Africa humbly boasts of a few first women. From the first African female Head of State, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, to Asnath Mahapa, the first African woman to become a pilot in South Africa, to Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first African woman to head the World Trade Organization (WTO), the list of Strong African Women continues to grow.

Other Strong Women of Africa include:

• Gisèle Rabesahala
• Miriam Makeba
• Aoua Keita
• Yennega
• Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
• Njinga Mbandi
• Taytu Betul
• Ory Okolloh
• Chimamanda Adichie
• Funmi Iyanda 
• Juliet Ehimuan

to name a few. More notables can be found on the various links in this post.

Digress

In honor of International Women’s Day, and to end the celebrating all women globally during the month of March being Women’s Month. (This post was first published in November 2020 and reposted March 2021. It was (and is) part of The Strong Women Series). Please read along, even if you read the initial post of each section of the Series as changes may have been made.

The Strong Women of Africa was the second of the Series.

Continuing: A little Geography

As you may, or may not, know, Africa is a continent comprising of fifty-five (55) countries spread across its northern, southern, central, eastern, and western regions; each having seven (7), five (5), seven (7), twenty (20), and seventeen (16) countries respectively.

For countries that make up each region of Africa, please click here.

This information is necessary to help visualize the magnitude of people we are attempting to highlight. It is therefore impossible to include every strong woman of the continent of Africa.

As previously stated, in our initial blog of the Series, several strong women are unknown. For example, the woman next door, your child’s teacher, or your favorite market woman might each be an unknown Strong Woman. Without each one of them, some things in life might not have been.

Nigeria, we hail thee

Nigeria is the most populous African country with a population of 206 million. It’s on the global map for several impacts, including but not limited to our featured Strong Woman.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (NOI), a Nigerian-American, is the Director-General of World Trade Organization. Madam NOI was in an acting capacity in the initial blog. Four years later, she’s still humbly etching her footprints nationally and globally. She’s also on Forbes 2024 list of powerful women, confirming that she is indeed a Strong Woman.

As previously stated, in our initial blog of the Series, several strong women are unknown. Most are heads of their households. Those who are married are overworked and inadequately compensated or not compensated at all. Those in the workforce are still grossly underpaid compared to their male counterparts working the same job. Changes still need to be made to ensure that women are adequately recognized and compensated for all that they bring to the tables.

Historic

In my research, I found a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) interactive of Women in African History. I love the interactives; I hope you do too. Unfortunately, this interactive only lists one woman per country highlighted. Click on any picture to view details of the highlighted woman; whom I have chosen to call the Strong Women of Africa.

We know that there are more Strong Women of Africa than the referenced interactive showcased. But I would rather not burden you with the encyclopedic information of these Strong Women of Africa. As you read, if you know or have heard of any Strong Woman, kindly include her in the comment. Let’s grow the list.

Modern

While the above highlights Historic Strong Women of Africa, This link, courtesy of Forbes, showcases modern notable Strong Women of Africa. Again, the list is not exhaustive.

Include other known names you’ve either read about, heard, or know(n) in the comments. Let’s honor these women.

The Firsts

African Women, like their global counterparts have defied several odds to attain their current pinnacles. From the first African female Head of State, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia (there has since been other African female Heads of States), to Asnath Mahapa, the first African woman to become a pilot in South Africa, to Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first African woman to head the World Trade Organization (WTO), African Women continue to graciously stamp their footprints on the sands of time. Yet, there’s still more Strong African Women needed to rise up and/or pass the baton on. I salute your courage and thank you for paving the way.

Thanks for reading. Like and comment if you please.