According to some African literature, in history African women have been considered as being passive, illiterate and fit only for the kitchen…it is no wonder some of these narratives still stick to hunt us. Advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century according to the United Nations. Climate change threatens women the most because we constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on natural resources. So maybe history is acting up with us or rather we are still living in the past.
As women are increasingly being recognised as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, examining opportunities as well as constraints to empowering women and girls to be equal players in decision making is crucial to the growth of our African continent. Previously, this column has focused on stories related to fashion, media and entertainment within the African context, this month it is important to highlight the politics of our continent as it begins to truly affect us all in manners we “may have, or not” predicted. I want to also highlight how important young people can be as a driver of political participation (and no, I don’t mean just online participation, i.e Slactivism on Twitter). The true drivers of politics I predict will be African women. I love the ideals of most African women, actually most women in politics around the world.
Here are some interesting women who have done and are still doing phenomenal work towards increasing political participation amongst women and young people in Africa. Feyikemi ‘FK’ Abudu, Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi are young successful Nigerian entrepreneurs and feminist leaders. In 2020 they were listed in the Bloomberg 50 people who changed global business and the TIME Next 100 list in February 2021. In 2020, FK, Odufuwa and Eweniyi joined forces to create the Feminist Coalition, a social movement focused on women’s rights, safety, economic empowerment, and political participation of women in Nigeria. One of their most notable projects include supporting the #EndSARS protests that swept Nigeria in 2020. Feminist Collision organised food drives for low-income women and their families. This idea should be the Africa we all fight to live in. An African community where our collective online participation lead to real action offline.
Another woman worth highlighting is Emtithal Mahmoud, a world champion slam poet and activist for refugee causes. She was born in Khartoum, Sudan, known among her supporters as an immigrant to the United States of America. She uses her talents to shine a light on the experiences of millions of refugees worldwide. In 2016, she was named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and has visited several refugee camps, some of which include Jordan, Uganda, and Greece, teaching poetry workshops and inspiring countless refugees to share their stories. Other than young African women, there is still a lot of wisdom to gain from our elders. You know who and what I love more than African first ladies, African female presidents. Know this name if you don’t already, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She was Africa’s first democratically-elected female president, leading Liberia through reconciliation and recovery following a decade-long civil war and responded to the Ebola Crisis of 2014-2015. She’s also internationally acclaimed for economic, social and political achievements during her administration. Currently 83 years old, this former president of Liberia, also holds a Nobel Peace Prize for her work empowering women. Today, she continues to be an influential voice for expanding women’s political participation and involvement in decision-making processes.
I believe most days we’re either worrying about our finances, COVID 19 (do we still worry about the pandemic?), the war in Ukraine, what to eat today, how to break bread, make that bread…worried about the economy, climate change, gender bias, the list goes on. While it is important to know the challenges we face in the world and highlight them to a wider audience, amidst all these issues, I hope we can all prove to some extent that we are, or at least trying, to be a part of the SOLUTION. Whether it’s through activism, poetry or politics we all should play to the tune we were destined to dance to. That tune that speaks greatness, unimaginable possibilities, empathy, truth and hard work. Just give women more chances, we already have the chance to some extent, women are progressing and organising themselves more than we ever have.
These women and their ideals have inspired my own thoughts of how I would like to contribute through conversation and action. Firstly, let’s accept the problem that poverty has a woman’s face, we need to do better highlighting vulnerable others. Advertisers can do better by telling the stories of woman, children, men, all groups of people without leaving an image/brand on a majority group with obvious powers to change narratives and alter history. The numbers are there and we know it. Secondly, the channelling of money to women should be our priority. The pandemic did a number on all of us and we need to make sure that vulnerable women are part of the digital economy. As the world shifts online, the risks of exclusion will grow for those without internet — exclusion not only from financial tools, but also for educational opportunities, markets and work.
Finally, women should influence politics, they always have, and always will, we just need to get more of us involved. It’s obvious that African women are ready to lead, and lead right with justice, passion and truth. Give us more seats at the table before we take them all, give more women chances and watch wonders happen.
At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach. This year for International Women’s Day, let’s claim “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.