Women in the Economy #2
Below the Baobab trees

In a small village in the fertile province of Kwanza-Norte, Angola, nestled under a grove of Baobab trees, I had the opportunity to meet a farming community practising collective agriculture. This approach is coordinated by the village elder, known as the Soba, from whom they rent machinery to maintain the land. The main crop is manioc, which thrives with minimal water and is eventually ground into Fuba, a flour used to prepare traditional Angolan meals. Some of it is kept for personal consumption, while the remainder is sold at the local market.

Primarily, it is the women of the community who engage in agriculture and ensure a bountiful harvest. In high spirits, chatting, laughing and singing, they led me to their fields. They were checking on the growth of the plants, inspecting manioc cubes laid out on canvases to dry in the sun, and harvesting what was ready to be eaten. I was struck by the positive energy of these women and their extensive knowledge and attention to detail. They showed me every plant, turning leaves to check their health and for potential parasite infestations.

I aimed to capture the cohesion of a community led by women, demonstrating how they support each other to strengthen both team and family spirit. Beyond their farming practices, we discussed childbirth. I learned that most women in the village give birth with the assistance of mothers, grandmothers and a highly experienced woman who, over the years, has acquired basic equipment and the status of a village midwife. Only in cases of complications do they seek external help, with men traditionally excluded from the childbirth process.

I was deeply impressed by the women’s independence in managing the village in a powerful, intuitive and distinctly female manner. I sensed that the men held great respect and pride for their women.