The traditional perception of African women is that they face grinding poverty and harsh cultural, traditional and social prejudices. Yet while it is true that African women are not equal to men, this is only one part of the story. For in Africa, women are fighting for their rights and they are fighting with grace, tenacity, and eloquence. In a rich variety of articles, the contributors consider topics such as women and conflict, the impact of current US policies on womens health in Africa, womens rights in Islam, and the implications of the Jacob Zuma trial for women in South Africa.

Patrick Burnett is the news and information coordinator for Fahamu and the coeditor of Pambazuka News. He has a background in journalism and is based in Cape Town, South Africa. Shereen Karmali isan editor with many years of experience in the nonprofit sector in the UK and Kenya.Firoze Manji is the founder and executive director of Fahamu and the editor of Pambazuka News. He is the former program director for the International Secretariat of Amnesty International and the former CEO for the Aga Khan Foundation UK."