Catherine Mwihia

African Proverbs About Women: a Theological Analysis with Reference to Proverbs from Gikuyu People of Central Kenya Catherine Mwihia

This book sets on the premise that there is a need for a new cultural hermeneutics that will move towards the deconstruction of the wrong attitudes against African women; that are experienced through some (African) proverbs. Certainly, a change of attitude is necessary in order to redeem Africa from the typecasts that do harm to the society. It is ironical that 'society' includes the African church. Change of attitude will help in upholding, creating positive proverbs and in dismantling the old ones, which are designed to distort a woman's image. It is recommended that African women scholars and theologians, together with "concerned" men should publish books that will put to public domain the "newly" reconstituted and/or redesigned proverbs and reach out to those who cannot read or write through seminars and in their respective places. In addition, it is urged that we should, make it a habit to severally quote the "new" proverbs in our speeches and in our ongoing publications - in our endeavour to usher in a new community of men and women where the lion and the goat will sit together at a Kamukunji (dialogue table) of interaction and genuine friendliness.