Arawelo

Arawelo, also known as Araweelo, Araweilo, and Arraweelo, was a Somalian Queen of the 7th century AD.

History

Arawelo was a queen who ruled over Somalia. Her throne was passed down by King Abdullah. She was the first born out of three daughters and natural heir to the dynasty. Like many female rulers Arawelo fought for female empowerment she believed society should be based on a matriarchy. Arawelo was known to castrate male prisoners and she is one of the earliest female rulers who was seen as a figure of female empowerment like others before her such as, Cleopatra VII. The queen was well known throughout Africa, and the Queen of Sheba was said to send gifts in the form of gold coins as a congratulatory gesture, although she is usually placed in the 10th century BC.

The queen was well known for defying gender roles, and in the case of the Buraan droughts (before she was queen) she and a team of gathered women prevented the town from starvation and migration by hunting and fetching water. Arawelo's husband objected to her self-ascribed role as the breadwinner to all of society, he thought women should be subjected to their domestic duties and leave everything else to men. From then on Arawelo demanded that all women across the land participate in a strike that meant they abandon all chores and their womenly role in society and she started hanging men by their testicles.Fact|date=December 2007 The point of the strike was, so that men could experience child rearing and to create a role reverse in society, which she successfully accomplished (until she died).

Arawelo saw women as natural peacekeepers so in her eyes a role reverse was necessary. Growing up she noticed that men were more often once instigators, participators and conductors of war. She did not only fight for the liberation of women in feudal society but for the dominance of women as she saw them as better, more sufficient leaders.

References

*Hanghe, Folktales of Somalia (Uppsala, Sweden: Somali Academy of Science and Arts 1988)
*Ali Jimale, The Invention of Somalia
*Shafi Said, The Legendary Cruelty
*Affi, Ladan, Arraweelo: A role Model for Somali Women
*Mohamed Hassan. Sheekooyinkii Boqoradii Araweelo