African Women Judges

This edited volume centers the voices of African women judges as agents of justice and equality. The legal and personal narratives approach in the book privileges the contributors’ lived experiences, professional trajectories, contributions and challenges. The legal narrative storytelling approach also contributes to oral histories of African indigenous knowledge production and transfer. By highlighting the substantive representation of women in African judicial leadership, the chapters examine their impact on the development of jurisprudence, judicial administration, and contributions to the rule of law, access to justice, and women's rights in contemporary Africa. This book significantly contributes to the diversity of knowledge and representation in the global discourse on gender and judging, offering a novel contribution to the growing literature on African women judges.

“I know how invaluable role models are in developing young people and those already in the legal profession. We all need inspiration.  The stories in this book will inspire anyone who has a dream but sees a dark or difficult road ahead. These stories will light the way forward and give you the strength to persevere.  As you read these stories, you will cry, laugh, and experience sadness, joy and light. Each jurist overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges, and their stories will give you hope and confidence as they reveal how and why they have been so successful.” (Judge Ann Claire Williams (Ret.), Federal U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Of Counsel and head of the Rule of Law-Africa at Jones Day)

“Another pioneering book by J. Dawuni documents the presence and impact of women judges on and off the bench. The book combines storytelling through the voices of women judges with their judicial decisions and non-judicial contributions. It makes the case that when women tell their stories, they gain freedom, own their narrative and model excellence for other women. It is a compelling read for mentoring, training and promoting women’s leadership in law.” (Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkornoo, Chief Justice of Ghana)

“This is a great compendium of judicial narratives that showcase the fortitude, focus and impact of women judges as judicial officers. The narratives in this book are not just stories—they are life-changing, life-enhancing and life-enhancing. It is an essential toolbox of strategies for mentoring and leadership for women on the bench. Read it, model it, and practice it—judicial storytelling is indeed judicial freedom.” (Mandisa Lindelwa Maya, Chief Justice of South Africa)

“Dr. J. Jarpa Dawuni has crafted an extraordinary tribute to African women in the judiciary, highlighting their resilient journeys and unparalleled contributions to justice. This book does more than narrate; it documents, preserves, and celebrates the pioneering spirits of these judges, whose voices are crucial in transforming the legal landscape. With keen insight, Dawuni captures the intersection of gender, law, and cultural identity, creating a foundational work for scholars, practitioners, and advocates. This volume will inspire future generations, reaffirming the power of storytelling as a means of judicial freedom and historical legacy.” (Mrs. Meaza Ashenafi, Former Chief Justice of Ethiopia)

J. Jarpa Dawuni is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Howard University, Washington D.C. She is a qualified Barrister-at-Law before the Ghana Superior Courts. She holds a Doctorate in Political Science from Georgia State University. Her primary areas of research include judicial politics, women in the legal professions, gender and the law, international human rights, women’s civil society organizing, and democratization. Her recent books include: Intersectionality and Women’s Access to Justice in Africa (Lexington, 2022), Gender, Judging and the Courts in Africa: Selected Cases (Routledge, 2021), International Courts and the African Woman Judge: Unveiled Narratives (Routledge, 2018) co-edited with Judge Akua Kuenyehia and Gender and the Judiciary in Africa: From Obscurity to Parity? (Routledge, 2016), co-edited with Gretchen Bauer. She is the founding Director of the Howard University Center for Women, Gender and Global Leadership, and the founder and Executive Director of the non-profit organization, the Institute for African Women in Law. She is a two-time Fulbright Specialist Scholar, a Fellow of the French Institute for Advanced Studies (IMERA-Marseille), a Fellow of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS) South Africa, and a Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow. She has held Visiting Professor positions at Queens University, Canada; University of Jaume I, Spain; and Kings College, London. She is a multi-award-winning scholar, including the 2020 Justitia Awards-Academic Category by the Women in Law Initiative Vienna, the WOZA Women in Law, South Africa, and Outstanding Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, Howard University.