Mercy Amba Oduyoye

"Although some essays have been published in earlier works, everything in this volume has been carefully revised and, in some cases, abridged. Oduyoye takes great pains to bring Akan and other African traditions into correlation with Biblical stories and show the reader how African wisdom offers deep insights into timeless episodes and themes. Above all, Beads and Strands gives us access to how one of Africa's most noted women sees the state and roles of women in Africa today."--BOOK JACKET.

Daughters of Anowa provides an analysis of the lives of African women today from an African woman's own perspective. It is a study of the influence of culture and religion - particularly of traditional African cultures and Christianity - on African women's lives. Mercy Amba Oduyoye illustrates how myths, proverbs, and folk tales (called "folktalk") operate in the socialization of young women, working to preserve the norms of the community. Daughters of Anowa reveals how global patriarchy manifests itself in these social structures, in both patrilineal and matrilineal communities. Organized as a narrative in three cycles, Daughters of Anowa demonstrates how folktalk alienates women from power, discourages individuality and encourages conformity. It also considers the possibilities for the future. Oduyoye posits that change will come about only when the daughters of Anowa (the mythic representative of Africa itself) confront the realities of culture and religion in perpetuating patriarchal oppression and work to realize the goal of a new woman in a new Africa.

"Mercy Amba Odyoye, from Ghana, founded the Circle of Concerned African Women. She served as Deputy General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, the first African woman from south of the Sahara to hold such a high position in the WCC. The book begins by first describing the particular contributions Mercy Oduyoye has made to African theology. The second part deals with issues of women's health and scripture. Part IV deals with health issues, particularly HIV/AIDS, and women as peace-makers. In Part V, the only essay by a male theologian, examines women's theology in Africa"-- Amazon UK.

"In this 2018 Madeleva Lecture, veteran African theologian Mercy Amba Oduyoye explores the intersections of African traditional religions, the status of women, and crises in health care, especially HIV/AIDS infection."--Back cover