KWAME TURE ON AFRICAN WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP IN STRUGGLE

In this clip, All-African People’s Revolutionary Party (@aaprp on X) co-founder Kwame Ture (1941-98) reminds us that African women have consistently stood on the frontlines of resistance and leadership, both on the continent and in the diaspora.

For instance, Queen Amanirenas of Kush resisted Roman expansion by fighting Julius Caesar's army in 30 BC. Much later, in the 17th century, Angola’s Queen Nzinga Mbande (1583-1663) waged a war against Portuguese settler colonialists. In Ghana, Yaa Asantewaa (circa 1840-1921) led the resistance against the British. Meanwhile, the Dahomey Amazons, an all-female regiment in Benin, fiercely defended their kingdom.

By the same token, modern women have also questioned and stood up to oppressive powers. In the United States, for example, 77-year-old Black Liberation Army member Assata Shakur and civil rights activist Rosa Parks (1913-2005) played immeasurable roles in fighting for the rights of Black people against white supremacy. Meanwhile, 75-year-old Malawian human rights activist Joyce Banda and Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) shattered gender barriers, empowering many communities.

Throughout history, African women have indeed been at the forefront of our people’s fight for liberation, as Ture said, whether on the continent or beyond. Their continued contributions to the struggle must be recognised and valued.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/news/african-female-warriors

https://www.africanlibraryproject.org/african-women-whove-made-history/

https://www.loc.gov/collections/civil-rights-history-project/articles-and-essays/women-in-the-civil-rights-movement/