wfn.org | African women provide leadership for the future, speaker says

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

May 18, 1998	Contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
{306}

NOTE: This story accompanies UMNS #304 and 305. A photograph is
available.

ORLANDO, Fla. (UMNS) -- Throughout this century, African women have been
seen as objects of misery, in need of help, while the roles they have
played in bringing peace and justice to their countries have gone
uncelebrated, a U.N. official said.

African women have major leadership roles to play as a new century
approaches, said Ruth Bamela Engo-Tjega, addressing the 1998 United
Methodist Women's Assembly at Orange County Convention Center on May 16.
She described how the women in various countries on the continent have
fought for justice, integrity, dignity and human worth.

"These women have become so fundamental in the lives of their people
that the importance usually accorded to founding figures who create
institutions, or start unprecedented actions have been melted with the
ordinary," she said. ". . . The African women occupy the first place
'after God' in the daily lives of their people."

Engo-Tjega, a native of Cameroon, West Africa, is a senior economics
officer in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
in the Office of Special Coordinator for African and Least Developed
Countries.  

As a new millenium approaches, the hopes with which the 20th century
began remain unfulfilled, she told the more than 10,000 United Methodist
Women. There was hope that  technology would eliminate hunger and major
diseases, and that conflict mediation and negotiation would replace the
sounds of guns, she said.

However, the world is 20 months away from a new century and 1.5 million
people are still hungry in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas,
including the United States, Engo-Tjega said. The world has been
"invaded by emerging diseases deriving from the many aggressions against
our government, our immune system and our souls," she said.

In spite of all the disadvantages she said, African women of many
countries have remained in solidarity with the people and are playing
fundamental roles in their lives, sometimes directly leading struggles.

At least 90 percent of the food, 80 percent of the water and 80 percent
of the services, including health care, shelter and clothing, that
Africans possess are made possible because of the efforts of women,
Engo-Tjega said.

As Engo-Tjega described the triumphs of women in the countries of Ghana,
Cameroon, Uganda and Guinea, she encouraged the United Methodist Women
to adopt at least two leadership characteristics of African women: a
silent nature and community-oriented spirit.

Throughout the 20th century, African women have been projected as
objects of pain and misery, women who are passive, vague, slow and
confused as the result of a lack of a modern education, she said. Their
weaknesses have been highlighted while their strengths have not been
shown. People in the 21st century will "internalize" the silent
leadership talents of African women, Engo-Tjega predicted.

These talents include:

*	the ability to listen and remain silent to understand;
	
*	the ability to be passive to accommodate; and
	
*	the ability to accept tentativeness in negotiation for peaceful
interaction.

In discussing community-oriented leadership, Engo-Tjega offered examples
of cooperative ventures women have initiated to obtain food,
transportation, health, money and environmental restoration for their
communities. Through meeting community needs, she said, the women place
attention on community connections that allow people to learn from each
other and appreciate each other in a way that is "impossible in the
global economy."
 
Engo-Tjega recalled the African proverb that the falling tree makes more
noise than the growing forest. "The noisy 20th century did not notice
the strength of this growing leadership talent," she said. "Let us
ensure that this talent is handed over to future generations." 

# # #

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