5 influential women in African history

The conversation surrounding influential moments and people in African history often focuses on the contributions of men leaving the vital efforts of women by the wayside.

Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba etc are the popular names that come to mind.

Hardly do women come to mind when thinking about Liberation movements or activists that have made a significant contribution in shaping African history.

Women have played key roles organizing decolonization struggles throughout Africa but rarely get the same amount of praise as male leaders.

Yaa Asantewaa- The Commander in Chief

No woman is known in the history of the African resistance to colonialism better than Nana Yaa Asantewa of the Asante state Edweso in Ghana. She was the military leader of what is known as the ‘Yaa Asantewa War’, which was the last war between the Asante and the British, during which she became referred to by the British as the ‘Joan D’Arc of Africa’. Although she did not enter combat herself, the troops fought in her name and she gave orders and provided the troops with gunpowder.

Funmilayo Ransome Kuti- Activist

Kuti was one of the key figures in the fight against British colonialism in Nigeria. She was the founder of the Abeokuta Women's Union— which was an instrument in protesting colonial taxation. As an activist, Kuti fought tirelessly for women’s right to political representation and to empower the most marginal segments of society

Queen Nzinga – The Reformist

Also, knows as Queen Jinga, she is known to have assigned women to important government offices in present-day Angola. Two of her war leaders were reputedly her sisters, her council of advisors contained many women. Among others her sisters, Princess Grace Kifunji and Mukumbu, the later Queen Barbara, and women were called to serve in her army. Nzinga organized a powerful guerrilla army, conquered some of her enemies and developed alliances to control the slave routes. She even allied with the Dutch to help her stop the Portuguese advancement. After a series of decisive setbacks, Nzinga had to negotiate a peace treaty with the Portuguese but still refused to pay tribute to the Portuguese king.

Ruth Williams, Lady Khama – The Motswanan

Lady Khama was the wife of Botswana’s first president, Sir Seretse Khama. She was born in Blackheath in south-east London and was the daughter of a retired Indian Army officer. Her marriage to the man who would become Botswana’s president was met with disapproval in Botswana, it enraged apartheid South Africa, and embarrassed the British government. Lady Khama was an influential, politically active first lady during her husband’s tenure as president. When Seretse Khama died in 1980, many expected that Ruth Khama would return to London. But instead, she became president of the country’s Red Cross.

Miriam Makeba – The Mother of Africa

Another prominently outspoken and visible opponent of South Africa’s apartheid regime was Miriam Makeba, also known as Mama Africa, and the Empress of African song. Makeba was not only involved in radical activity against apartheid but also in the civil rights movement and then black power.

Africa's most influential first ladies