African history has been shaped by numerous women who have made significant contributions in various fields. Despite facing numerous challenges and barriers, these women have emerged as leaders, pioneers, and trailblazers, breaking stereotypes and paving the way for future generations of women.
Women’s leadership is at the forefront of unfolding discussions at the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Across the continent, women leaders improve lives and inspire a better future for all. Yet, equality is still far off, and progress on women’s participation in decision-making is too slow.
At the current rate of progress, it will take 130 years to reach gender equality in the highest positions of power. To change course, power must be shared equally, made visible and accountable, at all levels, and that is what’s at the core of feminist leadership. We need transformative feminist leadership to face the unprecedented challenges of our times.
This article will explore the stories of some of the most prominent women in African history, their roles, achievements, and significance to African history, and the regions they come from.
The Untold Story of the African Queens Who Defeated Colonizers
Historical Figures of African Female Leadership
As leaders, priestesses, traders, cultivators, oracles, wives, and mothers, women have occupied key roles in the developments that have shaped the course of African history. The turbulent years following West and Central Africa’s initial contact with Europe were marked by the emergence of women revered for their formidable political skills and social vision.
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We know of these women-women such as Ana Nzinga, queen of Ndongo; Dona Beatriz, Kongo prophet; and Idia, queen mother of Benin-largely today largely through oral histories, artworks, and, significantly, contemporaneous European documents. There can be no doubt that important and celebrated women existed in other periods of African history, but prior to the era of contact with Europe, written records of their names and achievements simply do not exist. Indigenous narratives about them have not survived to the present day, or have yet to be recognized and recorded.
As the study of African history continues, however, the identities of other notable African women will surely be revealed.
Queen Nzinga Mbande (1583-1663)
Queen Nzinga Mbande was a powerful ruler of the Ndongo and Matamba Kingdoms, located in what is now modern-day Angola. She was born in 1583 as the daughter of the king of Ndongo. Nzinga fought against Portuguese colonization and played a crucial role in the resistance against their attempts to enslave the people of Ndongo. In 1624, she became queen of Ndongo after the death of her brother. She then formed an alliance with the neighboring state of Matamba, and in 1631, she became the queen of Matamba as well.
Queen Nzinga is known for her strong leadership skills, and she was a fierce warrior who personally led her troops into battle. One of Queen Nzinga's most significant achievements was negotiating a peace treaty with the Portuguese in 1657, which granted her people greater freedom and autonomy. She also worked to protect the rights of women, and it is said that she would execute any man who mistreated a woman.
Yaa Asantewaa (1840-1921)
Yaa Asantewaa was a queen mother and a member of the Ashanti Empire, which was located in what is now modern-day Ghana. She was born in 1840 and became queen mother of the Ejisu-Juaben district in 1880. In 1896, the British Governor of the Gold Coast demanded that the Ashanti Empire surrender its Golden Stool, which was a symbol of their sovereignty.
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Yaa Asantewaa rallied the people of the Ashanti Empire to fight against the British and led the rebellion, becoming the first woman to lead an armed rebellion against colonialism in Africa. Although the rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, Yaa Asantewaa's leadership inspired other African leaders to fight against colonialism. She is known for her bravery and is often referred to as the "Joan of Arc of Africa."
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900-1978)
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a Nigerian feminist, activist, and politician. She was born in 1900 in Abeokuta, Nigeria, and was the first female student at the Abeokuta Grammar School. Ransome-Kuti was a vocal advocate for women's rights and fought against British colonialism in Nigeria. In 1944, she founded the Abeokuta Women's Union, which aimed to improve the lives of women in Nigeria.
The union became one of the largest women's organizations in West Africa and was instrumental in the fight for Nigerian independence. Ransome-Kuti also played a significant role in Nigerian politics and was the first woman to drive a car in Nigeria. She was appointed to the Western House of Chiefs in 1954 and was a delegate to the United Nations in 1958.
Wangari Maathai (1940-2011)
Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. She was born in 1940 in Nyeri, Kenya, and was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctoral degree. Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, which was focused on planting trees and promoting environmental conservation. The movement has since explored innovative solutions for sustainable development and played a key role in the fight against climate change.
In 2004, Maathai became the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in promoting sustainable development, democracy, and peace. She served as a member of the Kenyan Parliament and as the assistant minister for environment and natural resources. Maathai's work has had a significant impact on the global environmental movement, and she is considered a pioneer in the field of environmental activism. Her legacy continues to inspire people around the world to take action to protect the planet.
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Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (1936-2018)
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician. She was born in Bizana, South Africa in 1936 and became involved in activism at an early age. She married Nelson Mandela in 1958 and was a prominent member of the African National Congress (ANC) during his imprisonment.
Madikizela-Mandela was an outspoken critic of apartheid and was known for her activism and defiance against the government. She was arrested several times and was subjected to torture and solitary confinement. In 1994, after the end of apartheid, Madikizela-Mandela was elected to Parliament and served as the Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science, and Technology. She continued to be an advocate for human rights until her death in 2018.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (1938 - )
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian politician and economist. She was born in Monrovia, Liberia in 1938 and became involved in politics in the 1970s. She was appointed as the Minister of Finance in 1979, becoming the first woman to hold the position in Liberia.
In 2005, Johnson Sirleaf was elected as the President of Liberia, becoming the first female head of state in Africa. During her tenure, she focused on rebuilding Liberia's economy, improving healthcare, and promoting education.
Johnson Sirleaf was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her efforts to promote peace and democracy in Liberia. She continues to be an advocate for women's rights and is involved in various international organizations.
Fatou Bensouda (1961 - )
Fatou Bensouda is a Gambian lawyer and the current Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). She was born in Banjul, Gambia in 1961 and received her law degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Bensouda worked as a lawyer and a senior legal advisor for the United Nations before becoming the Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC in 2004. In 2012, she was appointed as the Chief Prosecutor, becoming the first African and the first woman to hold the position.
As the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Bensouda has overseen investigations into various crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. She has been recognized for her work in promoting justice and accountability and has received numerous awards and honors.
Contemporary African Women Leaders
Here are just 10 African women leaders among many, many others, who inspire us, and this is what they have to say about feminist leadership:
Leading with feminist principles means redefining value and success, sharing power and credit, building community and relationships, and, ultimately, tackling the roots of oppressive structures and social norms that hold back progress for all people, including women and girls.
Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi
Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi are successful entrepreneurs and young feminist leaders from Nigeria. Recently, both were named in the Bloomberg 50 list of people who changed global business in 2020 and the TIME Next 100 list in February 2021.
Odufuwa and Eweniyi joined forces in 2020 to create the Feminist Coalition, which focuses on women’s rights and safety, economic empowerment, and political participation of women in Nigeria. For its first project, the organisation supported the #EndSARS protests that swept Nigeria in 2020 and organized a food drive for low-income women and their families.
“A feminist leader will recognize that all women and all men deserve equal opportunities to pursue fulfilling careers and lives, and put structures in place to help others live up to their potential and drive meaningful change,” says Eweniyi. “A feminist leader is empathetic and understands the importance of intersectionality,” adds Odufuwa.
What can leaders do to lead with feminist principles? Odufuwa says, “employ more women into leadership roles and pay women fairly; be willing to unlearn biases and listen to constructive feedback - then effect change; and be conscious of intersectionality.”
Emtithal Mahmoud
Emtithal Mahmoud is a world champion slam poet and activist for the refugee cause. Born in Khartoum, Sudan, “Emi” - as she is known among her supporters- immigrated to the United States of America as a child with her family. She uses her talents to shine a light on the experiences of millions of refugees worldwide.
“I use my words to raise the alarm on the conflicts of our time...in the hopes that someone might hear something that moves them,” says Emi. In 2016, she was named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and has visited refugee camps in Jordan, Uganda, and Greece, teaching poetry workshops and inspiring countless refugees to share their story.
Meaza Ashenafi
Meaza Ashenafi is the first female Chief Justice of Ethiopia and a trailblazer in many ways, mainly for legal advocacy through her work with Ethiopian Women’s Lawyers Association (EWLA), an organization she co-founded with like-minded young female lawyers. After finishing law school from Addis Ababa University, of which she was the only female graduate from her class year, she served as a criminal court judge, which allowed her to see first-hand how the laws were discriminating against women.
“When we founded EWLA 20 years ago, we did historic work of getting discriminatory laws, such as family law, citizenship law, pension law repealed. We brought the word ‘Sexual Abuse’ and ‘Sexual Harassment’ into the Amharic Language, as there were no words to describe them then”. Chief Justice Meaza is also a co-founder along with other female businesswomen of Enat Bank, the first bank in Ethiopia founded by a female-majority shareholders, which she co-founded after noticing there was lack of financial provision for women.
“Leadership for me is having a vision and striving to achieve it. Women need to believe that they can do whatever they set themselves to do, despite the society’s pressure and people telling them otherwise. You can only have the power to be a change maker if you believe in yourself,” she says.
Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo-Wondieh
Feminist blogger and humanitarian reporter from Cameroon, Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo-Wondieh is the founder of the NGO Women for a Change and a member of the civil society advisory group to the Generation Equality Forum.
In her work as an activist and as a reporter, Mbondgulo-Wondieh gives voice to Cameroonian women's perspectives on the country's development.
“We must not lose focus towards accelerating efforts like never before in increasing women’s voices, leadership and agency. The Generation Equality Forum provides us all … an opportunity to ensure that we be the first generation to be serious about realizing an equal future for all,” she said in her remarks at the United Nations commemoration of International Women’s Day 2021.
Glanis Changachirere
Glanis Changachirere, Zimbabwean women’s rights activist, is the founding Director of the Institute for Young Women Development (IYWD) and the founding Coordinator of the African Women Leaders Forum. She is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Zimbabwean chapter of the UN Women-supported African Women Leaders Network.
Raised in the deeply patriarchal, rural province of Mashonaland Central, Zimbabwe, Changachirere explains that it was the pain she experienced trying to assert that girls were equal to boys and deserved equal education and career opportunities that motivated her to start IYDW at the age of 26: “As young women, we need to redefine ourselves, both to ourselves and also to the society they need to see a young women in a different way altogether,” she says.
In 2013, Changachirere received the 30 Under 30 Democracy Award from the National Endowment for Democracy in recognition of her pioneering work on young women’s political participation. Today, IYWD is a movement of 7,000 young women members across rural and mining communities in the country. At the national level, IYWD is working with the Zimbabwe Gender Commission to introduce a Gender Equality Bill to challenge the cultural inequalities and injustices borne by young women in the country.
Farida Charity
Farida Charity, 36 years old, is a community leader and peace advocate supporting peace initiatives in the conflict-affected district of Yumbe, Northern Uganda.
Charity started her activism at a very young age, when she participated in the peace negotiations with the Uganda National Rescue Front which led to a formal ceasefire agreement between the rebels and the government in 2002.
Today, Charity is the speaker of the Yumbe District Council. For five years, she has been using her leadership position to advocate for policies that promote the peaceful co-existence between the refugee and host communities in the district, and to advocate for health services for women and girls. As the chairperson of the Council’s Women Caucus, Charity mobilized fellow women leaders to start mentoring programmes targeted at school-age girls from host and refugee communities, focused on preventing sexual gender-based violence, managing conflict and keeping girls in school.
“The things that women need sound simple but they are big issues especially in rural communities. Women need peace and access to health care services. The most important thing is to have peace, and to look at ourselves as human beings, regardless of gender, political, religious and ethnic backgrounds,” Charity says.
Munnira Katongole
Munnira Katongole is a young South African activist fighting for social change and climate justice. To all the young girls of colour reading this... you have every right to take up space. Occupy, fill and cement - unapologetically," Katongole says.
Alice Banze
Alice Banze, born and raised in Maputo, Mozambique, is a trained social scientist with a 25-year career in civil society organizations (Oxfam, Gender Links) and government. She is the Executive Director of Gender and Sustainable Development Association and a member of the UN Women-supported African Women Leaders Network.
In December 2020, Banze was elected member of the National Elections Commission with the support of the Women's Forum, an umbrella grouping of Mozambican women’s rights organizations.
The fact that the Commission is composed of only three women out of 17 should not constitute a reason for alarm, Banze explains: “Things are changing. Similar to the changes in the government, in parliament, in the judicial system and other areas of public life, the Commission will also have a fair representation of women soon.”
Banze dedicated most of her career to training women into leadership positions, and she will not stop until women in Mozambique will have equal representation: “More women in public life is critical because women play such an important role in the development of a country. Besides, there are protocols, treaties, conventions signed by the government to ensure there is 50 per cent representation of women in all decision-making processes at all levels.
The Impact of African Women on Black History
African women have been at the center of historical movements for centuries. From empowering enslaved communities to nation building on the continent, women in Africa as well as the Diaspora have effectively challenged dominant power structures, shifting the global realities of Black people. Mothers, daughters, sisters and wives, these ancestral women are honored for their commitment to affirming the right to exist and creating societies that are more just, while simultaneously advancing the rights of women long before, during and after the term feminism came into existence.
We must shift the way we understand agents and political actors in order to fully appreciate these women’s contributions. Collectively celebrating these women allows us to arrive at a clearer and more agential understanding of African women’s significant contributions to history.
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