Paper short abstract:

Based on field reserach conducted in the south region of Guinea-Bissau and on theoretical African perspectives, the paper seeks to discuss critically the achievements resulting from women’s participation in the liberation struggle

Paper long abstract:

The Portuguese speaking African countries- which are as PALOP (Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa)- and became independent in the mid 1970s, have experienced different historical and political pathways and have internal sociocultural complexities on their own.

Guinea-Bissau could count on women's contribution to the national liberation process. In spite of this, the post-independent period was arguably not followed by a political Agenda drawing from gender equity. Considering local differences, most women were confronted with the "betryal" of the promises made as far as the promotion of their socio-economic and political status in the following years was concerned. Based on field reserach conducted in the south region of Guinea-Bissau between 2014 and 2015 (interviews with ex-combatants and political leaders) and on theoretical African perspectives (AMADIUME, 1987; OYÈWUMÍ, 2005, 2010, 2015; ZELEZA, 2005; KOLAWOLE, 2002, 2004) on "gender" as central analytical concept that need to be reformulated/revisited/deconstructed since the category is also an epistemoogical problem and which logic of the social world cannot be seen as universally applicable, the paper seeks to discuss critically the following questions:

1- What are the achievements resulting from women's participation in the liberation struggle in Guinea-Bissau?

2- To what extent can (un)successful emancipation in Guinea-Bissau be explained by an understanding of gender as a concept (celebrated and defended by the nationalist narratives) which was/is (un)able to retrieve the local realities