or ‘Womanism’ in its localized and broadest sense drawing on key cultural issues on which power struggles or otherwise emanate from. They point out areas of success showing what African societies can achieve through womanhood or other cultural dynamics. As womanhood seeks to maintain an inclusive culture in African societies, some aspects of sustainable development are addressed. Drawing much from the Zimbabwean realities and the region, these articles reveal, in a subtle way, efforts by women actively participating in discourses of nationhood as well as recommending in considerable ways how on one hand women make significant contributionsin national culture; on the other hand,aspects of healing and reconciliation are also subtlety addressed. The articles augment voices on gender discourses, culture and nation building, however, in a very unique way.