African Women Judges

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 insurmountable challenges, and their stories will give you hope and confidence as they reveal how and why they are successful.

—Judge Ann Claire Williams (Ret.) , Federal U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Of Counsel and head of the Rule of Law-Africa at Jones Day .  

This book reminds us 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 

The narratives in this book are not just stories—they are life-changing, life-enhancing and life-enhancing.  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      

This book documents the pioneering spirits  and crucial voices of women judges, in transforming the legal landscape. 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.

—Meaza Ashenafi, Former Chief Justice of Ethiopia 

This edited volume centers the voices of African women judges as agents of justice and equality. The book’s legal and personal narratives approach privileges the lived experiences, professional trajectories, contributions and challenges of the judges profiled. This book significantly contributes to the diversity of knowledge and representation in the global discourse on gender and judging, offering another contribution to the growing literature on African women judges.

  J. Jarpa Dawuni is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Howard University, Washington D.C.