Despite the systemic limitations that has plagued the Black race and African women in general, many African women have distinguished themselves as dazzling beacons, leaving indelible footprints in the sands of time. This article sheds light on four of such women. Although there are so many other African women who have done very well in their chosen fields, these four are my personal favourites:
Wangarĩ Maathai
Wangarĩ Maathai was a Kenyan social, environmental, and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights. In 2004 she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
In her 2010 book, Replenishing the Earth: Spiritual Values for Healing Ourselves and the World, she discussed the impact of the Green Belt Movement, explaining that the group’s civic and environmental seminars stressed “the importance of communities taking responsibility for their actions and mobilizing to address their local needs,” and adding, “We all need to work hard to make a difference in our neighborhoods, regions, and countries, and in the world as a whole. That means making sure we work hard, collaborate, and make ourselves better agents to change.”
Maathai died on 25 September 2011, aged 71.
Brenda Fassie
Brenda Fassie was a South African singer, songwriter, dancer and activist. Affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she is also known as the “Queen of African Pop”, the “Madonna of The Townships” or simply as The Black Madonna. Her bold stage antics earned a reputation for “outrageousness.” The youngest of nine children, she was named after the American singer Brenda Lee.
With very outspoken views and frequent visits to the poorer townships of Johannesburg, as well as songs about life in the townships, Fassie enjoyed tremendous popularity. She also used her music to oppose the apartheid regime in South Africa. In 1990, she released the song “Black President” as a tribute to Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner and later the first Black president of South Africa. Some of her hit songs are: “Nomakanjani”, “Vuli Ndlela”, “Thola Amadlozi”, “High Class”, “Memeza”, “Msindo”, “Black President”, “Wedding Day”, “Zola Budd”, “Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu”, etc.
Fassie won five South African Music Awards: Best Female Artist and Song of the Year in 1999, Best-Selling Release of the Decade and Best Song of the Decade in 2004, and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. She also won three Kora Awards: Most Promising Female Artist of Africa and Best Female Artist of Africa in 1996, and the Jury Special Award in 2001.
Fassie died on 9 May 2004, age 39.
Agbani Darego
Born as Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite ‘Agbani’ Darego on 22nd December 1982, Darego is a Nigerian model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 2001. She was the first black African to win the title.
It started with her being crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2001. Darego was a contestant at Miss Universe and became the first Nigerian to place among the top 10 semi-finalists, finishing seventh overall. She was the only top ten contestant to wear a modest maillot as opposed to a revealing bikini during the swimsuit competition. In November that year, she became the first Indigenous African to claim the Miss World title (Past winners Penelope Coelen and Anneline Kriel, both of South Africa, are of European descent, and Antigone Costanda, who represented Egypt in 1954 is of Greek heritage).
Darego has judged numerous pageants, fashion and modelling competitions including Miss World 2014, Miss England 2002, Mr. Scotland 2002, and Elite Model Look Nigeria 2012 and 2014.
Buchi Emecheta
Buchi Emecheta was a Nigerian writer who wrote novels, plays, autobiography, and children’s book. She is known for her novels, Second Class Citizen, The Bride Price, The Slave Girl, and The Joys of Motherhood. Emecheta has been characterized as “the first successful black woman novelist living in Britain after 1948.”
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Emecheta’s themes of child slavery, motherhood, female independence and freedom through education gained recognition from critics and honours especially with her debut novel, Second Class Citizen. Her works often explore the themes of culture, and tensions between tradition and modernity.
Emecheta worked as a library officer for the British Museum in London. From 1969 to 1976, she was a youth worker and sociologist for the Inner London Education Authority, and from 1976 to 1978 she worked as a community worker in Camden, North London. Emecheta won the 1978 Jock Campbell Prize for her novel The Slave Girl.
Emecheta died on 25 January 2017, aged 72.
Kingsley Osajie
Kingsley Osajie is an Emissary of Light and a STRONG advocate for altruism, service to humanity, and compassion. He is a creative and artistic person. A heart-based, talented, outstanding, prolific writer. A media, ICT, and growth enthusiast. He writes in many categories. Kingsley is a published author of 6 books, and he is currently working on his 7th book. He has published a book about Black Lives Matter, Law of Attraction, etc. Kingsley’s books can be found on his online book store on Selar: https://selar.co/m/KayceeGold. When not writing, Kingsley likes to spend time in nature and sightseeing. He loves swimming, hiking, voyaging, ping-pong, gymnastics, watching WWE, documentaries of wildlife, music and watching nice movies. Kingsley is a Life, Spirituality, Culture, Inspirational, Personal Development, and Wellness blogger at www.kingsley-osajie.com.
