Queen mother (Africa)
Female traditional rulers in Africa / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Queen mother (also Queenmother) is a term used to describe certain female traditional rulers in African cultures. Though there is no general description of a "queen mother", as their roles have varied by society, political context, and culture, [1] they generally play an important role in local government and "wield social power and influence."[2]
They are thus an important part of social, political, and cultural institutions across the African continent: the Akan, for example, recognize them as important local political actors[3] and often trace inheritance through them in a matrilineal fashion;[4] whereas in Uganda, the term may be used to describe women who ruled outright.[5] The amount of power queen mothers currently hold has been diminished since pre-colonial times,[6] though the 21st century has seen their influence grow in certain contexts.[7] Many are members of the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network, a voluntary organization.