Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-21
Women's Rights In Africa.
q LADIES OF THE AKoNA TRIBE BRING THEIR Hus-
BANDS TO TRIMS.

WOmen's Rights In Africa
TIE LADIES OF THE AROMA TRIBE BRING THEIR Hus-
BANDS 10 rKRns
From the New York Sun.
Mr.. PAUL., who lived for some time In the Came
room region, West Africa, tells OF highly success
full womans rights movement while ago In the
AkoDa tribe, illustrating the fact that when
women unanimously assert them in savage lands
as well as elsewhere. they are q great power In
the community. In that benighted region women
are not supposed to have any rights. Wnen girl
Is thirteen or fourteen years old she SOLD 10 any
body who has property enough TO pay the price
her father asks for her. and thereafter she WORKS
like slave for her board and lodging, and Is sub
1ect TO all the caprices OF her lord and MASTER
Even the bondsmen In the community nave more
privileges than the free women, and some OF them
In time are able TO support rather extensive harems
OF their own.
1t happened that there were some strong minded
women among the Akona people, and they lifted
up their voices In public places In favor OF some
radical social reforms that would make the lot OF
Jeered at, as women reformers have been In some
oJner lands, and were advised by the superior sex
70 keep on digging In the nelds ana pounding n1 ing
not less tolerable. Reform was evidently not 10
be secured by any amount OF feminine protest.
heads together and decided UPON radical and far.
reaching measures
The tribe is q small one. Nearly all the adult
rights One Gay there was an enormous cOmmo-
ton in that little community. It was almost
Wuolly cOnnnoQ 10 the male pOpulaCOn. tne IdcL
being that there was hardly woman there to
share the excitement. The mothers and wives. In
most unexpected and heartless manner, had sud:
denly dropped their implements OF drudgery, and
WIN tne1r children In arms and marriageaDle
daughters had hed them through the forests to
the territory OF another tribe, where, at distance
OF eight or ten miles from their own garden
paCches, they were prepared to open negotiations
with the lordly chaps they had left behind them.
They knew beforehand that they would meet
with hospitable reception In the tribe with which
they TOOK refuge. II happened that this tribe was
well, and 1t tckled them half to death TO see the
pickle In which the AkOna men suddenly found
themselves. The women set themselves TO work
earning their daily bread, and waited without
DIT OF 1mpatience for an embassy from home. 1t
was not long before the embassy put In an ap-
pearance.
The Akona tribe was of the opinion that they
could not continue in business without the fe-
male members thereof, and they wanted the
women 10 come home The particularly strong
glad TO learn at last that the women OF their tribe
were regarded as desirable element OF the AkOna
people. As the women had taken care OF all the
men, IL was evident they were able to take care
OF themselves, and they hadn't the slightest in
tentlon OF going home except on certain important
oassy went home to consult the chief men, who,
as their haremS were the largest, were the great
est sufferers by the fight OF the fair sex.
Inc women stipulated that they would come
PACK considerable part OF the agricultural
dulles OF the community were in future turned
over 10 the slaves, II the mothers were permitted
10 nave something to say about the disposal OF
tnelr daughterS, and II several other conditions
were complied with. 1t did not take long for the
gentlemen s OF Akona to decide what to 90. day
having achieved a complete victory, and they have
Deen treated very well ever since,