Chronicle Editor
Shevedzo Chitokwindo and Fadzai Mutodza-Sibanda
PERCEPTIONS on gender roles were recently triggered across all social media platforms after the publication of the Vogue Magazine which saw Barbadian music sensation Rihanna taking the affirmative leading role, while Travis Scott followed behind her carrying their son.
While some African social media influencers like Shadaya scorned on this position, as showing the “emasculation of men”, the question whether gender roles are indigenous African practices or borrowed Western cultures is raised and whether having women in power is dissolving cultural traditions in Zimbabwe.
Young Zimbabwean women like Chido Mpemba, Tadzi Madzima and Thamsanqa “Tamy” Moyo have taken leadership roles in various industries, and when we take a closer look at African history, their actions in leadership have actually embraced African culture and decoloniality aspects.
Even though the African culture has been patriarchal in nature, the condemnation of women in power came as a result of Western beliefs which at the time believed a woman’s place was in the kitchen and taking care of the family.
During pre-colonialism, African women were greatly respected within the society and took great positions as political leaders and even army commanders such as women like Queen Nzinga Mbande of Angola.
Mpemba is a young Zimbabwean woman who has flown the Zimbabwean flag high not only domestically but internationally in the regional political arena. She is the Youth Envoy at the African Union, and has worked alongside several international leaders in the championing of youth related issues.
Mpemba’s selection was a significant milestone for both young people and women in the history of the African Union whereby a youth envoy was selected from Zimbabwe.
In a continent that has issues of high patriarchism, Mpemba broke the record and paved way for ladies to lead in a formerly male-dominated industry as did so many great women in the pre-colonial era who led political groups and movements.
Another phenomenal young lady who has been leading exceptionally in Zimbabwe is Madzima, as she has been able to define female leadership in a significant way.
She is the founder and Director of Ignite Youth Zimbabwe which has discovered, nurtured and recognised the talent of Zimbabwean youth over the years, in addition to the plethora of humanitarian work the organisation has undertaken.
Special attention needs to be paid to how the organisation’s networking events have united the young people for a robust development for the youth, by the youth.
It is safe to say that the multi-award winning Madzima is doing an amazing job and is an inspiration to a lot of women.
Women have been making strides in all avenues upholding the high-respect which was given to them in pre-colonial Zimbabwe and Africa at large.
Another great example is the phenomenal Moyo, popularly known as the queen of Afro pop in Zimbabwe.
Releasing her first song ”Ndibereke” in 2016, at only 18 years old was a breakthrough she and the Zimbabwean music industry needed.
She has not gone back since and has been positively influencing other young people through her music such as her song which featured Dobba Don and the rapper Takura called, “You’re beautiful.”
In this song, she encourages the girl child that she is beautiful just the way she is. It is undeniable that she has brought positivity to the girl child and has survived the music industry through her consistency.
One could say that she has shown that the future is indeed female and that it is possible to thrive in a male dominated industry regardless of your age or gender.
One can clearly see through these remarkable young ladies that women can do what men can do, if not better. They have done an amazing job by excelling in male-dominated industries and continue to show lots of potential for the future.
The emasculation of men through women taking leadership roles is highly debatable, as women participation and leadership has roots that go beyond colonisation.
Therefore, the work that is being done by women in leadership like the ones mentioned in this article is exceptional in enforcing decoloniality and ensuring male emasculation issues are dealt with in a way that ensures they do not promote inaccurate outlooks on women and their expected roles within society.
Zimbabwean women have shown beyond reasonable doubt that they can and they will. As we continue to celebrate women, we concur with the popular quote, “Here is to strong women, may we know them, may we be them and may we raise them.”
l Shevedzo Chitokwindo and Fadzai Mutodza-Sibanda are fourth-year International Relations students at Africa University.
Sidumisile Mabena