Challenges for Building Communities in Africa

Dorcas C. M. Ndoro ^[1]

I have been asked to share my theological journey as an African woman. I can say that I have had obstacles on the way. I have had to cry and question God as to whether I made the right decision to be in the church or I would have been better off elsewhere. From my own family, inside the church and outside the church, I have been looked at as mistaken identity! But these challenges have kept me going! I have confirmed it that I have no imperfection whatsoever. The Psalmist is right that, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). I therefore have no apologies but am convinced that I have a ministry and a mission that is divine. Thus far the grace of God has sustained me. I have no doubt that I will accomplish the ministry given me by God in spite of the hardship!

I would like to share something more general affecting all women and probably the whole continent. Indeed Africa is bleeding and crying because of many ills. Africa, like Asia, longs for a new community of love and harmony. A community of the early church type, where mine will be yours and yours will be mine. A community of sharing on equal grounds, regardless of gender, class, race, age or colour. But this is a dream. There are wounds and gaps that need to be bridged, especially as experienced by the women � at home, in the church, and in the community.

Some of these ills on the African soil include HIV/AIDS, poverty, corruption, violence and wars, just to mention a few. These ills have derailed development in the continent rendering many poor and destitute. Many people are living below the poverty line. Those living in the streets are increasing each day. This has increased the insecurity of the continent scaring away tourists who are a source of income in most countries.

HIV/AIDS is a big problem in the continent of Africa. Thousands die every day. In Mombasa, the second largest city in Kenya, for example, it is said that 50% of the bed occupants in the main General Hospital are HIV/AIDS patients or those with related diseases. As some people have said, if you are not infected in Africa, you are always affected. The church and the government are affected. Both young and old are dying and more so the productive generation of ages 15-45! It is true that homes and sometimes entire homesteads are known to have been wiped out leaving children without anyone to care for them. Grandparents cannot cope with the orphaned children of their daughters and sons. Many of these children resort to the street or become criminals.

Generally, women and children are most affected by HIV/AIDS. Since culturally the African men are seen as the public figures and not the women, the women remain at home while the men go to the cities in search of white-collar jobs. While away, the engage in cheap sex and get infected. When they come home, they infect their innocent wives. Unfortunately, no typical African woman can question her husband's sexual behaviour or refuse him even when they can read the symptoms of the deadly disease. The typical African man always has the right to everything, including woman's sexuality and pleasure. Culture seems to favour him against the woman.

This disease scourge has proved a monster because of cultural perception and practice. Despite the many awareness seminars and workshops, some people still believe that this disease is connected with witchcraft. It is always some evil eye or evil spell that is behind death especially when it is a man. Some reasons given are because he has been promoted, has secured a new job, bought a cow, or because he is elected the chief of the village, just to mention a few. Others still hide the cause of the death of their loved ones because it is shameful, especially for a man, to die of AIDS. They always die of pneumonia and malaria. It is however okay for a woman because she leaves no shame!

The spread of the disease has been accelerated in some communities by the practice of widow inheritance. Since Africa is by and large a polygamous society, this makes it even worse. In some societies this inheritance which is mainly by a brother-in-law or a close next of kin, is preceded by a ritual cleansing. This means having sexual intercourse with an �outcast�, a �professional� who is paid to act as John the Baptist for the one who will inherit the widow. Since this �outcast� sleeps with so many other women, it is most likely for him to transfer the virus to these women. Surprisingly, no widower is expected to go through these experiences. It is clear that the African woman has no authority to her own sexuality.

In some cases men who test HIV positive go to traditional herbalists and are advised to have intercourse with a virgin girl for healing because it is believed to be an evil spell. Since virginity is respected in most African communities, these men end up raping or defiling young girls. This is because of the belief that men have the right to live! Women can be used if that would help a man survive! They are like property at the disposal of their owners. Women for their part have no such opportunities. In fact in most cases they are abandoned even when they are admitted in hospitals. They rarely get anybody to visit them unless if they have grown-up children. Sometimes these children are literally kept away from contact with their mothers because they might be infected.

The other practice that has increased the spread of this disease is traditional circumcision and female genital mutilation. This tradition, which in some communities is done traditionally, lacks any modern technology. Sometimes, even when each candidate comes with their own knife, the operator does not sterilise his hands before the next operation and no gloves are used. This practice of female genital mutilation is being fought by both the church and government, yet it continues to be done secretly. Where it serves as a rite of passage, some initiates have been known to bleed to death because they can not be taken to hospital. This is a double risk for girls. Of course the initiation has its own side effects to the woman in life. Researchers have proved that its hidden agenda is to reduce the woman's sexual pleasure so that the man is able to control as many of them sexually!

The church in most parts of the continent has rejected the use of condoms and teaches abstinence instead. However, most young people still have premarital relationships and married men still have extra marital affairs. One young man is said to have declared that the virus goes to sleep at night. In other words it is safe to have affairs at night for only during the day one can get infected.

If this is what people perceive of the virus and if these are the practices, one wonders what the future holds for the African continent. Who will survive? Who will be there tomorrow to tell the African story?

The other ill that I want to mention is the uncalled for wars. Whoever is behind this is not clear. Why people raise arms against each other, brother against brother, child against parents, is a big paradox. Ethnic and tribal clashes, civil wars have become an endless chorus on African soil. We have had in Rwanda/Burundi, Congo/Zaire, Sudan, Sierra Leon, and Liberia, just to mention a few. These times of unrest in the continent have affected the economy of said countries and the neighbouring countries because many people have fled for safety as refugees. This is not a pleasant kind of life. Children have to stop their education and sometimes never get back to school. They either become criminals or beg in the streets.

Women have been raped as retaliation from the opposition party in the wars. They are always victims. Majority are widowed as their husbands die in battle. They are left with children without any means of helping them in life because they have depended on their husbands. Sometimes even when they do not flee to other countries, widowed women have been known to be dispossessed of anything their husbands owned by their in-laws. Although marriage gives an African woman social status, this lasts only as long as the husband lives. His death marks the end of identity especially when the marriage was childless. Such women have resorted to living in slums and being exposed to all sorts of risks.

For this reason the African woman finds herself at the crossroads. She has to struggle to redefine her status and live a fulfilling life as the woman that God created! Cultural barriers which have found their way into the church, which is supposed to give hope to all, must be broken.

What has all this got to do with the CATS theme of Building Communities? Or what has it got to do with Asia? I am aware that the contexts are completely different and these may not be issues of concern in Asia. However, I believe that we have a common vision � a better and healthier community. A community of belonging where we recognize and appreciate each other as God's creation, regardless! I believe that if we have to realize our dreams and visions of "Building New Communities" we need to:

• Re-member, that is come together, in our diversities and build each other.

• Appreciate and appreciate each other as we work towards a healing process for all members.

• See God in the other and present God to the other, i.e. endeavour to share our creator with each other.

_______________________