The modern perspective of this is definitely true. Africa has always had roles for genders but they never restricted people so tight in boxes that don't fit. For example men could cry and not be disrespected or punished socially and a woman could be in positions of power
Name me one African society were men could cry and not be disrespected socially 🤣🤣🤣 that’s absolutely ridiculous men who cry a lot will always be disrespected because it’s a sign of weakness and African society is far from weak you must mean European society like the Greeks where men could cry all day without being disrespected because they were weak over there
The problem isn't that there were specific gender roles. The issue is that European culture DEVALUES the woman's role in society. That's the difference. But then in European culture there's always some sort of hierarchy no matter what it is be it race gender, etc... It's all about individual achievement having somebody on the bottom and someone in the superior position. In African culture both men and women/masculine and feminine traits were valued. There's a reason we had goddesses such as Orisha in African traditional religions. THE brilliant DR. Marimba Ani touches on this in her EXCEPTIONAL book 'YURUGU.'
In igbo, the first daughters have a title called Ada and they also form a Gov't called umu ada. They actually have their laws which they enforce. I witnessed them kick a man out of their community for committing a heinous crime. They are not to be messed with.
One of the reasons why I love your videos is that you always give in-depth and honest takes on history without trying to put any political spin on things or judge the facts of history through modern sensibilities.
please specify your culture so that we can verify since we are all From an African culture here and I disagree. Do not just point to a country if possible point it to a Tribe and Province and what that culture is so that we can validate.
@vanhuvanhuvese2738 If you're already disagreeing why should I verify? Why is it so hard to believe that women from almost every culture have been subjugated? the misogyny runs deep
I come from an African family but probably not from the same family as urs.. Or maybe not same tribe or country as you.. Cos African men do more than any continent of men when they have the resources..
It's really complicated to truly know what our African ancestors were doing prior all the foreigners influences. But I stand by the rule of redpect and teamwork. We all lead at some point in our lives.
Makes sense. Every position of leadership I've had where I lead forcefully, lacked respect for those I was leading and treated them unjustly resulted in failure. As I studied and learned more about the trait I began leading from behind, encouraging leadership among followers, respecting then and their needs and through communication was able to gain insight and perspective so every decision I was required to make was done with respect and inclusion in mind. Since those time I have not failed in my leadership. There is a way to lead that reaches an equilibrium that can appear "equal". Leadership is not structured alone but also the method of execution.
I do find the research a bit lacking in the video and I find some of the comments under it extremely distasteful. Regarding my grievances with the video: I would have loved to see an actual comparison with the European gender roles as in what do they assign the genders as well as in which time period. And while it is mentioned in the video that Africa shouldn't be viewed as a monolith, it's a bit contradicting to draw a conclusion with that in mind after only looking at one culture at one point in time based on one text. This doesn't only exclude different cultures in Africa, but also different time periods, the language barriers and even the understanding of gender and gender roles itself. As to some of the commentors: basing your whole understanding on sex and gender roles on your own understanding of it when both of these haven't always been static in the past or even now is very narrow minded, I would have hoped that there were people trying to expand their views here not trying to bully others into believing ones own opinion. Also I've read multiple times that "only men would hunt and women were gatherers": that is a very outdated belief that has been disproven multiple times by scholars as well as archaeologists. The evidence that ancient african gender roles didn't comply with the modern European standard (which I guess is the reference point in the video as it is never made completely clear) are there and very interesting. I would have loved to see both the video and the commentators expand on that
Thank you! I was getting depressed reading the comments. I was very excited to watch this video but I noticed the tone quickly and became disappointed. But grateful for a starting place to continue my own research of understanding what gender and their roles mean/have changed into across this diverse continent. 🙏🏾🩷
Your comment is corny & ignores the pain of African women, being discriminated against for being black & women in our imperfect world. Unless you have proof that most of Africa is different. Misogyny is even older than racism, it’s in every part of the world.
@@afrinaut3094Both genders have it hard, women just want to be the ultimate victim so y'all can keep guilt tripping and screaming misogyny at everything
Gender roles were NOT imposed on Africans by europeans like a lot of WOKE westerners love to claim. I'm a YORUBA man that live in the West, and I can tell for a fact that we were raised and made aware of our roles. Yes, certain people do things differently. My Mom made sure we learn how to cook even though we are mostly boys, but that doesn't change our roles in a family settings. Yorubas are actually more liberal minded than a lot of tribes in West Africa.
@@megatronsroyalemissary382 never heard of Mansa mussa????? Africa had kings and empires.... It's quite simple. And talking about pre-colonial Africa gives me an indication of the origins of this absurdity. You tell yourself that Africans are morons and that you can push all kinds of nonsense? Kingdom of Bazin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Belgin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Jarin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Qita'a (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Nagash (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Tankish (9th century CE) • Empire of Kitara [1] • Sultanate of Mogadishu (10th century-16th century CE) • Kilwa Sultanate (960-1513 CE) • Kingdom of Medri Bahri (1137-1890 CE) • Ethiopian Empire (1137-1974 CE) • Zagwe dynasty (1137-1270 CE) • Solomonic dynasty (1270-1974 CE) • Sultanate of Ifat (1285-1415 CE) • Warsangali Sultanate (1298-1886 CE) • Kingdom of Buganda (1300-present CE) • Kingdom of Burundi (1500-1966 CE) • Kingdom of Rwanda (1300-1959 CE) • Ajuran Sultanate (14th century-17th century CE) • Adal Sultanate (1415-1555 CE)
The Zulu people have always had a well-devised social structure, even before the missionaries arrived. The social structure is based on respect, which is the well-spring of their etiquette. There were and still are clear rules defined regarding duties and manners for the entire household, starting from the lowliest of servants to the divine monarch. There were also precise rules regarding the behaviour of women towards men, subordinates to their superiors and younger to elder. The Zulu people govern under a patriarchal society. Men are perceived as the head of the household and seen as authoritative figures. Zulu men identify themselves with great pride and dignity. They also compare themselves to qualities of powerful wild animals such as bulls, lions and elephants.The men contribute to society by acting as defenders, hunters, and lovers. The Zulu men are also in charge of herding the cattle, educating themselves on the lives of disciplined warriors, creating weapons, and learning the art of stick fighting. The women in Zulu society often perform domestic chores such as cleaning, raising children, collecting water and firewood, laundry, tending to crops, cooking, and making clothes. Women can be considered as the sole income earners of the household. A woman's stages of life lead up to the goal of marriage. As a woman approaches puberty, she is known as a tshitshi. A tshitshi reveals her singleness by wearing less clothing. Single women typically do not wear clothing to cover their head, breasts, legs and shoulders.Engaged women wear hairnets to show their marital status to society and married women cover themselves in clothing and headdresses.Also, women are taught to defer to men and treat them with great respect.
To the original comment, Ummm, shaka Zulu's mother, Queen Nandi, helped him to get in power and helped him ruled and when she died he made her a holiday. Sooo the ancient women were not as submissive as you say. ❤️💛💚✊🏾🖤
When I have read and know this submission came way later. When you had Zulu women fighting with their men. Stop the oppression of your women, acting like your colonizer ❤️💛💚✊🏾🖤 this is why the African culture is suffering now because we were not designed to be like the Europeans, Asians, and Arabic. Africa is a mother herself. God say so himself when you were formed from her. She feeds you and nuture you. The earth is feminine!! Wisdom whom GOD tells you to pray for is feminine, you can find that in the Book of Enoch 42:2. Africa's most popular and 1st God's were women like Venus of Willendorf. You may know a lot but if you stop with the bias and leave your ego, you would learn a lot more. And Africa was it's most prosperous when women rule. You can find this on the Smith center, feel free to Google it ❤️💛💚✊🏾🖤
Colonization and slavery happened in the past 500 years. African cultures have been existing for tens of thousands so no traditional values are not something imposed. Traditional values are actually more in line with mother nature.
@@reneedailey1696really? Because every other species living on earth follows their natural roles without deviation to great success. Yet for all that freedom and modernity we are on the brink of destroying the world and the average human is more depressed, anxious and suicidal than any point in recorded history. Our current state is NOT a value worth measuring correct living against.
Family and gender roles were always the practical building blocks of societies. Those who formed practical societies will always destroy ideological societies. These days people want to get rid of these roles but will find the error of their ways once an eventual catastrophic political, social, natural, or economical event happens
It is fairly common in cultures outside of European ones for gender roles to be wildly different, even the presence of many more genders than just male and female. Males and females also had very different roles and social privileges'. There are many matriarchal societies as well. I remember reading about some Central Asian, maybe old India, dont quote me, that had 13 genders with different social expectation or roles. Its rather interesting to see when you see modern gender and sex roles and people who get angry if they change at all. Seems like there never has been a universal truth in gender and really its a personal thing for each person to know for themselves. Of course the culture they are born in limits total freedom, and judge them and try to focus them into one or another way of behaving or dressing.
Seriously, I can't stand when Black folks parrot European ideals. Sadly it shows the deep disconnect we have with Afro-centtic culture. @@henshawosong5469
@@ZuriArtia Generally speaking, African nations share the same principles at it's core. Even if you want to divide it up into West Africa, East Africa etc... if you look at the underlining beliefs, ideologies and principles, they have a lot of similarities.
Exactly, avoid absolute statements. No matter how many countries had a patriarchal structure, it has nothing to do with progression. As societies progress, that means adjustment. The issue is most men and women want equality based on convenience of situation. When that changes, things'll mellow out.
What you just said is a bunch of feel good garbage. No matter how you dice it - MEN are the builders, maintainers, and defenders of the physical infrastructure of society Men are not going to take on the burden of that responsibility without being in control - EVER
@@newjerseyselfdefense6199 - It shows that you must only interact with one type of woman. There are women all over the planet doing all kinds of things that used to be "for men". When the legal and social restrictions are removed, gasps, suddenly we find women can do more than cook and clean. You are absolutely wrong. lol
I think what both people want is respect. But also the freedom to choose the lives that they want and not be placed in a box. Being told you have to be in the kitchen when you want to be in the board room is unfair some women such as myself start out in the Board room and end up in the kitchen but we do so by choice not because we have to
@@ursamajor6347 And there is nothing wrong with having the freedom to choose. Someone telling you that you are biologically predisposed to be something, in a human made social construct is where it gets to be illogical.
Before I watch this, the most obvious thing must be said, gender-dynamics are cultural . And Africa was & is not a monolith. Different ethnic groups, means different rules on what opportunities women have access to & what opportunities women don't have access to. Some ethnic cultures were more misogynistic & others were less so, just depends on the native group. Edit: Land-ownership rights is paramount in being able to be an adult with autonomy. European Colonial Laws (that many leaders in Africa still uphold for some reason (Kenya's ban on traditional African women attire, etc) & certain islamic extremist laws took land-rights away from millions of African females, making it exclusively male-oriented. However, not all native-groups in Africa respected women's rights to land-ownership to begin with anyway.
There's a bigger reason to why land rights were limited. It was to encourage the family structure of men leading the family and preserving that structure. It had little to nothing to do with being misogynistic. And as we can see, as we've tried to make men and women more equal in certain parts of the world (west) it has had a steep decline. Less nuclear families, less structure, more weak leaders are heading families and that's because women aren't incentivised to not only choose their man/husband wisely but also stay with him. Instead things like marriage laws and child support has incentivised women to divorce and raise children as single mothers which is obviously worse for society. It has also encouraged men to take on less responsibility making men weaker leaders than before.
I've looked at the culture of Oyo and it's derivatives in Latin America. In the Americas commonly referred to as Lucumi or regla ocha. Oyo was very much a warrior society. Women had rights and the feminine was sacred. Like the Spartans, mongols and Zulus the more warlike the society the greater female freedom. Sounds contradictory but true. Spartan women had more rights than those in Athens. What makes ancient Yoruba truly different is not gender freedoms, rather respect for age. Even the languages changes for elders. African cultures are gerentocracies. Rule by the eldest. That's as close to a universal statement that can be made of Africa.
Why is the book I’ve read about this saying something totally different?! The book called invention of women: making African sense of western gender discourses. It talks about the Yoruba culture in particular. And the author of the book is Yoruba, Oyeronke Oyewumi. We can’t look at Yoruba culture with westernized eyes. Labeling females women, and males men when they didn’t have words that meant woman or man, the words they had were used interchangeably. The book describes this is how many Yoruba female rulers got erased from history and labeled as males. Masculine wasn’t associated with sex or anatomy, neither was feminine. And the reasoning behind it goes back to their spiritual beliefs of reincarnation. The Yoruba believed that a male ancestor could reincarnate through a female child, and a female ancestor could reincarnate through a male child. So there’s a reason they didn’t have traditional gender roles or gender identities as we do now after adopting western ideologies on sex and gender. The book also speaks on intersex people in Yoruba culture.
Lol, Okunrin is man, Obinrin is woman....who told you Yoruba doesn't have these words? There are some aspects of Yoruba language which don't place emphasis on gender though. Ọmọ is child...does not distinguish between son or daughter....but if you need to be specific you can say ọmọkùnrin (male child) or ọmọbinrin (female child) And rather than brother or sister we say egbon or abure meaning elder sibling or younger sibling....but again you can easily specify by saying egbon mi obìnrin (my elder sister)
Also a common name for a male child is Babatunde... literally father returns again And common names for female children are Yetunde or Iyabo (mother returns again) No Yoruba person will name their daughter Babatunde or name their son Yetunde Also not that the words for mother (Ìyá) and father (Baba) are different....why would that be if there weren't different gender roles for mothers and father's in the family and society?
Africans believe in complementarianism, this did not contradict equality as existing as an interdependent unit where they acknowledged differences was not seen as problematic. They went by the natural masculine and feminine and observed how men and women work together in perfect unison.
If a couple works better together with the woman pursuing her husband before marriage, mowing the lawn, painting the house, being the first line of defense from an intruder, being the major breadwinner, repairing things around the house, cleaning the gutters and wanting her husband to listen to her rant but not give solutions so be it for that couple. If a couple works better together with the man being pursued by his wife to be, cooking daily meals, taking primary care of their infants, being the homemaker, and wanting his wife to listen to his rant but not give solutions, so be it for that couple.
Ppl just need to do whatever tf they want, so long as both parties are treated with respect. Have the relationship that YOU want. They need to stop trying to impose their toxic gender ideals on others. Tired of all these lame podcast Bros spewing that nonsense
@@ndo533 People doing whatever they want is why the world especially the West is in such a mess. It's why the traditional nuclear family has been destroyed, there are more single mothers, children born out of wedlock, weak men leading nations, this is all of the result of "people just doing whatever they want". People don't understand, the compound effect of this, it quickly goes from an individual/case by case matter to a societal matter as we're now seeing in The West.
Whenever I want to understand women's role in African context i use the language which is the reliable history left in Africa. Each language has a way of showing how its values or not their women. Eg Zulu doesn't have gender specific pronouns like he or she. You can speak the whole sentence without saying he or she. That alone shows that the language was created without discrimination. But that doesn't mean there are no gender specific titles. Women carried more respectful titles. Eg inkosi is a king. (Ana/zana) added to something small. (Kazi) added to something big. Inkos(ana) is a son/prince. Inkosa(zana) is a daughter/princess. Inkosi(kazi) is a wife (kazi) again makes a woman more valuable. But Ndlovukazi is a queen and not nkosikazi. That nkosikazi title is for all women but Ndlovukazi is for one. The roles in the home were clearly known. There was even leaders of girls and leaders of boys. These leaders help young girls or boys to transition to adulthood. So those things disappeared when colonialism started. I just heard from old stories how these leaders prepared youngsters to do what is expected of them at home. It wasn't oppressive in nature because when you see many Zulu proverbs you can see women being valued equally as men. And also with gods there were goddesses. There was no one specific superior gender God. The roles were just not the same but equally important in society and homes.
The current, strict mode of gender roles, patriarchy, sexuality, gender expression, and dictation of what feminism is was brought to the world by the Euro colonial powers. The world over had roles indeed, but they were far more fluid and nuanced than is typically imagined by western epistemological perspectives. Great video as usual!
This was nice. I have a book suggestion for anyone that follows the Bible. Dr Jennifer Bird just published a book called Marriage and the Bible that covers the scholarship of things considered today as marriage passages. Given the subject of today’s video I thought it might be useful for people.
Born in America as a melaninated man of African descent, one of my most poignant moments occurred when I became aware of the concept of "Ancestral Memory". It tends to speak for itself and is a source of great solace and enlightenment for me. The content of this video took me there. Thank you so much for the affirmation.
I don’t know if a tiny sections of African American people made these claims. They are 100% wrong. Traditional gender roles in the context of indigenous African societies existed in our culture before the existence of the first pink skin Caucasian person who mutated from black peoples to ever exist anywhere on planet earth. Our customs and cultures are older than their race and they cannot change it all with colonialism. Our gender roles were reinforced in us even as children. The most physically demanding tasks were performed in my culture by the male gender. Women has always controlled the economy from the dawn of our history. The men work hard as fishermen, farmers, craftsmen, artisans or artists, hunters and plantation owners. The women sell everything. In Yoruba land of Nigeria to this day the minister for commerce and industry in the traditional kingdoms is always held by a female and her tittle is called an Iyaloja and she has equal votes in the council of chiefs to this day. It is an abomination for a man to hold that title even for greed. It has never happened before. The list goes on and on. I don’t know what these people who like to blame our very existence on colonialism are smoking. Next time ask an African born and raised in advanced African civilisations like those that existed in Nigeria and other places in Africa about Africa.
In modern European-based societies, gender roles are seen as a bad thing because in European culture, feminine roles and women are devalued. So, while African countries may have had specific roles for both men and women, the question is, were the roles women played considered inferior?
@@ursamajor6347 No. in ancient Africa we had great female goddesses for the whole nations or our ancestors within our race just as we had great queens and even rulers and warriors who led men to war. Roles were interconnected and interchangeable based on the needs of each unique generations or era that they lived in. We started from the age of matriarchy with women as the leaders until the age of patriarchy when men took over to this day. Our women were always highly valued and their roles are so important that if it ever comes to one choice in any difficult age the men would volunteer to die in any conflict or situation to give their women a better chance to survive. And they trust them to teach and lead the children so our communities and civilisations survived and thrived. And they did on occasion. To our ancestors the role of the women are probably more important as they are the unsung heroes of our race and everyone knows that. A mother is everything. We know that in our generation too, those of us born and raised in Africa.
@@ursamajor6347 European societies and that of the nations of European origins and even their marriage systems are broken with high rates of divorces. They women started of with no relevance or power historically. They were useful only as marriage materials and breeding materials even as queens. Not a single queen led men to war in the history of their race besides Bodeca Queen of tiny London during the Roman conquest of Britain. Maybe Viking women only. It is wrong to model modern Africa in that image or assume that we are the same simply because they colonised us. We were always different and always will be. We are not even the same race. It’s a recipe for disaster and a complete breakdown of the country starting from the family system to model our cultural roles for women based on theirs. The rates of their divorces and their immorality is just unacceptable and unsustainable for African values to survive. Africa has a long way to go to restore our women to their ancient greatness This is only possible if they remember who they were, their traditional roles in society and expectations of society on them and pick only positive things from western society as they evolve and the men will build them up and restore them. Right now Africa is ready for competent, educated and patriotic women who are anti Western in values to lead as heads of state as the men are useless and have failed their own ancestors and their nations.
Anybody that say that gender roles was imposed upon African societies by Europeans probably aren't to familiar with the history of gender politics. Historically women not matter where you were has always been in a state of being treated as second-class/inferior unless you belong to a certain social or political class. Take Rome for example, females were regularly uneducated, however its only those women that belong to certain social and political classes/families had all the rights of a male and this is well documented. The same thing happening in the orient.
We had (and in some areas still have) patriarchal, egalitarian, matriarchal and everything between those 3 points kinds of societies in Africa, we're not Europe. And even in Europe your assessment of gender politics isn't necessarily correct. There was some level of variation before the colonisation, religious, and ethnic cleansing that Rome unleashed on the continent (I know a lot of Europeans don't like looking at it that way but it's the truth).
I'm white af, but I'm pretty sure my North African ancestors had gender roles. I suspect they were Arab, as they almost certainly emigrated to Sicily. There's no way they weren't strict gender roles. The evils of slavery and colonialism do leave a lasting impact, but it doesn't mean all African countries and cultures were paragons of sexual equality. Good video, Home Team History.
To be clear, the original inhabitants/indigenes of North Africa were Black African people. White Arabs r*p3s and voluntary interracial relationships account for a lot of what's seen there now. Emigrating/Immigrating doesn't necessarily mean they were White. They might have been. We can stay near Sicily for an example. If an Ethiopian or Eritrean moved to Italy 40 years ago and then ONLY procreated with Italians from Rome, the descendants would look more like the general population. That still doesn't negate the fact that ancestor's phenotype. Obscured? Yes. But the fact and absolute truth? No.
Most traditional societies around the world and in Africa were traditionally patriarchal, meaning led by men. And that is because the men were the fighters who were expected to defend the society in times of trouble. However, that does not always mean women had no rights and this is where variations come into play across cultures. In many African cultures, women had a lot of power even if they weren't the leaders of the kingdoms, they still had a lot of say in society otherwise. Matriarchal systems were widespread in various African societies, including women having a say in who they would marry. Not to mention gender roles in African societies have always been defined through various rites of passage which were different for males and females. And these rites of passage could mean trials of courage for men while for women it could mean other things. That was not imposed on Africa by Europeans.
No they weren't there were more matrinlineal societies than patrilineal societies, example Mali was patrilineal, Egypt and the Meroë, Kush societies were all matrinlineal and the Ashante is matrinlineal a man couldn't succeed the throne without a Queen blessings, in the Ashante culture the male leader can make decisions, but the Queen mother ruler has to assist the male leader in his decisions. There are other societies that were equal too like Ethiopia where the Queen rode into war with the King even though that was a male lead society. The Amazonian women and plenty royal Queens raised male and female soldiers and led armies into wars, when today much of African society has been colonized so women would likely not be looked at as capable of battle and many bloodlines are now traced through patrilineal lineage. Even Central African society was mostly matrinlineal, you forget way before Europeans imposed their colonial gender roles, the Arab colonialism did a lot of damage to African societies. Matrinlineal doesn't mean all kingdoms were equally led by women, it means women elders would have a lot of say over the kingdom through their sons not particularly the wife. Ancient native Americans societies was mostly matrinlineal, or equal societies where the played a huge role if neutral gender roles, but of course the men were the chiefs that led battles, there were no kingdoms especially in North America, in south American there wasn't really either except the Aztec and Mayans had huge wealthy societies and controlled a lot of land, the women were equal in society and spiritual practices and gender roles when it comes to sexual roles didn't exist, there were all types of genders and they predicted this and now look at the world today, white Americans even stole the native American concept and named for all these different genders trying to plagiarize it, even in south America some women were known to be warriors and lead battles.
@@violetsrayreikishop2 You are talking about tracing kinship, which means that ancestry and legitimacy is traced either through the female side or male side. Doesn't change the gender role of those who are actually leading the society, as men were still the majority of kings and soldiers in these societies.
I agree that we cannot look at this at Western lens - that is basically the dichotomy of feminism and the manosphere where each gender is blamed for all the problems in relationships or there is no equality, unless the gender, tries to imitate the opposite gender - which does not promote the respect and mutual cooperation of the genders. Also, leadership requires masculine energy so by default, it becomes a masculine role. However, in a relationship just because the man is the leader does not mean the woman is the obedient slave. If the roles of genders are respected, the woman has say in all affairs, but the husband would make the final decision. And let’s be honest here, who would want a marriage like Will and Jada Pickett Smith?
The yoruba are known as patriarchal who practice(d) polygyny. Their gender roles are kinda similar to the Europeans, on a surface level. That's why they could adapt to Christianity and Islam in such big masses. But they are just one of thousands of ethnicities in Africa, who might have gender roles which look different to what the average person calls "traditional".
@@ursamajor6347 I agree with you. As long as individuals are not pressured into them and as long as one gender isn't devalued, there is nothing wrong with gender roles. I actually wasn't saying that there is something wrong with them. My point was that gender roles can look different in other cultures.
Not through with the video yet. But why only focus on “European values” when desert Arab/Bedouin values transmitted through Islam is equally prevalent on the continent? Plus, as we all know, Africa is a continent of diversity
I don't see this as a contradiction at all. In fact, viewing it as a contradiction seems like a logical misstep to me. You can't have two leaders, and you can't have two followers. For a marriage to be successful both husbands & wives need to play their role - they simply have different roles to play. I feel like that's the fundamental reasoning behind basic gender roles in the first place.
This is def disappointing.... I wonder who would say there were "no gender roles" in africa..... There were gender roles every where, but the difference is many also included roles specific for trans people, and some also included roles that were defined as men but could be held by a afab person (ie woman king).... So it makes me wonder is this simply pulling out the most extremist position, that most dont hold. As a way to misrepresent those that inform us of the traditional queerness amd feminist values in africa. Also the speaker said it himself, in regards to the culture he went on to describe.... This dont represent all of africa... Matter of fact, i suspect it doesn't represent all of west Africa.... Please consult actual queer and feminist Africans
Also even in regions that did have cisgender roles, there still was variability in how “all consuming “ those roles were. Meaning was it only limited to house duties, or did it also include business, religion, etc.
@@slickandslaycious6579 Please note in Africa there there only two genders that male and female if you disagree as a fellow African please point to a tribe or nation state that has that culture and where they are practicing it.
@@vanhuvanhuvese2738 well First.... Male and Female, aren't genders, their sexes. Second, I already explained there are some gender roles that can be occupied by people assigned female at birth. Third there is the yan daudu, which is also in West Africa and differentiated from cis-het men. (Again African history isn't my expertise, so if you want more examples reach out to queer orgs and professionals in the continent) Fourth, I also explained that the cis-het gender roles vary across the continent, and also vary in regards to what part of daily life their gender dictates what they can and can't do. Again, please reach out to more educated feminist and queer africans than me. African history is not my expertise.
@@slickandslaycious6579 transsexuals homosexuals etc are not condoned in africa and never have been 🤣🤣🤣 I don’t get how these westerners can lie so much it’s crazy we have never once condoned that foul behaviour leave that talk to you Europeans
I feel like this Nigerian teaching is also in the Bible. Just because someone has the role of leader, doesn’t mean they are in any way superior. Men & women are equally mortal & complex. But since there needs to be order & structure, God put the first human in the leader role. As long as men understand head of household doesn’t mean be bossy or a dictator, families can thrive.
Africa has a rich and varied history, with historical figures like Mansa Mussa with clarity in roles and hierarchy... you're talking nonsense: Kingdom of Bazin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Belgin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Jarin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Qita'a (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Nagash (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Tankish (9th century CE) • Empire of Kitara [1] • Sultanate of Mogadishu (10th century-16th century CE) • Kilwa Sultanate (960-1513 CE) • Kingdom of Medri Bahri (1137-1890 CE) • Ethiopian Empire (1137-1974 CE) • Zagwe dynasty (1137-1270 CE) • Solomonic dynasty (1270-1974 CE) • Sultanate of Ifat (1285-1415 CE) • Warsangali Sultanate (1298-1886 CE) • Kingdom of Buganda (1300-present CE) • Kingdom of Burundi (1500-1966 CE) • Kingdom of Rwanda (1300-1959 CE) • Ajuran Sultanate (14th century-17th century CE) • Adal Sultanate (1415-1555 CE) King of the Ashantis (Ghana) Asantehene: Title borne by the king of the Ashantis, one of the most powerful kingdoms in the history of West Africa. Emperor of Mali Mansa: Title given to the emperors of the Mali Empire, renowned for its wealth and cultural influence. King of the Bambaras (Mali) Biton: Title of the king in the Bambara Kingdom of Ségou. King of the Yorubas (Nigeria) Ooni: Title of the king of the city of Ife, considered the cradle of the Yoruba people. Alaafin: Title of the king of the Oyo Empire. King of the Hausas (Nigeria) Emir: Title given to the rulers of the Hausa city-states.
African, the word itself was imposed on the “ Motherland “ and its native inhabitants. The word is of European descent. This is how lost ONES are. Sad.
Please note most countries tribes provinces States people use their own identity which was not imposed but self named while at it the "African" identitly most people 99% do not use that daily all but is is useful when and used when one meet people from other countries like this place and we relate to each other since mostly look the same and in many cases have same cultural structures and issues and common enemies and sharing the same landmass
Not really. He asked *one tribe* that *happened* to have gender norms somewhat similar to Europeans. There're thousands of tribes, and this is before you consider the ones that were absorbed or died out. *Gender norms were imposed on some African people; while some others already had ones that were close enough to be manipulated in to the ones you see today; and others already had ones that were practically 1 to 1 with Europeans.* There's a reason why that guy doing that stupid documentary didn't ask the Nyima, Tira, certain clans of the Igbo, Meru or even my tribe the Kikuyu (just to name a few) that question. For a non African example, he also didn't travel to India and ask communities familiar with the Hijra that question either. I'm not really sure why it's so hard for some people to accept that there're different perspectives on this that have existed for 1000s of years, that align (partially or completely) with what people who identify as trans today say, and this includes perspectives found in Africa. It doesn't make you any less African, it just means the world isn't as monotone as you thought and African ideas on this topic are as diverse as its number of tribes.
@@MegaHAZE21 I find it interesting that you found Matt Walsh's documentary "stupid". Caucasians - of all people - have historically seen fit to define humanity,from classifying an enslaved black as three-fifths of a human, claiming that a pre-aborted infant isn't a "life",or that a biological male in a dress is the same as a child born with a womb. I found the documentary refreshing in that it was a caucasian questioning the latest of caucasian classifications - and rightfully so - but you consider that "stupid". To each it's own,I suppose.
Did you do any comprehensive research for this segment, aside from reading one of the various books by Prof. Sophie Oduwole? Because had you done further research, you'd have realised that this topic is beyond your scope. First, the notion of gender/gender pronounce, doesn't exist in the Yorùbá language (do you even know what the Latin definitions of Woman/Man/Male/Female/masculine/feminine means?). Start there. Learn the origins of the b@stard!sed European language that you currently speak/think in. The yoruba culture (as with most African ethic groups) is far more complex than a few soundbite, lazy CZcams analysis and I fear the influence of the manosphere cult has greatly distorted your reading of the text. It's rather unfortunate because I was under the impression that your channel is thoroughly researched (although, I've had my reservations for sometime). Ask yourself this:- will any self-respecting human, demand of others that they shrink themselves in order for the person in question to feel respected/important? By the virtue of expecting other people to minimise their Orí (life essence), you're essentially signaling that you're the weakest link in the group. All that to say, do some more homework. Ifa philosophy isn't something you master in the manner of weeks - it's a life long study and only a few people are competent enough to speak on it.
Yes but devaluing women and feminine roles, is a European concept. I mean their entire culture is based on heirarchies and someone always being inferior to the European male.
The title of this video is misleading. "Gender" is behavioral, whereas "sex" is bio-physiological. Gender is a cultural designation and is based on behavior that a given culture considers to be appropriate for its male and female sexes. Gender is either "masculine" - behavior designated as belonging to the male sex, or "feminine" - behavior designated as belonging to the female sex. Sex is nature. Gender is nurture. We learn gender, i.e., we can alter behavior. We are a sex - there is no choice in the matter. Since males and females are bio-physiologically distinct from each other, one cannot become the other in reality. Man didn't create foxes, therefore, man lacks the capability of turning a fox into an eagle. We are what we are, down to the bone (one's skeletal pelvis is a testament to his or her bio-physiological sex). A really good example of sex versus gender is a "tomboy". A tomboy is a bio-physiological female (sex) who behaves in a manner that the culture has set aside as being male behavior (masculine). A tomboy's sex is female, whereas a tomboy's gender is masculine, not male. It is a lie and absolutely fraudulent to ask a person on an application his or her gender, then provide as choices "male" and "female". The correct choices for gender are "masculine" and "feminine". The correct choices for sex are male and female. The government can coerce its citizenry to articulate a lie, but reality will not bend, not even one degree, off its course. A nation can even legislate a lie. However, it cannot legislate biophysiology. No matter how severe the coercion, a lie will eventually die, as do all mortals. All mortals have a shelf life. Thus, no one is being fooled. Instead we are just being threatened by our government sponsored programmers to accept the lie and ignore the truth. Historically, every time a lie tries to rule the day, truth makes a comeback and sets the record straight. Being that I am an adult male (man), the likelihood of me becoming a woman is equal to that of a bull becoming a cow.
There are tribes in Africa where the women rule. They choose their husbands, and they can divorce their husband. They are all female tribes. And I'm assuming it's probably because the men were being A-holes and patriarch. African tribes go by maternal lineage, not the paternal!!! If y'all actually try to research without bias and remove your ego, you would find the truth. You don't have to put down your women to feel important or valid. we are in this together. Without women, there would not be a man. Just like man was birth from mother earth cause GOD put you there. Mother earth nutritious you and feed you. GOD is our father and protector and he disciplines us accordingly. He removed some of us from Africa because we were defiling and disrespected the land(mother earth). Yall, please open your mind and see the truth that is hidden❤️💛💚✊🏾🖤
Please tell me a tribe that is by the female line please tell me what country they run if not a country tell what province they run their name their numbers what language they speak ? I am in Africa now what you are saying is an abomination to most people. Most tribes by most I mean 99.9% the wife gets married and leaves her home to live with her husband and take on that name even in a traditional society or modern in the city with government papers its the same thing . While at it divorce has always been allowed but only on infidelity on her part no other reason was accepted and most people do not want it except in extreme duress even husband is not allowed to just leave just because
@Vanh2738 person We know ya'll history better than you because we seek it. Some stuff you don't even know happen right on the very continent you are on because they took your history and separated your people. Go learn something other than what the white man said was approved. Go find mother Africa.
And another thing smarty pants. Female are xx and male are xy. The female can only trace her maternal side while the male can trace paternal and maternal, but only both can be trace through the maternal cause both possess the x marker. 😁 I hope you learned something today.
Anyone who lives in Africa knows in a Family there are Gender roles. These things are not even debated in Africa. However Even if there are gender roles when one is away example to visit family or some other circumstance maybe rest or recovery of some sort duty that was meant for a wife or Husband will be done by the other this has never been an issue where necessary because we live in the community there will always other family members ready to help ie wives sister coming to cook and help with children if she is not there or Husbands brother coming to paint the House or fixing that broken door etc The roles will most likely be observed except under extreme pressure where everyone does the same thing to remove the big issue.
Men's strength cannot be in leadership when leaders have always in patriarchal societies been so few and far between. Leadership is no gender signifier.
Now Sir, picking one of THE MOST misogynistic ethnic groups in the world was a choice. 🫤 Many societies in Central and West African societies actually did not have the rigid roles they have now. This is a fact. I actually find it unfortunate that you attempted to disprove this narrative rather than show two different peoples that show both sides are true.
The modern perspective of this is definitely true. Africa has always had roles for genders but they never restricted people so tight in boxes that don't fit. For example men could cry and not be disrespected or punished socially and a woman could be in positions of power
Name me one African society were men could cry and not be disrespected socially 🤣🤣🤣 that’s absolutely ridiculous men who cry a lot will always be disrespected because it’s a sign of weakness and African society is far from weak you must mean European society like the Greeks where men could cry all day without being disrespected because they were weak over there
@@ukculture9240 I'm pretty sure the Greeks would be seen as weak if they cried in public. Crying in public was and still is a sign of weakness.
The problem isn't that there were specific gender roles. The issue is that European culture DEVALUES the woman's role in society. That's the difference. But then in European culture there's always some sort of hierarchy no matter what it is be it race gender, etc... It's all about individual achievement having somebody on the bottom and someone in the superior position.
In African culture both men and women/masculine and feminine traits were valued. There's a reason we had goddesses such as Orisha in African traditional religions.
THE brilliant DR. Marimba Ani touches on this in her EXCEPTIONAL book 'YURUGU.'
Yup they use our people eul3s for their extremes when they are the ones imitating amd failing because they colonized rather than learned from us
Maybe in your culture but not mine
In igbo, the first daughters have a title called Ada and they also form a Gov't called umu ada. They actually have their laws which they enforce. I witnessed them kick a man out of their community for committing a heinous crime. They are not to be messed with.
One of the reasons why I love your videos is that you always give in-depth and honest takes on history without trying to put any political spin on things or judge the facts of history through modern sensibilities.
I come from an African background. women have always been expected to do more while receiving less.
please specify your culture so that we can verify since we are all From an African culture here and I disagree. Do not just point to a country if possible point it to a Tribe and Province and what that culture is so that we can validate.
@vanhuvanhuvese2738 If you're already disagreeing why should I verify? Why is it so hard to believe that women from almost every culture have been subjugated? the misogyny runs deep
I come from an African family but probably not from the same family as urs.. Or maybe not same tribe or country as you.. Cos African men do more than any continent of men when they have the resources..
@henshawosong5469 this isn't a comparison between men, I specifically brought up women. You're saying the women do less?
@@awesomeyeahroxs No u are saying that the men do less.... And women do more for what they recieve.. Indicating that they are not doing enough?
“Now this is my personal observation and interpretation of the information!” BARZ!!!!! Get this King a beat!
Excellent work hometeam.
It's really complicated to truly know what our African ancestors were doing prior all the foreigners influences. But I stand by the rule of redpect and teamwork. We all lead at some point in our lives.
Makes sense. Every position of leadership I've had where I lead forcefully, lacked respect for those I was leading and treated them unjustly resulted in failure. As I studied and learned more about the trait I began leading from behind, encouraging leadership among followers, respecting then and their needs and through communication was able to gain insight and perspective so every decision I was required to make was done with respect and inclusion in mind. Since those time I have not failed in my leadership.
There is a way to lead that reaches an equilibrium that can appear "equal". Leadership is not structured alone but also the method of execution.
I do find the research a bit lacking in the video and I find some of the comments under it extremely distasteful.
Regarding my grievances with the video: I would have loved to see an actual comparison with the European gender roles as in what do they assign the genders as well as in which time period. And while it is mentioned in the video that Africa shouldn't be viewed as a monolith, it's a bit contradicting to draw a conclusion with that in mind after only looking at one culture at one point in time based on one text. This doesn't only exclude different cultures in Africa, but also different time periods, the language barriers and even the understanding of gender and gender roles itself.
As to some of the commentors: basing your whole understanding on sex and gender roles on your own understanding of it when both of these haven't always been static in the past or even now is very narrow minded, I would have hoped that there were people trying to expand their views here not trying to bully others into believing ones own opinion. Also I've read multiple times that "only men would hunt and women were gatherers": that is a very outdated belief that has been disproven multiple times by scholars as well as archaeologists. The evidence that ancient african gender roles didn't comply with the modern European standard (which I guess is the reference point in the video as it is never made completely clear) are there and very interesting. I would have loved to see both the video and the commentators expand on that
Thank you! I was getting depressed reading the comments. I was very excited to watch this video but I noticed the tone quickly and became disappointed. But grateful for a starting place to continue my own research of understanding what gender and their roles mean/have changed into across this diverse continent. 🙏🏾🩷
The war between black men and women is corny
Is Evil And I Know Is Mzungus Behind That Shiii They Had Some Or A Lot Of Our Skin Folk Under Their Spellings If U Know U Know🤷🏿♀️✌🏿
It been going on a lot longer that many know . My grandmother fought in the civil right and the stories she has mannn listen....
Your comment is corny & ignores the pain of African women, being discriminated against for being black & women in our imperfect world. Unless you have proof that most of Africa is different. Misogyny is even older than racism, it’s in every part of the world.
@@Dewane1511what kind of stories she got ?
@@afrinaut3094Both genders have it hard, women just want to be the ultimate victim so y'all can keep guilt tripping and screaming misogyny at everything
Gender roles were NOT imposed on Africans by europeans like a lot of WOKE westerners love to claim. I'm a YORUBA man that live in the West, and I can tell for a fact that we were raised and made aware of our roles. Yes, certain people do things differently. My Mom made sure we learn how to cook even though we are mostly boys, but that doesn't change our roles in a family settings. Yorubas are actually more liberal minded than a lot of tribes in West Africa.
This video discusses pre-colonial Africa. What were gender roles like in West Africa, where you come from, BEFORE European colonialism?
This is not what the video is about and comprehension lacks in yoruba jesus christ
@@TreyMessiah95
You might want to work on how to string up comprehensive sentences before saying I lack comprehension.
@@megatronsroyalemissary382 never heard of Mansa mussa????? Africa had kings and empires.... It's quite simple.
And talking about pre-colonial Africa gives me an indication of the origins of this absurdity. You tell yourself that Africans are morons and that you can push all kinds of nonsense?
Kingdom of Bazin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Belgin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Jarin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Qita'a (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Nagash (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Tankish (9th century CE) • Empire of Kitara [1] • Sultanate of Mogadishu (10th century-16th century CE) • Kilwa Sultanate (960-1513 CE) • Kingdom of Medri Bahri (1137-1890 CE) • Ethiopian Empire (1137-1974 CE) • Zagwe dynasty (1137-1270 CE) • Solomonic dynasty (1270-1974 CE) • Sultanate of Ifat (1285-1415 CE) • Warsangali Sultanate (1298-1886 CE) • Kingdom of Buganda (1300-present CE) • Kingdom of Burundi (1500-1966 CE) • Kingdom of Rwanda (1300-1959 CE) • Ajuran Sultanate (14th century-17th century CE) • Adal Sultanate (1415-1555 CE)
Wow! Thank you for sharing this.
The Odu you referenced is Otura Se
Thank you for discussing this topic! 🎉
The Zulu people have always had a well-devised social structure, even before the missionaries arrived. The social structure is based on respect, which is the well-spring of their etiquette. There were and still are clear rules defined regarding duties and manners for the entire household, starting from the lowliest of servants to the divine monarch. There were also precise rules regarding the behaviour of women towards men, subordinates to their superiors and younger to elder.
The Zulu people govern under a patriarchal society. Men are perceived as the head of the household and seen as authoritative figures. Zulu men identify themselves with great pride and dignity. They also compare themselves to qualities of powerful wild animals such as bulls, lions and elephants.The men contribute to society by acting as defenders, hunters, and lovers. The Zulu men are also in charge of herding the cattle, educating themselves on the lives of disciplined warriors, creating weapons, and learning the art of stick fighting.
The women in Zulu society often perform domestic chores such as cleaning, raising children, collecting water and firewood, laundry, tending to crops, cooking, and making clothes. Women can be considered as the sole income earners of the household. A woman's stages of life lead up to the goal of marriage. As a woman approaches puberty, she is known as a tshitshi. A tshitshi reveals her singleness by wearing less clothing. Single women typically do not wear clothing to cover their head, breasts, legs and shoulders.Engaged women wear hairnets to show their marital status to society and married women cover themselves in clothing and headdresses.Also, women are taught to defer to men and treat them with great respect.
Ashe' gratitude for this explanation. That is why I am so forever linked to the Zulu..love the culture
To the original comment, Ummm, shaka Zulu's mother, Queen Nandi, helped him to get in power and helped him ruled and when she died he made her a holiday. Sooo the ancient women were not as submissive as you say. ❤️💛💚✊🏾🖤
@@ancientDna1979 They were and still are, but they were also strong.
When I have read and know this submission came way later. When you had Zulu women fighting with their men. Stop the oppression of your women, acting like your colonizer ❤️💛💚✊🏾🖤 this is why the African culture is suffering now because we were not designed to be like the Europeans, Asians, and Arabic. Africa is a mother herself. God say so himself when you were formed from her. She feeds you and nuture you. The earth is feminine!! Wisdom whom GOD tells you to pray for is feminine, you can find that in the Book of Enoch 42:2. Africa's most popular and 1st God's were women like Venus of Willendorf. You may know a lot but if you stop with the bias and leave your ego, you would learn a lot more. And Africa was it's most prosperous when women rule. You can find this on the Smith center, feel free to Google it ❤️💛💚✊🏾🖤
@@MonDieuMaCauseMonEpee From my knowledge of Queen Nandi was quite direct and did every to get what she wanted.
Colonization and slavery happened in the past 500 years. African cultures have been existing for tens of thousands so no traditional values are not something imposed. Traditional values are actually more in line with mother nature.
23-404 years *
A variety of roles is what is natural, as many peoples across time and continents have demonstrated.
@@reneedailey1696really? Because every other species living on earth follows their natural roles without deviation to great success. Yet for all that freedom and modernity we are on the brink of destroying the world and the average human is more depressed, anxious and suicidal than any point in recorded history.
Our current state is NOT a value worth measuring correct living against.
Family and gender roles were always the practical building blocks of societies. Those who formed practical societies will always destroy ideological societies.
These days people want to get rid of these roles but will find the error of their ways once an eventual catastrophic political, social, natural, or economical event happens
It is fairly common in cultures outside of European ones for gender roles to be wildly different, even the presence of many more genders than just male and female. Males and females also had very different roles and social privileges'. There are many matriarchal societies as well. I remember reading about some Central Asian, maybe old India, dont quote me, that had 13 genders with different social expectation or roles. Its rather interesting to see when you see modern gender and sex roles and people who get angry if they change at all. Seems like there never has been a universal truth in gender and really its a personal thing for each person to know for themselves. Of course the culture they are born in limits total freedom, and judge them and try to focus them into one or another way of behaving or dressing.
Not African culture..
Seriously, I can't stand when Black folks parrot European ideals. Sadly it shows the deep disconnect we have with Afro-centtic culture. @@henshawosong5469
13 genders is not a thing in Africa. That's a fact.
@@henshawosong5469There is no such thing as "African culture" its not a monolith.
@@ZuriArtia Generally speaking, African nations share the same principles at it's core. Even if you want to divide it up into West Africa, East Africa etc... if you look at the underlining beliefs, ideologies and principles, they have a lot of similarities.
Exactly, avoid absolute statements. No matter how many countries had a patriarchal structure, it has nothing to do with progression. As societies progress, that means adjustment. The issue is most men and women want equality based on convenience of situation. When that changes, things'll mellow out.
What you just said is a bunch of feel good garbage.
No matter how you dice it - MEN are the builders, maintainers, and defenders of the physical infrastructure of society
Men are not going to take on the burden of that responsibility without being in control - EVER
@@newjerseyselfdefense6199 - It shows that you must only interact with one type of woman. There are women all over the planet doing all kinds of things that used to be "for men". When the legal and social restrictions are removed, gasps, suddenly we find women can do more than cook and clean. You are absolutely wrong. lol
I think what both people want is respect. But also the freedom to choose the lives that they want and not be placed in a box. Being told you have to be in the kitchen when you want to be in the board room is unfair some women such as myself start out in the Board room and end up in the kitchen but we do so by choice not because we have to
@@ursamajor6347 And there is nothing wrong with having the freedom to choose. Someone telling you that you are biologically predisposed to be something, in a human made social construct is where it gets to be illogical.
Generally speaking, men and women ARE different which is totally OK. One IS NOT better than the other. @@AxxinTheSupernova
Before I watch this, the most obvious thing must be said, gender-dynamics are cultural . And Africa was & is not a monolith. Different ethnic groups, means different rules on what opportunities women have access to & what opportunities women don't have access to. Some ethnic cultures were more misogynistic & others were less so, just depends on the native group.
Edit: Land-ownership rights is paramount in being able to be an adult with autonomy. European Colonial Laws (that many leaders in Africa still uphold for some reason (Kenya's ban on traditional African women attire, etc) & certain islamic extremist laws took land-rights away from millions of African females, making it exclusively male-oriented. However, not all native-groups in Africa respected women's rights to land-ownership to begin with anyway.
This is correct anything else is outta bias
There's a bigger reason to why land rights were limited. It was to encourage the family structure of men leading the family and preserving that structure. It had little to nothing to do with being misogynistic. And as we can see, as we've tried to make men and women more equal in certain parts of the world (west) it has had a steep decline. Less nuclear families, less structure, more weak leaders are heading families and that's because women aren't incentivised to not only choose their man/husband wisely but also stay with him. Instead things like marriage laws and child support has incentivised women to divorce and raise children as single mothers which is obviously worse for society. It has also encouraged men to take on less responsibility making men weaker leaders than before.
Yupp
I've looked at the culture of Oyo and it's derivatives in Latin America. In the Americas commonly referred to as Lucumi or regla ocha. Oyo was very much a warrior society. Women had rights and the feminine was sacred. Like the Spartans, mongols and Zulus the more warlike the society the greater female freedom. Sounds contradictory but true. Spartan women had more rights than those in Athens.
What makes ancient Yoruba truly different is not gender freedoms, rather respect for age. Even the languages changes for elders. African cultures are gerentocracies. Rule by the eldest. That's as close to a universal statement that can be made of Africa.
Thank you
home team you are amazing article ruler I just don't know what say
Good to know
Traditional gender roles flourished in Africa. It wasn’t until the European introduced their confusion that things started to change
Why is the book I’ve read about this saying something totally different?! The book called invention of women: making African sense of western gender discourses. It talks about the Yoruba culture in particular. And the author of the book is Yoruba, Oyeronke Oyewumi. We can’t look at Yoruba culture with westernized eyes. Labeling females women, and males men when they didn’t have words that meant woman or man, the words they had were used interchangeably. The book describes this is how many Yoruba female rulers got erased from history and labeled as males. Masculine wasn’t associated with sex or anatomy, neither was feminine. And the reasoning behind it goes back to their spiritual beliefs of reincarnation. The Yoruba believed that a male ancestor could reincarnate through a female child, and a female ancestor could reincarnate through a male child. So there’s a reason they didn’t have traditional gender roles or gender identities as we do now after adopting western ideologies on sex and gender. The book also speaks on intersex people in Yoruba culture.
They didn’t believe in reincarnation, they witnessed it. Reincarnation is a truth of nature. And Thank you for sharing this info.
Lol, Okunrin is man, Obinrin is woman....who told you Yoruba doesn't have these words?
There are some aspects of Yoruba language which don't place emphasis on gender though.
Ọmọ is child...does not distinguish between son or daughter....but if you need to be specific you can say ọmọkùnrin (male child) or ọmọbinrin (female child)
And rather than brother or sister we say egbon or abure meaning elder sibling or younger sibling....but again you can easily specify by saying egbon mi obìnrin (my elder sister)
Also a common name for a male child is Babatunde... literally father returns again
And common names for female children are Yetunde or Iyabo (mother returns again)
No Yoruba person will name their daughter Babatunde or name their son Yetunde
Also not that the words for mother (Ìyá) and father (Baba) are different....why would that be if there weren't different gender roles for mothers and father's in the family and society?
I think western academia is imposing a certain agenda on the topic of gender and probably that book is a product of the times..
The wheel and axle was also
Africans believe in complementarianism, this did not contradict equality as existing as an interdependent unit where they acknowledged differences was not seen as problematic. They went by the natural masculine and feminine and observed how men and women work together in perfect unison.
If a couple works better together with the woman pursuing her husband before marriage, mowing the lawn, painting the house, being the first line of defense from an intruder, being the major breadwinner, repairing things around the house, cleaning the gutters and wanting her husband to listen to her rant but not give solutions so be it for that couple. If a couple works better together with the man being pursued by his wife to be, cooking daily meals, taking primary care of their infants, being the homemaker, and wanting his wife to listen to his rant but not give solutions, so be it for that couple.
😂
Ppl just need to do whatever tf they want, so long as both parties are treated with respect. Have the relationship that YOU want. They need to stop trying to impose their toxic gender ideals on others. Tired of all these lame podcast Bros spewing that nonsense
@@ndo533 People doing whatever they want is why the world especially the West is in such a mess. It's why the traditional nuclear family has been destroyed, there are more single mothers, children born out of wedlock, weak men leading nations, this is all of the result of "people just doing whatever they want". People don't understand, the compound effect of this, it quickly goes from an individual/case by case matter to a societal matter as we're now seeing in The West.
Whenever I want to understand women's role in African context i use the language which is the reliable history left in Africa. Each language has a way of showing how its values or not their women. Eg Zulu doesn't have gender specific pronouns like he or she. You can speak the whole sentence without saying he or she. That alone shows that the language was created without discrimination. But that doesn't mean there are no gender specific titles. Women carried more respectful titles. Eg inkosi is a king. (Ana/zana) added to something small. (Kazi) added to something big. Inkos(ana) is a son/prince. Inkosa(zana) is a daughter/princess. Inkosi(kazi) is a wife (kazi) again makes a woman more valuable. But Ndlovukazi is a queen and not nkosikazi. That nkosikazi title is for all women but Ndlovukazi is for one.
The roles in the home were clearly known. There was even leaders of girls and leaders of boys. These leaders help young girls or boys to transition to adulthood. So those things disappeared when colonialism started. I just heard from old stories how these leaders prepared youngsters to do what is expected of them at home. It wasn't oppressive in nature because when you see many Zulu proverbs you can see women being valued equally as men. And also with gods there were goddesses. There was no one specific superior gender God. The roles were just not the same but equally important in society and homes.
The current, strict mode of gender roles, patriarchy, sexuality, gender expression, and dictation of what feminism is was brought to the world by the Euro colonial powers. The world over had roles indeed, but they were far more fluid and nuanced than is typically imagined by western epistemological perspectives. Great video as usual!
Your totally wrong
How stupid! Here we are with the early bedtime tales of feminists who lie about just about everything.
This was nice. I have a book suggestion for anyone that follows the Bible. Dr Jennifer Bird just published a book called Marriage and the Bible that covers the scholarship of things considered today as marriage passages. Given the subject of today’s video I thought it might be useful for people.
Speak on it
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Born in America as a melaninated man of African descent, one of my most poignant moments occurred when I became aware of the concept of "Ancestral Memory". It tends to speak for itself and is a source of great solace and enlightenment for me.
The content of this video took me there. Thank you so much for the affirmation.
I've been saying this. Europeans taught their slaves their ways. They didn't get to pass on their own ways which we way different than Europeans.
Kikongo 😃
I don’t know if a tiny sections of African American people made these claims. They are 100% wrong.
Traditional gender roles in the context of indigenous African societies existed in our culture before the existence of the first pink skin Caucasian person who mutated from black peoples to ever exist anywhere on planet earth. Our customs and cultures are older than their race and they cannot change it all with colonialism.
Our gender roles were reinforced in us even as children. The most physically demanding tasks were performed in my culture by the male gender. Women has always controlled the economy from the dawn of our history. The men work hard as fishermen, farmers, craftsmen, artisans or artists, hunters and plantation owners. The women sell everything. In Yoruba land of Nigeria to this day the minister for commerce and industry in the traditional kingdoms is always held by a female and her tittle is called an Iyaloja and she has equal votes in the council of chiefs to this day. It is an abomination for a man to hold that title even for greed. It has never happened before. The list goes on and on. I don’t know what these people who like to blame our very existence on colonialism are smoking. Next time ask an African born and raised in advanced African civilisations like those that existed in Nigeria and other places in Africa about Africa.
In modern European-based societies, gender roles are seen as a bad thing because in European culture, feminine roles and women are devalued. So, while African countries may have had specific roles for both men and women, the question is, were the roles women played considered inferior?
@@ursamajor6347 No. in ancient Africa we had great female goddesses for the whole nations or our ancestors within our race just as we had great queens and even rulers and warriors who led men to war. Roles were interconnected and interchangeable based on the needs of each unique generations or era that they lived in. We started from the age of matriarchy with women as the leaders until the age of patriarchy when men took over to this day.
Our women were always highly valued and their roles are so important that if it ever comes to one choice in any difficult age the men would volunteer to die in any conflict or situation to give their women a better chance to survive. And they trust them to teach and lead the children so our communities and civilisations survived and thrived. And they did on occasion. To our ancestors the role of the women are probably more important as they are the unsung heroes of our race and everyone knows that. A mother is everything. We know that in our generation too, those of us born and raised in Africa.
@@ursamajor6347 European societies and that of the nations of European origins and even their marriage systems are broken with high rates of divorces. They women started of with no relevance or power historically. They were useful only as marriage materials and breeding materials even as queens. Not a single queen led men to war in the history of their race besides Bodeca Queen of tiny London during the Roman conquest of Britain. Maybe Viking women only.
It is wrong to model modern Africa in that image or assume that we are the same simply because they colonised us. We were always different and always will be. We are not even the same race. It’s a recipe for disaster and a complete breakdown of the country starting from the family system to model our cultural roles for women based on theirs. The rates of their divorces and their immorality is just unacceptable and unsustainable for African values to survive. Africa has a long way to go to restore our women to their ancient greatness This is only possible if they remember who they were, their traditional roles in society and expectations of society on them and pick only positive things from western society as they evolve and the men will build them up and restore them. Right now Africa is ready for competent, educated and patriotic women who are anti Western in values to lead as heads of state as the men are useless and have failed their own ancestors and their nations.
I'm not sure what you're disagreeing with
@@alvanalvino
Again I'm not sure where you feel I disagree with you@@alvanalvino
Im a Muslim & rn I’m trying to Firgue out how to Honor & Remember my Ancestors with out commuting to Shirk…SOMEONE REPLY WIT SOME INSIGHT PLZ
Anybody that say that gender roles was imposed upon African societies by Europeans probably aren't to familiar with the history of gender politics. Historically women not matter where you were has always been in a state of being treated as second-class/inferior unless you belong to a certain social or political class. Take Rome for example, females were regularly uneducated, however its only those women that belong to certain social and political classes/families had all the rights of a male and this is well documented. The same thing happening in the orient.
Interesting that you use Roman and oriental examples to justify your argument about African societies.
We had (and in some areas still have) patriarchal, egalitarian, matriarchal and everything between those 3 points kinds of societies in Africa, we're not Europe. And even in Europe your assessment of gender politics isn't necessarily correct. There was some level of variation before the colonisation, religious, and ethnic cleansing that Rome unleashed on the continent (I know a lot of Europeans don't like looking at it that way but it's the truth).
Why would u use Rome?
@@rosam674 do research
@@rosam674💯 Exactly.
Bruh I was just wondering this about an hour ago and to see this video in my recommended and it was uploaded an hour ago is weird.
stop broadcasting your thoughts
Synchronicity, but that's not an African concept
@@schorpioen7466 There is a concept of good coincidence as an expectation if they are not happening there is something hindering.
I'm white af, but I'm pretty sure my North African ancestors had gender roles. I suspect they were Arab, as they almost certainly emigrated to Sicily. There's no way they weren't strict gender roles. The evils of slavery and colonialism do leave a lasting impact, but it doesn't mean all African countries and cultures were paragons of sexual equality. Good video, Home Team History.
I'm black and I don't think any society had equal gender roles since the beginning of time man hunted and women stayed in the home.
To be clear, the original inhabitants/indigenes of North Africa were Black African people. White Arabs r*p3s and voluntary interracial relationships account for a lot of what's seen there now. Emigrating/Immigrating doesn't necessarily mean they were White. They might have been. We can stay near Sicily for an example. If an Ethiopian or Eritrean moved to Italy 40 years ago and then ONLY procreated with Italians from Rome, the descendants would look more like the general population. That still doesn't negate the fact that ancestor's phenotype. Obscured? Yes. But the fact and absolute truth? No.
Most traditional societies around the world and in Africa were traditionally patriarchal, meaning led by men. And that is because the men were the fighters who were expected to defend the society in times of trouble. However, that does not always mean women had no rights and this is where variations come into play across cultures. In many African cultures, women had a lot of power even if they weren't the leaders of the kingdoms, they still had a lot of say in society otherwise. Matriarchal systems were widespread in various African societies, including women having a say in who they would marry. Not to mention gender roles in African societies have always been defined through various rites of passage which were different for males and females. And these rites of passage could mean trials of courage for men while for women it could mean other things. That was not imposed on Africa by Europeans.
No they weren't there were more matrinlineal societies than patrilineal societies, example Mali was patrilineal, Egypt and the Meroë, Kush societies were all matrinlineal and the Ashante is matrinlineal a man couldn't succeed the throne without a Queen blessings, in the Ashante culture the male leader can make decisions, but the Queen mother ruler has to assist the male leader in his decisions. There are other societies that were equal too like Ethiopia where the Queen rode into war with the King even though that was a male lead society. The Amazonian women and plenty royal Queens raised male and female soldiers and led armies into wars, when today much of African society has been colonized so women would likely not be looked at as capable of battle and many bloodlines are now traced through patrilineal lineage. Even Central African society was mostly matrinlineal, you forget way before Europeans imposed their colonial gender roles, the Arab colonialism did a lot of damage to African societies. Matrinlineal doesn't mean all kingdoms were equally led by women, it means women elders would have a lot of say over the kingdom through their sons not particularly the wife. Ancient native Americans societies was mostly matrinlineal, or equal societies where the played a huge role if neutral gender roles, but of course the men were the chiefs that led battles, there were no kingdoms especially in North America, in south American there wasn't really either except the Aztec and Mayans had huge wealthy societies and controlled a lot of land, the women were equal in society and spiritual practices and gender roles when it comes to sexual roles didn't exist, there were all types of genders and they predicted this and now look at the world today, white Americans even stole the native American concept and named for all these different genders trying to plagiarize it, even in south America some women were known to be warriors and lead battles.
@@violetsrayreikishop2 You are talking about tracing kinship, which means that ancestry and legitimacy is traced either through the female side or male side. Doesn't change the gender role of those who are actually leading the society, as men were still the majority of kings and soldiers in these societies.
I agree that we cannot look at this at Western lens - that is basically the dichotomy of feminism and the manosphere where each gender is blamed for all the problems in relationships or there is no equality, unless the gender, tries to imitate the opposite gender - which does not promote the respect and mutual cooperation of the genders.
Also, leadership requires masculine energy so by default, it becomes a masculine role. However, in a relationship just because the man is the leader does not mean the woman is the obedient slave.
If the roles of genders are respected, the woman has say in all affairs, but the husband would make the final decision.
And let’s be honest here, who would want a marriage like Will and Jada Pickett Smith?
Oyoki?
Great video
The yoruba are known as patriarchal who practice(d) polygyny.
Their gender roles are kinda similar to the Europeans, on a surface level.
That's why they could adapt to Christianity and Islam in such big masses.
But they are just one of thousands of ethnicities in Africa, who might have gender roles which look different to what the average person calls "traditional".
There is nothing wrong with gender roles though as one gender is not valued over another
@@ursamajor6347 I agree with you. As long as individuals are not pressured into them and as long as one gender isn't devalued, there is nothing wrong with gender roles.
I actually wasn't saying that there is something wrong with them.
My point was that gender roles can look different in other cultures.
Not through with the video yet. But why only focus on “European values” when desert Arab/Bedouin values transmitted through Islam is equally prevalent on the continent? Plus, as we all know, Africa is a continent of diversity
I don't see this as a contradiction at all. In fact, viewing it as a contradiction seems like a logical misstep to me. You can't have two leaders, and you can't have two followers. For a marriage to be successful both husbands & wives need to play their role - they simply have different roles to play.
I feel like that's the fundamental reasoning behind basic gender roles in the first place.
This is def disappointing....
I wonder who would say there were "no gender roles" in africa..... There were gender roles every where, but the difference is many also included roles specific for trans people, and some also included roles that were defined as men but could be held by a afab person (ie woman king)....
So it makes me wonder is this simply pulling out the most extremist position, that most dont hold. As a way to misrepresent those that inform us of the traditional queerness amd feminist values in africa.
Also the speaker said it himself, in regards to the culture he went on to describe.... This dont represent all of africa...
Matter of fact, i suspect it doesn't represent all of west Africa....
Please consult actual queer and feminist Africans
Also even in regions that did have cisgender roles, there still was variability in how “all consuming “ those roles were.
Meaning was it only limited to house duties, or did it also include business, religion, etc.
@@slickandslaycious6579 Please note in Africa there there only two genders that male and female if you disagree as a fellow African please point to a tribe or nation state that has that culture and where they are practicing it.
@@vanhuvanhuvese2738 well First.... Male and Female, aren't genders, their sexes.
Second, I already explained there are some gender roles that can be occupied by people assigned female at birth.
Third there is the yan daudu, which is also in West Africa and differentiated from cis-het men. (Again African history isn't my expertise, so if you want more examples reach out to queer orgs and professionals in the continent)
Fourth, I also explained that the cis-het gender roles vary across the continent, and also vary in regards to what part of daily life their gender dictates what they can and can't do.
Again, please reach out to more educated feminist and queer africans than me. African history is not my expertise.
@@slickandslaycious6579 That is your opinion we dont assign gender it is born with.
@@slickandslaycious6579 transsexuals homosexuals etc are not condoned in africa and never have been 🤣🤣🤣 I don’t get how these westerners can lie so much it’s crazy we have never once condoned that foul behaviour leave that talk to you Europeans
I feel like this Nigerian teaching is also in the Bible. Just because someone has the role of leader, doesn’t mean they are in any way superior. Men & women are equally mortal & complex. But since there needs to be order & structure, God put the first human in the leader role. As long as men understand head of household doesn’t mean be bossy or a dictator, families can thrive.
I need to have this comment tattooed on me ! You said it all
Africa has a rich and varied history, with historical figures like Mansa Mussa with clarity in roles and hierarchy... you're talking nonsense:
Kingdom of Bazin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Belgin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Jarin (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Qita'a (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Nagash (9th century CE) • Kingdom of Tankish (9th century CE) • Empire of Kitara [1] • Sultanate of Mogadishu (10th century-16th century CE) • Kilwa Sultanate (960-1513 CE) • Kingdom of Medri Bahri (1137-1890 CE) • Ethiopian Empire (1137-1974 CE) • Zagwe dynasty (1137-1270 CE) • Solomonic dynasty (1270-1974 CE) • Sultanate of Ifat (1285-1415 CE) • Warsangali Sultanate (1298-1886 CE) • Kingdom of Buganda (1300-present CE) • Kingdom of Burundi (1500-1966 CE) • Kingdom of Rwanda (1300-1959 CE) • Ajuran Sultanate (14th century-17th century CE) • Adal Sultanate (1415-1555 CE)
King of the Ashantis (Ghana)
Asantehene: Title borne by the king of the Ashantis, one of the most powerful kingdoms in the history of West Africa.
Emperor of Mali
Mansa: Title given to the emperors of the Mali Empire, renowned for its wealth and cultural influence.
King of the Bambaras (Mali)
Biton: Title of the king in the Bambara Kingdom of Ségou.
King of the Yorubas (Nigeria)
Ooni: Title of the king of the city of Ife, considered the cradle of the Yoruba people.
Alaafin: Title of the king of the Oyo Empire.
King of the Hausas (Nigeria)
Emir: Title given to the rulers of the Hausa city-states.
African, the word itself was imposed on the “ Motherland “ and its native inhabitants. The word is of European descent.
This is how lost ONES are. Sad.
What would u call it
Please note most countries tribes provinces States people use their own identity which was not imposed but self named while at it the "African" identitly most people 99% do not use that daily all but is is useful when and used when one meet people from other countries like this place and we relate to each other since mostly look the same and in many cases have same cultural structures and issues and common enemies and sharing the same landmass
The scene in Africa in "What Is A Woman" is both insightful about this topic and hilarious at the same time
Not really. He asked *one tribe* that *happened* to have gender norms somewhat similar to Europeans. There're thousands of tribes, and this is before you consider the ones that were absorbed or died out. *Gender norms were imposed on some African people; while some others already had ones that were close enough to be manipulated in to the ones you see today; and others already had ones that were practically 1 to 1 with Europeans.*
There's a reason why that guy doing that stupid documentary didn't ask the Nyima, Tira, certain clans of the Igbo, Meru or even my tribe the Kikuyu (just to name a few) that question. For a non African example, he also didn't travel to India and ask communities familiar with the Hijra that question either.
I'm not really sure why it's so hard for some people to accept that there're different perspectives on this that have existed for 1000s of years, that align (partially or completely) with what people who identify as trans today say, and this includes perspectives found in Africa. It doesn't make you any less African, it just means the world isn't as monotone as you thought and African ideas on this topic are as diverse as its number of tribes.
@@MegaHAZE21 preach
@@MegaHAZE21 I find it interesting that you found Matt Walsh's documentary "stupid". Caucasians - of all people - have historically seen fit to define humanity,from classifying an enslaved black as three-fifths of a human, claiming that a pre-aborted infant isn't a "life",or that a biological male in a dress is the same as a child born with a womb.
I found the documentary refreshing in that it was a caucasian questioning the latest of caucasian classifications - and rightfully so - but you consider that "stupid".
To each it's own,I suppose.
@@MegaHAZE21 🔥🔥🔥
@@MegaHAZE21This.
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Did you do any comprehensive research for this segment, aside from reading one of the various books by Prof. Sophie Oduwole? Because had you done further research, you'd have realised that this topic is beyond your scope. First, the notion of gender/gender pronounce, doesn't exist in the Yorùbá language (do you even know what the Latin definitions of Woman/Man/Male/Female/masculine/feminine means?). Start there. Learn the origins of the b@stard!sed European language that you currently speak/think in.
The yoruba culture (as with most African ethic groups) is far more complex than a few soundbite, lazy CZcams analysis and I fear the influence of the manosphere cult has greatly distorted your reading of the text. It's rather unfortunate because I was under the impression that your channel is thoroughly researched (although, I've had my reservations for sometime). Ask yourself this:- will any self-respecting human, demand of others that they shrink themselves in order for the person in question to feel respected/important? By the virtue of expecting other people to minimise their Orí (life essence), you're essentially signaling that you're the weakest link in the group. All that to say, do some more homework. Ifa philosophy isn't something you master in the manner of weeks - it's a life long study and only a few people are competent enough to speak on it.
Right,because African men weren’t going out hunting,it was the women and the men stayed back.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 nonsense
i mean, its found that men and women hunted, and also in khoi societies men bring back much less food than women gather
@@ukculture9240 your sense of sarcasm can't be that bad lol
@@sadetwizelve I don’t get it I assumed you were being sarcastic so I added that it’s nonsense 🤔
Yes. Gender Roles is an African concept.
Yes but devaluing women and feminine roles, is a European concept. I mean their entire culture is based on heirarchies and someone always being inferior to the European male.
The title of this video is misleading. "Gender" is behavioral, whereas "sex" is bio-physiological. Gender is a cultural designation and is based on behavior that a given culture considers to be appropriate for its male and female sexes.
Gender is either "masculine" - behavior designated as belonging to the male sex, or "feminine" - behavior designated as belonging to the female sex.
Sex is nature. Gender is nurture. We learn gender, i.e., we can alter behavior. We are a sex - there is no choice in the matter.
Since males and females are bio-physiologically distinct from each other, one cannot become the other in reality. Man didn't create foxes, therefore, man lacks the capability of turning a fox into an eagle. We are what we are, down to the bone (one's skeletal pelvis is a testament to his or her bio-physiological sex).
A really good example of sex versus gender is a "tomboy". A tomboy is a bio-physiological female (sex) who behaves in a manner that the culture has set aside as being male behavior (masculine).
A tomboy's sex is female, whereas a tomboy's gender is masculine, not male. It is a lie and absolutely fraudulent to ask a person on an application his or her gender, then provide as choices "male" and "female".
The correct choices for gender are "masculine" and "feminine". The correct choices for sex are male and female. The government can coerce its citizenry to articulate a lie, but reality will not bend, not even one degree, off its course.
A nation can even legislate a lie. However, it cannot legislate biophysiology. No matter how severe the coercion, a lie will eventually die, as do all mortals. All mortals have a shelf life.
Thus, no one is being fooled. Instead we are just being threatened by our government sponsored programmers to accept the lie and ignore the truth.
Historically, every time a lie tries to rule the day, truth makes a comeback and sets the record straight. Being that I am an adult male (man), the likelihood of me becoming a woman is equal to that of a bull becoming a cow.
There are tribes in Africa where the women rule. They choose their husbands, and they can divorce their husband. They are all female tribes. And I'm assuming it's probably because the men were being A-holes and patriarch. African tribes go by maternal lineage, not the paternal!!! If y'all actually try to research without bias and remove your ego, you would find the truth. You don't have to put down your women to feel important or valid. we are in this together. Without women, there would not be a man. Just like man was birth from mother earth cause GOD put you there. Mother earth nutritious you and feed you. GOD is our father and protector and he disciplines us accordingly. He removed some of us from Africa because we were defiling and disrespected the land(mother earth). Yall, please open your mind and see the truth that is hidden❤️💛💚✊🏾🖤
Please tell me a tribe that is by the female line please tell me what country they run if not a country tell what province they run their name their numbers what language they speak ? I am in Africa now what you are saying is an abomination to most people. Most tribes by most I mean 99.9% the wife gets married and leaves her home to live with her husband and take on that name even in a traditional society or modern in the city with government papers its the same thing . While at it divorce has always been allowed but only on infidelity on her part no other reason was accepted and most people do not want it except in extreme duress even husband is not allowed to just leave just because
VaNHuV2738 Instead asking me first, you should have Google it before typing!!!
@Vanh2738 person We know ya'll history better than you because we seek it. Some stuff you don't even know happen right on the very continent you are on because they took your history and separated your people. Go learn something other than what the white man said was approved. Go find mother Africa.
@VanhuvanHuvese2738 Here's one tribe The Wodaabe and then your lazy tail go and do your research on the internet and books.
And another thing smarty pants. Female are xx and male are xy. The female can only trace her maternal side while the male can trace paternal and maternal, but only both can be trace through the maternal cause both possess the x marker. 😁 I hope you learned something today.
Sorry, but your discussion on this topic was vague. I wonder if it was on purpose or fear.
Interesting video. There are those who want to "create" their own history to suit their personal beliefs. I do not think you are one of them
Anyone who lives in Africa knows in a Family there are Gender roles. These things are not even debated in Africa. However Even if there are gender roles when one is away example to visit family or some other circumstance maybe rest or recovery of some sort duty that was meant for a wife or Husband will be done by the other this has never been an issue where necessary because we live in the community there will always other family members ready to help ie wives sister coming to cook and help with children if she is not there or Husbands brother coming to paint the House or fixing that broken door etc The roles will most likely be observed except under extreme pressure where everyone does the same thing to remove the big issue.
Equality means strengths make the weaknesses of each sex irrelevant. Men's strength is in leadership.
Men's strength cannot be in leadership when leaders have always in patriarchal societies been so few and far between. Leadership is no gender signifier.
Actually it is the word of Almighty God.
Now Sir, picking one of THE MOST misogynistic ethnic groups in the world was a choice. 🫤 Many societies in Central and West African societies actually did not have the rigid roles they have now. This is a fact. I actually find it unfortunate that you attempted to disprove this narrative rather than show two different peoples that show both sides are true.