Women in the decolonisation of Africa

Women in the decolonisation of Africa

Nationalist den independence movements wey happen across Africa mostly get men as leaders, but women too play big-big roles. De kind roles women play insyd dese African independence struggles differ from country to country. Plenty women believe say dema own freedom dey connect to de freedom of dema country. Women join de anti-colonial fight in different ways, some organize protest for grassroots level, some share anti-colonial flyers den information, wey others support de struggle by dem dey give food den dey take care of wounded guerrilla fighters. Some women even carry gun den fight side by side plus de men for battlefield. As dem dey fight colonial power, na chaw of dese women face violence from colonial authorities, na dem arrest some, dem torture some just secof dem join de freedom fight. Even though women suffer den contribute plenty during Africa ein fight for independence, dem no dey show dema stories insyd mainstream history books. More times, dem no dey get de same respect anaa recognition like de men wey sanso fight for freedom.

Algeria

Even though people still dey argue about who really design de Algerian flag. Chaw people agree say Émilie Busquant, wey be wife of Algerian nationalist leader Messali Hadj, be de one wey sew de first version of de Algerian flag for 1934.

Ghana

Yaa Asantewaa I(1840 – 1921) be de Queen Mother of Ejisu insyd de Ashanti Empire, wey now dey part of modern-day Ghana. For 1900, she lead de Ashanti people go war against de British Empire. Dem call de war War of the Golden Stool anaa de Yaa Asantewaa War of Independence.

Nana Yaa Asantewaa know well-well de dangers wey British colonial rule carry come. Today, Ghanaians dey see am as one Queen Mother wey use ein political den social power defend ein kingdom. De way she take influence Ashanti men make dem rise fight de British be partly secof ein status as a matriarch. De Ashanti people follow matrilineal system, dat mean say dem trace family line thru de women. Dem believe say blood come from de mommie, wey spirit come from de poppie. For de Ashanti system, de Queen Mother be de chief ein sisto den head of family relations. Secof dis den ein warrior heart, Yaa Asantewaa lead de Ashanti people when things no clear. De way she call de women of de Asante Empire to action fi trace go back to de political responsibility wey Akan women get. Akan women play strong roles for law-making den settling matters. De men wey sit on stools (leaders) get dema female counterparts too. Insyd every village, de old women wey lead de matrilineal families, wey dem dey call mpanyimfo, sanso dey form part of de village council wey be ôdekuro. De lead woman, wey call ôbaa panyin anaa aberewa, handle women demma affairs den sanso join de council.

For big divisions, de male head be de ôhene, den de female version be de ôhemaa, she be female ruler wey sanso sit for council. De ôhemaa den ôhene all come from de same mogya, wey mean blood anaa family line. De Asantehemaa, wey sit on de female stool for Kumasi state, get big role for de whole Asante Kingdom. Just like de Asantehene get council, she too be part of de Kôtôkô Council, wey dey act as cabinet for de Asanteman General Assembly. Women wey dey hold stools no only help plus law den settling cases, dem sanso join in deciding war matters den how land dey share.

Nigeria

Nigeria gain independence from de British Empire on 1st October 1960. Before dat time come, chaw protests den actions against colonial rule happen. Nigerian women play big role insyd de independence struggle. Before independence, women organize demselves thru strong movements like de Abeokuta Women’s Revolt den de Women’s War, wey show say dem no go sit down make colonial rule continue.