The Ruler Archetype in African Myth and Folklore

About this episode

This episode explores the rulership archetype in African mythology and folklore from the perspective of women, in honor of Women's Day.

Hey Friends We’re on the fourth episode of the MA deep dive into Jungian archetypes in African myths, legend and folklore. We’re remaining focused on the rulership archetype for the month of March and the plan is to look at it from different angles. In this week’s episode (and to honor Women’s Day!) we’re going to talk about rulership in African mythology and folklore from the perspective of women. References * Franz, Marie-Luise von. The Feminine in Fairy Tales. United Kingdom, Shambhala, 1993. * Lewis, Jerome. Forest hunter-gatherers and their world: a study of the Mbendjele Yaka pygmies of Congo-Brazzaville and their secular and religious activities and representations. Diss. University of London, 2002, 175 - 176. * Schipper, Mineke. Source of all evil : African proverbs and sayings on women. Chicago, Bloomsbury Academic, 1991. * Korsah, Chantal. Yaa Asantewaa: Queen Mother of the Ashanti Confederacy * Ogwu, Matthew Chidozie, Moses Edwin Osawaru, and Rosemary Noredia Iroh. “Ethnobotany and collection of west African okra [Abelmoschus caillei (a. Chev.) Stevels] germplasm in some communities in Edo and Delta states, southern Nigeria.” Borneo Journal of Resource Science and…

People in this episode

Host: Mythological Africans

Topics covered

• Jungian archetypes
• African mythology
• women in folklore
• rulership archetype
• Women's Day

Keywords

• African myths
• folklore
• rulership
• women
• Jungian archetypes
• Women's Day

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Univ of Wisconsin Press, Harvill Press

Books & works: The Feminine in Fairy Tales, Forest hunter-gatherers and their world: a study of the Mbendjele Yaka pygmies of Congo-Brazzaville and their secular and religious activities and representations, Source of all evil : African proverbs and sayings on women, Yaa Asantewaa: Queen Mother of the Ashanti Confederacy, Ethnobotany and collection of west African okra [Abelmoschus caillei (a. Chev.) Stevels] germplasm in some communities in Edo and Delta states, southern Nigeria, African art and leadership, Africa Adorned

More episodes of Mythological Africans Podcast

• The Magician Archetype · April 13, 2026 · 9 min
• The Magician · April 6, 2026 · 12 min
• The Ruler Archetype in African Myth and Folklore · March 29, 2026 · 8 min
• The Ruler Archetype in African Myth and Folklore · March 23, 2026 · 12 min
• The Ruler Archetype in African Myth and Folklore · March 16, 2026 · 17 min
• The Ruler Archetype in African Myth and Folklore · March 2, 2026 · 25 min