Throughout the centuries of African history, women have played an integral role in society and shaped the culture of their communities.
Over the last century, women played important roles in resisting the colonial administration and in the struggle for liberation in Algeria, Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, among others, as well as in South Africa in the fight against apartheid. From the beginning of this century, we have seen greater participation of women in governance and leadership in Africa. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and a Nobel Peace laureate was Liberia’s and Africa’s first democratically elected woman president in 2006. We have also had president Catherine Samba Panza of the Central African Republic, president Ameenah Gurib Fakim of Mauritius, president Joyce Banda of Malawi, President Sahle Work Zewde of…