In traditional rural Africa, women are usually subjected to the males of their families, both in patrilineal and in matrilineal contexts. However, their self-determination and the level of independence they can attain is undoubtedly different in the two types of society, above all due to the different solidarity networks they can either keep alive with their original kinship, or develop in their new reality once they get married. Schooling and education are clearly elements which can help the women’s empowerment, but they are not the only one. This paper presents an ethno-linguistic and anthropological analysis of the conditions of women in their childhood, adolescence, marriage and motherhood among the Ogiek of Kenya (patrilineal, Kalenjin) and the Kulango of Ivory Coast (matrilineal, Gur). In the last paragraphs, special attention will be reserved to those resilience strategies against the males’ supremacy, which the women in the two contexts have developed in ages of practice and which are, nevertheless, considered acceptable within their traditions and culture.
