Where a woman rules, streams run uphill

An Ethiopian proverb envisions women’s leadership as streams flowing uphill: once dismissed as nearly impossible, yet achieved through extraordinary effort—raising the question of why it must remain an uphill struggle rather than a natural reality.

The Niles
February 6th, 2025

Imagine a world where streams defy gravity, flowing uphill against all odds. An Ethiopian proverb uses this rare image to explore the intricate dynamics between gender and leadership.

Some see it as a metaphor for women’s extraordinary ability to achieve what seems impossible—like making a stream run uphill. Others may interpret it as a reflection of societal scepticism, where both women’s leadership and uphill streams are seen as impossible.

However, natural phenomena like at Kenya’s Kituluni Hill show that streams can indeed appear to flow uphill, challenging our perceptions of what is possible. But is this incredible defiance of gravity real? Or is it a trick of the eye?

In the dual world of impossibility and illusion, choices are limited: women either achieve the unimaginable, or their leadership remains fantasy. True progress means moving beyond duality. Let’s explore the proverb from a fresh perspective, by flipping it on its head.

What if streams must run uphill for women to lead? This suggests that significant obstacles must be overcome for women to hold their power. The real question is: Do we want to create a world where women can live fully without having to defy gravity? If so, why?

The Niles journalists delve into what we collectively stand to gain when the limitations and barriers surrounding women are removed so that their—and our—basic human needs are fulfilled, not only to survive and live well but also to live free and belong.

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