The African Female Body Politics

African womanhood is deeply connected with family structures and cultural rites of passage, playing a significant role in shaping women's identities, responsibilities, and social status. In many African societies, women are central to family life, serving as caregivers, nurturers, economic contributors, and keepers of cultural traditions. Family structures provide the framework through which values, customs, and social expectations pass from one generation to the next. Rites of passage reinforce these roles by marking important transitions in a woman's life, like puberty, marriage, and motherhood. Together, these cultural institutions reflect the diverse experiences of African women while highlighting the importance of community, heritage, and social belonging in their lives. The African Female Body Politics: Narratives of Wisdom, Resilience, and Cultural Continuity explores the roles, identities, and experiences of African women in their families and communities, and the cultural values that shape their lives. It examines how family structures and rites of passage influence women's social status, responsibilities, personal development, and transitions through different stages of life. This book covers topics such as family structures, cultural heritage, and African studies, and is a useful resource for sociologists, 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. Chipo 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 Global Society journal and an Occasional Editor of the Disability & Society journal.

Telesia Kathini Musili is a lecturer at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Nairobi. She is also a research fellow at the University of South Africa. Her research interests revolve around religion and media, ethics, and religion, focusing mainly on the response to contemporary issues affecting women and society at large.