A Place Where Women RuleAll-Female Village in Kenya Is a Sign Of Burgeoning Feminism Across Africa
By Emily WaxWashington Post Foreign ServiceSaturday, July 9, 2005;
By Emily WaxWashington Post Foreign ServiceSaturday, July 9, 2005;
UMOJA, Kenya --
...... "Women don't have to put up with this nonsense anymore."
Ten years ago, a group of women established the village of Umoja, which means unity in Swahili, on an unwanted field of dry grasslands.
Ten years ago, a group of women established the village of Umoja, which means unity in Swahili, on an unwanted field of dry grasslands.
........Umoja traces its origins not so much to political protest, however, as to acts of sexual violence against the women, reportedly by British soldiers. After they were raped, some of the women say, they were chased from their homes by their husbands for supposedly bringing dishonor on the community. Other Umoja women split from their husbands for different reasons and found solidarity with others
Rebecca Lolosoli, was recently invited to speak before the
United Nations in New York at a world conference on gender empowerment.
When commenting on the achievements of the village, Lolosoli said, “We’ve seen so many changes in these women. They’re healthier and happier. They dress well. They used to have to beg. Now, they’re the ones giving out food to others.”
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