ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the first generation of female economists in Africa. After an introductory overview, it addresses Southern Africa, East Africa and West Africa, highlighting female economists from each region. There is a short biography of each female economist from the respective sub-region in Africa, followed by their contributions to the economic history of their country. Pre-colonial West Africa economic literature focused mainly on trade, especially along the trans-Saharan trade routes. A few women published their own papers, notably in the South African Journal of Economics from its foundation in 1933. The chapter examines examples of such women: Hansi Pauline Pollak, Helen Suzman and Sheila van der Horst from South Africa. These were the first generation of university-educated women, members of the white liberal opposition to apartheid and outspoken opponents of the white supremacist National Party. Post-colonial literature indicates the growing female literacy levels in Africa as more and more women attained post-secondary education.
