ABSTRACT
This chapter therefore addresses how a culture of silence has undermined women development in Africa and examines the interface between culture of silence and development. It reviews the literature pertaining to issues, problems and policies associated with gender equality and inequality in Africa. Although power imbalance and structural inequality exist between men and women, the role of women in development in Africa cannot be overemphasized. So long as women continue to have less voice, less power, less control over resources and remain vulnerable to violence in their families and the society at large, efforts made toward reducing inequality and development will remain unfruitful. Silence by women means that women will continue to have minimal access to educational, economic, political and social opportunities. Finally, government should strengthen existing empowerment programs and initiate more so that more women will be educationally, socially, economically and politically empowered.
