The roles of aunt in traditional leadership

This contribution considers the role of a father's senior sister (makhadzi) in traditional leadership among the Venda speaking people in Africa.

It also considers their place in the new democratic Africa against the backdrop that the legislations enacted to give effect to traditional leadership did not recognise them explicitly.

While reviewing gender based propositions the study demonstrates that even though in most African societies, women are insubordinate to men there exists a special class of women who play critical role in the public sphere and whom the society highly regards.

In the case of Venda people these are the makhadzi. It used a qualitative approach to study the role of makhadzi and how people act towards them despite that they are explicitly recognised in the legislations because as an anthropological study, it examines human behaviour with a view to understanding society.

Based on primary data collected using participant observation and interviews, the role of makhadzi in society was unearthed. The study found that among the Venda the makhadzi has different roles which are important in traditional leadership and that such women can be traced in other societies in Africa.

It establishes that among others, the makhadzi play critical roles in succession, resolution of disputes, regency, initiation of girls and spiritual roles. While some of the cultural practises are repugnant to the notion of justice and morality and would be of dubious legality given the constitution essentialisation of human rights and dignity, the study has shown  that the makhadzi has a place and role in the new democratic society.

Download: THE ROLE OF MAKHADZI IN TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP AMONG THE VENDA