Let me first start by saying that the month of March is one of my
favourite months in the year. Scratch that. The month of March is my favourite month in the year. You
may ask why. Several personal and professional events take place in March. All
my children have their birthdays in March; my mentor and friend, Carlos Lopes,
has his birthday in March; my wedding anniversary is in March (mental note to
self-buy a present); it is the independence anniversary of my motherland Ghana
and most importantly, we celebrate International Women's Day (IWD). The International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on the 8th
of March and in many countries is used to showcase the political and social
struggles of women worldwide in a hopeful manner. This year’s theme is “Planet
50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”.
Celebrating our own
As we celebrate International
Women’s Day 2016, I would like to pay tribute to one of the greatest women’s
organisations on the African continent. This organisation has dedicated its
existence to the continuous empowerment of the African women. Sadly, this is
one of the least known of the pan Africanist organisations, even though it is
older than the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU).
I personally was only introduced to this organisation a couple of years ago.
I wish to celebrate
the Pan African Women's Organisation (PAWO). PAWO was
founded in 1962, a year before the OAU was formed in 1963. This means that
whilst the men of the continent were debating whether African unity meant
economic unity or political unity (the now infamous Casablanca Group versus the
Monrovia Group), the women of the continent had resolved to unite and did
indeed unite, despite
the artificial barriers of languages, political opinions prevailing at the time.
Feminism in the Pan African narrative
The Pan
African Women`s Organisation, (PAWO) has a special place in African history,
being one of the oldest Africa wide organisations in the continent. But very
little is known about the inception and even the current work of the
organization. This is in contrast to the OAU where the founders are seen as
great men of vision and worth. We salute Kwame Nkrumah, Gamal Abdul Nasser, Sekou
Toure, and Julius Nyerere for the roles they played in the Pan African story.
Other freedom fighters such as Patrice Lumumba, Steve Biko, Cheikh Anta Diop,
Leopold Sedar Senghor, Amilcar Cabral, JE Casely Hayford, are named as standing
for the unification and liberation struggle.
Indeed, the
outcome of the liberation struggle affected both men and women. One question no
one asks however, is how come the narrative of African unity not have the names
of any of the many women who also sacrificed and dedicated their lives to the liberation
and emancipation of the African continent? Where were the women when the men
were purportedly making history? Why are there no women in our pan African
story? I do not believe it is as a result of indifference. Herstory (as opposed
to history) indeed tells us of many
women who dedicated their lives to support the push for independence and
African unity. We need to celebrate them.
Women of substance
Have you
heard about Mrs.
Jeanne Martin Cisse of Guinea who became first
Secretary General of PAWO? A distinguished diplomat, an extraordinarily
experienced politician in her home country and a mother of six, she broke many
glass ceilings for women generally and African women specifically. She became
the first female
President of the UN Security Council. At the ripe age of
80, she is still fighting the cause of women worldwide. In an interview in
1972, she is widely quoted as saying ‘…men didn’t liberate Africa by themselves. They did
need the woman’s part in the struggle...’. {word!}
Indeed, women
belonging to many liberation movements worked tirelessly through PAWO and other
political organisations to spearhead the struggle for political freedom and for
the full emancipation of women in our continent.
Another great foremother of African Unity is Madam Gertrude Mongella of Tanzania. Madam Mongella must be
celebrated and applauded. She was instrumental in the targets and achievements
chalked on behalf of all women at the Beijing Conference where she was the UN
chair, thus getting her the name ‘Mama Beijing’ and many other portfolios where
she has championed the cause of African women’s rights. She became the first
president of the Pan African Parliament and continues to play a strong role in
the general empowerment of women across the globe.
More
women of substance
As we celebrate IWD 2016, let us also celebrate the silent roles that
African women have played since the dawn of time in ensuring that our pan
African dream shall soon be achieved. May I use this opportunity to applaud the
work of women, both living and passed, that have supported the pan African
story and continue to support as we weave our destiny and that of our children.
Madame Ruth Neto, Ama Ghana, Queen Nzinga
of Matamba, Mrs. Diallo Virginie Camara, Empress
Taito, Winnie Mandela, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Yaa Asantewaa, Kaigiwara the
Nyabingi Priestess and many more women whose names and activities cannot be
found even on Google.
Do you
know any great women of herstory who contributed to African unity at a local
national or pan African level? Share your stories with me on teikosabah@gmail.com.
