A basic introduction to African feminisms delivered as part of the MATI 2014 training organised by Ssonke Gender Justice and STEPS in Cape Town, South Africa

1. An ABC guide to ‘African
feminisms’
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
February 2014
University of Cape Town

2. Aïssatou Cissé, Senegal

3. Fatma Emam, Egypt

4. Kobina Graham, Ghana

5. Tina Thiart, South Africa

6. Eli Tetteh, Ghana

7. What do you think all these people have in
common?

8. They all identify as African feminists

9. • Who is an African feminist?

10. An African feminist
• At its most basic root: An African who is also a
feminist 

11. My definitions
Feminist: A person who works to disrupt patriarchy.
Patriarchy: A social system which privileges men
over women whilst reinforcing all other types of
isms.
Note: Patriarchy plays out contextually
Feminism is an ideology

12. AFF Charter
We have multiple and varied identities as
African Feminists. We are African women we live
here in Africa and even when we live elsewhere,
our focus is on the lives of African women on
the continent. Our feminist identity is not
qualified with `Ifs`, `Buts', or `Howevers'. We are
Feminists. Full stop.

14. Caroline Bazarrabusa Horn / Uganda
“I call myself a feminist because I am working
hard on becoming a politically effective one. I
believe that my commitment to feminist values
grows out of my genuine love and respect for
the woman who raised me and protected me as
a child…”

15. Codou Bop / Senegal
“I call myself a feminist because I believe in
equality for all human beings. My struggle as a
feminist is to achieve a society without people
being excluded because they are women, or live
with a disability, are old, or belong to what in
Senegalese society is called low caste... “

16. Isabella Matambanadzo / Zimbabwe
“I learnt feminism in our home and family from
my mother and my grandmother. It just wasn’t
called or named Feminism, be that with a capital
F or just an f. My mother and my grandmother
have, to me been the most beautiful women I
have ever known. I saw them show solidarity
and sisterhood to women …”

17. • How can you engage more with African
feminists?

18. Twitter
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#Afrifem
@blacklooks
@HakimaAbbas
@nas009
@elidot
@stillSHErises
@kobbygraham
@msafropolitan
@spectraspeaks
@DoaaAbdelaal
@Winnie_Byanyima
@spectraspeaks

19. www.africanfeministsrock.tumblr.com

20. www.msafropolitan.com

21. www.africanfeministforum.com

22. What’s new for African feminisms?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmA9uwh7
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