African Women Legends and the Spirituality of Resistance

Musa W. Dube, the William Ragsdale Cannon Distinguished Professor of the New Testament, is a Humboldtian awardee (2011) and winner of the Gutenberg Teaching Award (2017). She is a biblical scholar based at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, USA. Dube is also Professor Extraordinaire in UNISA, Centre for Gender Studies. Telesia K. Musili is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She is a national coordinator of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians.Sylvia Owusu-Ansah is Dean of the School of Theology at Perez University, Ghana. She is Vice-President of the Missiological Society of Ghana based at Trinity Theological Seminary and Head Pastor of Revival Temple, Perez Chapel International La.

• Foreword by Elias Kifon BongmbaPart 1: Women-Centred Origins and Solidarity with Mother Earth 1 “ Bones Shall Rise Again!” African Legendary Women and the Spirituality of ResistanceMusa W. Dube2 “Powerhouse of Feminism”: Sitting with the Nine Daughters of Gīkūyū and Mūmbi, at the Ecological and Gender HearthMary Wanjiku Kihuha3 Wangari Maathai’s Environmental Spirituality as Grounded in African Indigenous Community WisdomFancy CheronohPart 2: Rain Queens and Rain Priestess, and Sangoma 4 The Modjadji Rain-Queendom of South Africa: Women as Guardians of the Traditional MantleA Lefatshe Moagi and Mr. B. Mtombeni5 Towards makewana eco-theology: Motherhood, wife god and rain priestessFulata Lusungu Moyo and Joyce Mlenga6 Isangoma and Wosana the Rain Priestess: women as vehicles to the sustainability of African Indigenous ReligionsSenzokuhle Doreen SetumePart 3: Legendary Women and Political Rebellion 7 Kimpa Vita: Revolutionary Prophetess and Martyr of the Kongo KingdomMaleke Marthe Kondemo8 Wallata Petros of Ethiopia: Wife, Mother and Freedom FighterMeklit Mitiku Mamunu9 Mbuya Nehanda: Priestess and Freedom Fighter of ZimbabweMolly Manyonganise10 Nwanyeruwa: leading the nigerian women's war of 1929Martina I. Oguntoyinbo-aterePart 4: Sister Kings, Regent Queens and Queen Mothers11 Makhadzi: The Salient Venda Cornerstone of Indigenous Public LeadershipYvonne Winfildah Takawira-Matwapa12 “The Indomitable Queen Labotsibeni of Eswatini: Where Gender and Religion Meet in a Patriarchal SpaceSonene NyawoPart 5: Founders of African Independent Churches 13 Lenshina Alice Mulenga: The Spirit of Resistance and LiberationDorothy Tembo14 Mma Christinah Nku: Legendary spiritual womanLinah Simimba Ndhlovu15 Mai Chaza//Matenga: A Legendary African Woman Leader in Zimbabwean SpiritualityAmos Muyambo and Joseph MuyangataPart 6: Legendary African Women Writers 16 “We should all be feminists”: A critical analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s African feminist resources for gender activism in AfricaPauline Mateveke