Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Interdisciplinary Studies

First Advisor

Okpala, Comfort O.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the life experiences, spirituality and a sense of community, and cultural values that undergird the leadership praxis of a woman leader from Malawi, Africa. By accounting for the culturally-situated understandings of leadership and leadership practices of an exemplar woman leader of Malawi, Africa, narrative inquiry methodology (Chase, 2011 &, Clandinin & Connelly, 2000) was employed to create an interpretive framework with which to analyze interviews, stories, and field notes through the lens of an endarkened transnational feminist paradigm (Dillard & Okpalaoka, 2011). An endarkened transnational paradigm includes a sacred responsibility to bring forward this leader’s story; serving the way this study was approached as well as describing the action of doing the study. Thus, interweaving narrative inquiry and endarkened transnational feminism as theoretical and methodological frameworks bring life to herstory. A theme of spirituality as necessity, interconnectedness, and devotion to service and willingness to withstand hardship affirms the sacred approach to this compelling narrative inquiry. This study captures the perspectives of Anne Mary Fletcher as she shares her life stories on African feminism, spirituality, cultural, entrepreneurial, and political leadership praxis as a woman leader in our global community. The findings contained in this study are not generalizable, but there are words of wisdom that can be replicated throughout the globe. It is applicable for all researchers interested in how African women and women in the African American diaspora engage in alternative cultural discourse to document our truths.

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