CODESRIA

A Response to Western Patriarchal Neoliberalism

In African Feminist Theory Articulated and Grounded in Tanzania: A Response to Western Patriarchal Neoliberalism, the intricate ways Tanzanian women have defined and defended their own liberation are meticulously explored. Moving beyond the constraints of Western-centric frameworks, this work examines how local activists and scholars have articulated a unique African feminism—one deeply rooted in communal values, historical resistance, and local realities.

By investigating the intersection of patriarchal structures and neoliberal economic policies, the book highlights how Tanzanian women challenge global power dynamics while grounding their theory in the lived experiences of their communities. It is a vital contribution to decolonial thought, offering a powerful testament to the intellectual agency and resilience of African women.

This study serves as both a historical record and a forward-looking manifesto for a feminism that is authentically grounded, fiercely independent, and transformative.

“This book approaches African feminism from a historical cum intellectual traditions of Tanzania, […] Rasel Madaha presents a rich, informed, and detailed narrative of the past and the present times of African feminism. […].”

Selina Lesiaki Prosper Mushi, Ph.D.
Professor, Curriculum and Instruction, Northeastern Illinois University, USA

“Rasel Madaha’s book is important and unique. […] The book documents in detail how in Tanzania African feminist thinking […] works in practice against growing challenges of patriarchy and neoliberal globalization. […]. Madaha’s book shows an alternative path.”

Signe Arnfred
Centre for Gender, Power and Diversity, Roskilde University

“This book offers a powerful account of how Tanzanian women activists have given expression to African feminism through their own social, cultural, and political context. Drawing on more than two decades of research and engagement with grassroots communities, […], the book shows how Tanzanian women’s rights activists have brought about social change. […].”

Aili Mari Tripp
Vilas Research Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Author

Rasel Madaha is a multidisciplinary scholar-activist whose work reclaims the narrative of African feminism from the shadows of Western patriarchal neoliberalism. Since 2007, he has dedicated his career to grounding feminist theory in the lived experiences of Tanzanian women and men through consistent action research and community engagement.