Narratives of the African Female Body: Politics, Culture, and Family Structure

The perception of female African bodies reveals a complex interplay of politics, culture, and family structures that shape women's identities and lived experiences across the continent. These narratives reflect histories of resilience and resistance, as well as the pressures imposed by societal expectations, colonial legacies, and contemporary power dynamics. Cultural traditions, familial systems, and gender roles all influence how the body is perceived, controlled, or celebrated. Examining these interconnected forces may reveal a deeper insight into how African women negotiate autonomy, belonging, and empowerment within private and public spheres. Narratives of the African Female Body: Politics, Culture, and Family Structure explores African womanhood and feminism in its historical context by revisiting female bodies, marriage practices, and family experiences. It examines feminist and gender politics and power relations in Africa. This book covers topics such as decolonization, romantic relationships, and linguistics, and is a useful resource for sociologists, historians, academicians, researchers, and scientists.

Maxwell Constantine Chando Musingafi is Professor of Public Policy & Governance in the Department of Development Studies at the National University of Lesotho. He has taught courses in commerce; gender; conflict & peace; and development studies at Gweru polytechnic, Zimbabwe Open University, Great Zimbabwe University, University of Eswatini and the National University of Lesotho. Maxwell is External Examiner (GZU; MSU); Peer Reviewer/Thought Leader (Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education); Consultant-Devolution Implementation (Gvnt of Zim), Editorial Board Member (Uneswa Journal of Education); 2022 Lesotho Voluntary National Reviewer for SDG5 (UNDP); Country Reviewer for Zimbabwe (Global Integrity); Member (Development Studies Association-UK); and Member (International Society for Development & Sustainability). Professor Musingafi is a novelist and researcher in gender, conflict, peace, governance and water studies with a track record of more than 300 published works.

Chipo Hungwe obtained her PhD in Sociology from the University of South Africa in 2014. She is the Pro Vice Chancellor - Academic, Research and Innovation at the Women's University in Africa, Zimbabwe. Prof. Hungwe is a former Executive Dean of Social Sciences at the Midlands State University in Zimbabwe. She has a keen interest in women’s experiences and has published extensively on women, ageing, and migration. In 2025, Chipo received the Best Female Researcher award from Midlands State University. In 2022, Chipo Hungwe received the Inspirational and Visionary Women award for women empowerment from Women Corporate Directors Network in Zimbabwe (WCDNZ). She has provided consultancy services to international organisations, including the UN Women. She is a member of the International Sociological Association (ISA), the International Labour and Employment Relations Association (ILERA), and the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI). Chipo serves as Peer Reviewer, Thought Leader, and Programme Evaluator for the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE). She also serves as a Gender Committee member at the Wits Business School's Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), South Africa. Chipo is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies, University of the Free State, South Africa. Prof Hungwe is an Editorial Board member of the Discover Aging and Discover Global Society journals and an Occasional Editor of the Disability & Society journal.

Telesia Kathini Musili holds a PhD in Religious Studies from Kenyatta University. She is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and a research fellow at the University of South Africa. With a profound commitment to exploring the nuanced intersections of religion―both physical and virtual―ethics, media, and ecology, her scholarly work critically addresses contemporary issues impacting women and society. Telesia’s research interests extend to the ethics of artificial intelligence in academia and the ethical dimensions of religious violence. She examines how these fields intersect to shape ethical social dynamics, particularly within African societies. Through her academic endeavors, Telesia aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the moral and societal implications of religious discourses and media representations, advocating for greater inclusivity and sustainability. Her work seeks to illuminate the complexities of ethical decision-making in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, emphasizing the need for responsible engagement with issues relating to gender disparities and technology in academic and religious contexts.

Kutlwano B. L. Mokgwathi is student at the University of the Western Cape. She has taught courses in gender studies at Ohio University as a doctoral student and teaches various media courses at UB. She is currently completing a certificate with eCornell in Equitable Community Change, and her second doctorate in the gender studies department at the University of the Western Cape. Her research interests are interdisciplinary, she focuses on Black Visual Feminism, Feminist Media Studies and Men and Masculinities.