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Women Defy Lake Victoria Taboos to Fish
20 Apr
Summary
- Women historically banned from fishing due to ancient taboos.
- Economic hardship pushed women to defy traditions and fish.
- Climate change impacts threaten fish populations and livelihoods.
In Kagwel, Kenya, women are breaking age-old traditions by taking to the waters of Lake Victoria for fishing. For generations, cultural taboos, including beliefs about menstruation causing fish to flee, barred women from this male-dominated activity. Rhoda Ongoche Akech, now 61, defied these norms in 2002, facing initial stigma but persisting due to dwindling income from fishmongering.
Economic pressures gradually encouraged other women to join. By 2018, Faith Awuor Ang'awo, followed by Dorcas Awiyo in 2020 and Janet Ndweyi in 2022, also began fishing. These women earn significantly more than they did as fishmongers, with potential daily earnings ranging from 500 to 8,000 Kenyan shillings.
However, the fishing community faces severe environmental challenges. Climate change is impacting Lake Victoria's ecosystem, leading to rising water temperatures, reduced oxygen, and a decline in fish populations. Experts warn of further reductions without mitigation efforts like pollution control and riparian land protection.
Despite their economic contributions and resilience, these fisherwomen lack official recognition. Kisumu County officials deny their participation as boat crew members, leaving them in a legal limbo. This situation persists even as research suggests a growing number of women are involved in fishing on the lake.
