Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

“Down with Bridewealth!” The Organization of Mozambican Women Debates Women’s Issues

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Women's Political Communication in Africa

Part of the book series: Contributions to Political Science ((CPS))

Abstract

In the early 1980s, Mozambique was in its first decade of independence under a socialist government that supported women’s issues. This chapter reports on a single provincial-level meeting of the women’s organization in 1983. The meeting included extended discussion about policy issues that affected women, keynote speeches by male political leaders, and songs. The analysis also discusses media reports that focused on men’s speeches, and personal reflections of the author. The official approach of Frelimo, the ruling party, called for an end to “traditional” practices such as polygyny, initiation rites, and bridewealth, while local women activists continued to see value in such practices and pushed back against the government perspective.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    For further background and discussion of OMM’s activities and politics, see Sheldon (2002).

  2. 2.

    Darch and Hedges (2013), provides a detailed investigation of Mozambican Portuguese and the uses of political rhetoric as viewed through the analysis of a single speech. An expanded version was published in Portuguese, Darch et al. (2018).

  3. 3.

    For an overview and diverse interpretations, see Chap. 4 of Sheldon, Pounders of Grain. Other sources include Tétreault (1994), Kruks et al. (1989), Molyneux (1981, 1984).

  4. 4.

    Further detail on OMM’s history and on other Mozambican women’s organizations is found in Sheldon (2002) 119–132.

  5. 5.

    “Communique of the Central Committee,” Mozambique Revolution 54 (January–March 1973):21.

  6. 6.

    “Organização da Mulher Moçambicana,” in Datas e Documentos da História da FRELIMO, ed., João Reis and Armando Pedro Muiuane, 311–325, quote on 316 (Maputo: Edição da Imprensa Nacional, 1975).

  7. 7.

    Frelimo Departamento de Trabalho Ideológico, “Estatutos e Programa da OMM,” Documentos da 3.a Conferência da OMM (Maputo: Tipografia Notícias, n.d.), 7–8.

  8. 8.

    Casimiro (1983).

  9. 9.

    “First Conference of Mozambican Women,” Mozambique Revolution 54 (January–March 1973): 22–24.

  10. 10.

    Welch et al. (1985), discussion of use of “traditional” on 61; reprinted in Sachs and Welch (1990).

  11. 11.

    Arnfred (1990a).

  12. 12.

    Geisler (1997), Arnfred (1990b).

  13. 13.

    Machel (1976), quote on 19.

  14. 14.

    I recorded my experiences and observations in a journal and wrote about them in an unpublished memoir, The Mackerel Years: War, Hunger, and History in Mozambique, which is the source for much of the detail in this chapter.

  15. 15.

    Penvenne and Sitoe (2000), Vail and White (1991).

  16. 16.

    “First Conference of Mozambican Women,” Mozambique Revolution 54 (January–March 1973), 22–24.

  17. 17.

    Organização da Mulher Moçambicana, Gabinete Central de Preparação da Conferencia Extraordinaria, “Temas-base para discussão: Ritos de iniciacão,” (Maputo: OMM, 1983, typescript).

  18. 18.

    Naroromele (1984); also see Jossias (1983).

  19. 19.

    Many women did not speak Portuguese, which is Mozambique’s official language. In Beira the local radio broadcast in two local languages, Ndau and Chisena, as well as Portuguese, and working women I interviewed for my research spoke a variety of languages.

  20. 20.

    Quote from meeting participant. For further background see Gengenbach (2003).

  21. 21.

    Solnit (2014).

  22. 22.

    Obbo (1997).

  23. 23.

    Arnfred (2015).

  24. 24.

    See Sheldon (2002), 25–27 and passim.

  25. 25.

    Welch (1983), p. 2, published in a revised version as Welch and Sachs (1987).

  26. 26.

    Interview with Guezimane (1976), quote in an introductory section provided by Guezimane, 43. The language was almost identical to comments made by Samora Machel, indicating that this was the official Frelimo and OMM position on lobolo; Machel (1974), quote on 27.

  27. 27.

    “Vamos acabar com a prostituição,” Tempo 237 (20 April 1975).

  28. 28.

    As Arnfred (2015) discusses, the knowledge women gain from the rites is intended to encourage a strong sexual performance by men, so that women will have pleasure.

  29. 29.

    “Moçambique: Frondosa Árvore com Variedade de Flores,” Diário de Moçambique (DM) (9 September 1983), consisted of the text of dos Santos’s speech opening the meeting; “Aprofundar e Alargar Debate sobre a Mulher,” DM (14 September 1983), described dos Santos’s closing comments. Further articles that focused on dos Santos’ words and actions included “Dirigente de Sofala Visitou Grupos de Estudo,” DM (12 September 1983): 3; and António Cesar, “Conhecer a nossa História para Tranformar a Sociedade: Marcelino dos Santos na Reunião Provincial da OMM em Sofala,” DM (10 September 1983): 8–9.

  30. 30.

    Darch and Hedges (2013).

  31. 31.

    For a preliminary report on the provincial meetings, see Manuel (1984). For more on the national meeting, see “Pelo Sucesso da sua Conferência, Mulher Moçambicana Saúda Partido Frelimo,” Domingo (2 December 1984): 1; and Arnfred (1988).

  32. 32.

    “Mozambican Women Plan a Strategy for Emancipation,” AIM Information Bulletin 101 (1984): 1–4; “The General Resolution Passed by the Extra-Ordinary Conference of the OMM (Mozambican Women’s Organization) in Maputo, November 6–11, 1984,” supplement to AIM Information Bulletin 104 (1984):5.

  33. 33.

    Organização da Mulher Moçambicana, Gabinete Central da Preparação de Conferência Extraordinária da O.M.M., Provincia de Sofala, untitled report prepared for the Extraordinary Conference (Beira: typescript, 1984), 33–36.

  34. 34.

    Arnfred (1991), discussion of conference on 49–50.

  35. 35.

    Moore (1977), quote on 154.

  36. 36.

    Nielsen (2017), quote on p. 142.

References

  • Arnfred, S. (1988). Women in Mozambique: Gender struggle and politics. Review of African Political Economy, 41, 5–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnfred, S. (1990a). Femmes et modernisation au Mozambique. Politique Africaine, 38, 142–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnfred, S. (1990b). Notes on gender and modernization: Examples from Mozambique. In A. W. Bentzon (Ed.), The language of development studies (pp. 71–107). Copenhagen: New Social Science Monographs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnfred, S. (1991). Lessons from Mozambique. Agenda, 10, 45–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnfred, S. (2015). Female sexuality as capacity and power? Reconceptualizing sexualities in Africa. African Studies Review, 58(3), 149–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casimiro, I. (1983). A luta de libertação nacional em Moçambique e a emancipação da mulher. Maputo: Typescript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darch, C., & Hedges, D. (2013). Political rhetoric in the transition to Mozambican independence: Samora Machel in Beira, June 1975. Kronos, 39(1), 10–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darch, C., Hedges, D., & Machel, S. (2018). Retórica política e indepenência em Moçambique. EDUFBA: Salvador, Brasil.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geisler, G. (1997). Women are women or how to please your husband: Initiation ceremonies and the politics of ‘tradition’ in southern Africa. African Anthropologist, 4(1), 92–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gengenbach, H. (2003). Boundaries of beauty: Tattooed secrets of women’s history in Magude District, southern Mozambique. Journal of Women’s History, 14(4), 106–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guezimane, D. (1976). Fazer do lar explorado uma célula do combate revolucionário. Tempo, 287, 42–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jossias, L. (1983, December). Ritos de iniciação: Aspectos positivos devem ser valorizados. Notícias.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruks, S., Rapp, R., & Young, M. B. (1989). Promissory notes: Women in the transition to socialism. New York: Monthly Review Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Machel, S. (1974). The liberation of women is a fundamental necessity for the revolution. In S. Machel (Ed.), Mozambique: Sowing the seeds of revolution (pp. 21–36). London: Committee for Freedom in Mosambique, Angola and Guinee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Machel, S. (1976). A mulher conquista a sua emancipação através do combate na frente da luta de classes. Tempo, 322, 18–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manuel, F. (1984). Problemas da mulher: Para além das aparências. Tempo, 694, 14–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molyneux, M. (1981). Socialist societies old and new: Progress towards women’s emancipation? Feminist Review, 8, 1–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molyneux, M. (1984). Women in socialist societies: Problems of theory and practice. In K. Young, C. Walkowitz, & R. McCullagh (Eds.), Of Marriage and the Market (2d ed., pp. 55–90). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, S. F. (1977). Political meetings and the simulation of unanimity: Kilimanjaro, 1973. In S. F. Moore & B. G. Myerhoff (Eds.), Secular ritual. Amsterdam: Van Gorcum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naroromele, A. (1984, April). Ritos de iniciação: Qual é a contradição? Domingo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, M. (2017). Ideological twinning: Socialist aesthetics and political meetings in Maputo, Mozambique. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 23(S1), 138–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obbo, C. (1997). What do women know? … As I was saying! In K. M. Vaz (Ed.), Oral narrative research with black women (pp. 41–63). Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penvenne, J. M., & Sitoe, B. (2000). Power, poets and the people: Mozambican voices interpreting history. Social Dynamics, 26(2), 55–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, A., & Welch, G. H. (1990). Liberating the law: Creating popular justice in Mozambique (pp. 64–85). London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon, K. (2002). Pounders of grain: A history of women, work, and politics in Mozambique. Portsmouth, N.H.: Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solnit, R. (2014). Men explain things to me. Chicago, III: Haymarket.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tétreault, M. A. (1994). Women and revolution in Africa, Asia, and the New World. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vail, L., & White, L. (1991). The possession of the dispossessed: Songs as history among Tumbuka women. In L. Vail & L. White (Eds.), Power and the praise poem: Southern African voices in history (pp. 231–277). Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch, G. H. (1983). “Lobolo” (Tese de Licenciatura, Faculdade de Direito, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane).

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch, G. H., Dagnino, F., & Sachs, A. (1985). Transforming the foundations of family law in the course of the mozambican revolution. Journal of Southern African Studies, 12(1), 60–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welch, G. H., & Sachs, A. (1987). The bride price, revolution, and the liberation of women. International Journal of the Sociology of Law, 15, 369–392.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Colin Darch, Jonna Katto, and Judith Van Allen for their thoughtful comments on this paper; they saved me from errors and improved my analysis. I also appreciated discussing the paper at a conference on “In/Visibility and Opacity: Cultural Productions by African and African Diasporic Women,” VolkswagenStiftung, Hannover, Germany, July 10–12, 2019, and at a Research Affiliate Brown Bag presentation for the UCLA Center for the Study of Women, October 29, 2019.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCLA Center for the Study of Women, Los Angeles, USA

    Kathleen Sheldon

Authors
  1. Kathleen Sheldon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathleen Sheldon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Women’s Research and Documentation Center, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Sharon Adetutu Omotoso

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Sheldon, K. (2020). “Down with Bridewealth!” The Organization of Mozambican Women Debates Women’s Issues. In: Omotoso, S. (eds) Women's Political Communication in Africa. Contributions to Political Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42827-3_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation