Socialisation for (Dis)empowerment? The Role of Women in African Theatrical Performances

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Contemporary scholarship on gender in African society tends to be mostly preoccupied with women's disempowerment by the different forms of patriarchy. While acknowledging the privileged position ascribed to men in African society, this article attempts to challenge the predominant view of power attributed to patriarchy. The article argues that, in the indigenous African theatrical space, women exercised considerable power and authority together with, if not over, their menfolk. An exploration of African narrative performances, religious rituals and children's ‘dramatic play’ will be made to demonstrate that African women also wielded material, intellectual and ideological power.