Our March 19th fundraising event, “The Rise of Congo”, proved to be incredibly popular. There was a lot of pre-event publicity that led to a higher than anticipated turn out, and we do apologize to anyone who was not able to get in. It was a lovely evening, with comedian Eddie Kadi hosting and with many GMF supporters in attendance. There were wonderful guest speakers and a performance by the fantastic Congolese singer, Lokua Kanza. There was also a display of paintings by local Congolese artists and photographs by Richard Foulser.

You can still order the beautiful dresses and jewelry that were featured during our fashion show! A portion of the sale will go to GMF, just email info@gmfafrica.org for any enquiries and we can set up the order for you. Some of the paintings are still available as well! To see the dresses click here and to see the paintings click here.

2^ND EDITION OF LITTLE MALAIKA INTERNATIONAL

BOYS AND GIRLS LEADERSHIP AND MULTICULTURAL PAGEANT

Event to Benefit Girl’s Education and Autism in Africa

Each contestant, representing diverse cultures of the world, will be judged in three categories: personal introduction, talent and traditional wear, as they compete for the title of Princess and Prince Malaika. Little Malaika International has partnered this year with Warren Brown, celebrity entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and Host of the Food Network show “Sugar Rush.”

Autism Community of Africa (ACA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to raise awareness and support for African children living with Autism. For more information, visit www.autismcommunityofafrica.org

For further information on Little Malaika International, please visit www.littlemalaika.com

“Beginning today, the virtual doors are open for what could be the single most profound movement to elevate women of indifference around the globe. Her Story Matters has been established to give women of abuse and sexual discrimination a place to tell their story in an effort to build support, relationships and community for all women.” Harriet Khataba

London, United Kingdom – Her Story Matters Foundation, Harriet Khataba (Founder) is pleased to announce that today is the official opening of www.HerStoryMatters.com . Beginning today, the virtual doors open for what could be the single most profound movement to elevate women of indifference around the globe. Her Story Matters has been established to give women of abuse and sexual discrimination (All issues of Indifference) a place to tell their story in an effort to build support, relationships and community for all women.

Her Story Matters is dedicated to raising awareness for women’s suffering of indifference, by highlighting women from around the world, telling and showing their stories of overcoming cultural bias and by confronting common beliefs and practices of gender inequality; proving, through every story told, that women have every opportunity to celebrate their individuality, rights and freedoms of equally and personal spirit. Harriet is ecstatic and humbled to finally be able to help women of indifference across the globe, “It is with great delight that I can officially say that Her Story Matters is open and standing by to collaborate with women in a place that is safe to share their stories of challenges in their lives”.

HerStoryMatters.com is now standing by to promote global equality for women through mediums of Social Media, Crowdsourcing, Videos and other methods of public awareness: To serve as a testimonial of success to all women to empower others online and through broadcasting; To raise awareness for common abuses in gender indifference in western; Eastern and third world communities and tribes across the globe; To serve as a resource for all women seeking to overcome indifference from inequality, abuse, oppression and mistreatment; to become a marketplace leader for all things women through a for profit model of sales and affiliate ventures; to launch Her Story Matters syndication of media and online publishing; And, to celebrate Her Story… because every story Matters.

To obtain more information about this topic or to schedule an interview, please contact: Harriet Khataba  at harrietkhataba@herstorymatters.com, or www.HerStoryMatters.com

Dear Hon. Dr. Miria R.K. Matembe,

Today I reflect on that moment when I first had a touching encounter with your words in the 1990s. Politicians, activists …talk outrageous words and it is the usual. Your stern statement “Men are in possession of a potentially dangerous instrument which should be cut off unless it is properly used”, “castrate men who defile and rape girls and women” will remain a landmark. This took many people by shock. But this was a reflection of the outrage of the affected. Like the saying goes ‘When a dog bites a man that is not news, but when a man bites a dog that is news’. This was the situation.

I remember as a young lady, these words of passion, energy and voice put me in a sober moment to gather myself and rethink what really was contained in your words. From then, I began to follow keenly debates on gender issues and this has shaped my personality, broadened my judgment and understanding generally.

Indeed today, I have no doubt that your ability to voice the universality of women issues and consistently stand up against unjust situations that need correction, without compromising the need to contextualize women’s oppression in different settings, has yielded positive results.

No wonder you have earned a gallery of strong adjectives describing you. “You are: a professional conversationalist, political evangelist, senior concerned citizen, avant-garde preacher, governance specialist, hard core, bitter truth vendor, moralist, women rights activist, avowed feminist, voice of the voiceless African woman, wife, mother, …name it, the list is endless”.

Dr Miria Matembe, you are one of those brains that has shaped the legal environment and constitution of Uganda and, today, we have one of the best gender sensitive constitutions in the world. To date, at least one third of women are in political offices. You have made women visible and audible.

While in Parliament you stood up and demanded fair treatment of views of women to be heard and not treated as intruders in the House. To you, it was serious business in Parliament; hence you were labeled “alarm-clock” for waking up sleeping Members of Parliament. You were vocal against use of sexist remarks and promoted use of gender-neutral language in Parliament. Today, women can stand up and demand to be respected and heard (including myself) in any sphere of life without being shut down.

Hurray! You championed the ‘1.5 Struggle’ on the education of the women and girls in Uganda. The introduction of affirmative action for girls’ education is a policy that enabled me to pursue my university education. Many women will attest to benefiting from the 1.5 additional points for admission into an institution of higher learning. Otherwise, I would have not joined university then.

You championed the amendment on spousal co-ownership of the marital home and land used for daily subsistence of the family in 1998. You put up a spirited fight that saw the Domestic violence Act; the Female Genital Mutilation Act and the Trafficking in Persons Act passed. To date, refund of dowry and Female Genital Mutilation are outlawed. I now understand and value that I’m not commodity or a good to be priced and paid for, neither is my daughter.

You have always stood for the truth such as opposing the constitutional amendments that did not favor democratic principles of governance in Uganda such as removal of Presidential term limits something you termed a form of corruption. As minister of Ethics and Integrity, you were vocal on corruption and called for zero tolerance and stern action on all those found unethical and corrupt. I today appreciate that it is women and children who suffer most from the effects of corruption and detest corruption.

You started and have continued mobilizing women to participate in development, leadership and politics when society saw this as insubordination and taboo. A multitude of women have over time gained the courage to take leadership and political offices at all levels and founded organizations. I remember while at university, every Friday, your organization ACFODE held meetings with undergraduate girls grooming us for leadership roles. To date many of us are in various leadership positions in politics, organizations, and communities. It’s in these meetings that I started pursuing my leadership dreams and goals.

You have led this journey through bravery, faith and focus. We are already half way through the journey and we cannot break ‘Our pot of water’ when we are just at the door step. Together (men and women) we shall deliver the ‘Pot of water’ home. Together, we shall continue conquering unjust treatment, oppression and tyranny against women, one day at a time.

I will forever be grateful to you for inspiring women, with consistency, comprehension and grasp. You are an inspiration to me, many others and generations to come.

You are my HERO and CHAMPION. I celebrate your triumphs.

God bless the woman

Yours in the struggle

Grace Ikirimat
ikirimat@gmail.com

The husband of an Indian woman who died after being denied an abortion at an Irish hospital broke down in tears on Monday as he described how they pleaded that as Hindus they were not morally opposed to a termination that could have saved her life.

Praveen Halappanavar repeated his claim that a doctor, named at the inquest in Galway as Dr Katherine Astbury, told him that a termination could not be performed because “this is a Catholic country”.

His 31-year-old wife, Savita, died at University College hospital in Galway on 28 October last year, eight days after being admitted. She had been 17 weeks pregnant. Her case has become the focus of international debate and protests over Ireland’s strict laws on abortion.

Halappanavar told the inquest that he and his wife had been sent home from the hospital on Sunday 21 October, but returned a couple of hours later because she was in severe pain. He was later told that his wife was miscarrying.

“Savita was crying loudly,” Halappanavar told the court. He said a doctor told him: “‘You have to be brave’ – he said the baby won’t arrive. Both of us were shattered – we didn’t know what to do.”

The following Tuesday when they returned to the hospital, Halappanavar said, they both asked the medical team to perform a termination. In total the couple made three requests for an emergency termination, he said.

“Savita asked for a termination two times. Savita was in tears. She said she could not take it. The doctor did not come back that day,” Halappanavar said. “Savita asked a doctor when she could plan the next pregnancy. She was told she had to get well first. She wanted a termination; she wanted it before her parents arrived back in India and started telling people she was pregnant.”

Halapannavar said his wife then asked Astbury on the Tuesday for the termination. He claimed that the couple were told: “This is a Catholic country – we cannot terminate because the foetus is still alive.”

He said his wife then told the doctor that she was a Hindu and not an Irish citizen.

Declan Buckley, the senior barrister for the hospital and for the Republic’s Health Service Executive, said there were differences between what Halappanavar said happened and the hospital’s account.

Halappanavar claimed to the inquest that retrospective entries had been made in the medical notes.

The inquest has been told that the evidence of Astbury, a consultant obstetrician, will say there was only one discussion about a termination, on Tuesday 23 October.

Astbury says a termination was not warranted at that time as there was no threat to Mrs Halappanavar’s life.

The inquest, chaired by Dr Ciaran McLoughlin, continues.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010

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This article titled “Mali becomes first African country to give away domain for free” was written by Afua Hirsch, West Africa correspondent, for The Guardian on Monday 8th April 2013 17.50 UTC

Its domain currently ranks 177th in the world, less than half of the country has mobile phone coverage, and only 4% of the population are online. But Mali could be set to become one of the world’s most popular internet destinations after it became the first African country to give its domain away for free.

Mali announced on Monday that its little known .ML domain – which is currently used by fewer than 50 active websites – will be free from July, in a move which it hopes will bring much needed outside investment, and give a boost to Malian businesses.

“We are proud to be the first African nation to give domain names for free,” says Moussa Dolo, general manager of Mali’s Agence des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication (AGETIC). “By providing free domain names to internet users worldwide, we will put Mali back on the map. We wish to show the rest of the world the fantastic opportunities our country has to offer.”

The new scheme is being operated by Freedom Registry, the company which operates a similar .TK system for Tokelau – the tiny cluster of coral atolls in the South Pacific with a population of less than 2,000 – but which is now the most popular domain name in the world, with more active domain name registrations than Russia and China combined.

“If you look at the Tokelau experience, most registrations for .TK are coming from Turkey – whose name corresponds to the letters,” said Joost Zuurbier from Freedom Registry. “And they are coming from many other emerging economies – China, Vietnam, India – they have a real need for domain space because other domains are full. .com is already taken, and if you want .cn you have to show your ID to the Chinese government. That’s why people have been using .TK – it’s a free alternative, and now .ML will be just as attractive.”

Interest in the .ML domain is expected to come from a number of countries, including Manila in the Philippines, and Malaysia, attracted by the resemblance between the letters and their own names.

Mali’s attempt to revamp its online presence comes as its economy has been devastated by an ongoing conflict, in which an international military intervention has been battling al-qaeda linked insurgents who seized control of the country’s north a year ago.

But some questioned whether the move could really make a difference in a country where internet access and disposable incomes remain low.

“I think the .ML domain free registration process is a good idea on paper and could shed positive light on Mali which is sorely needed,” said Tim Katlic, founder and editor of oAfrica.com, which tracks internet progress in African countries, reports that Mali is experiencing steady online growth. “But in reality, I don’t think it will pan out as expected, since Mali’s Internet users aren’t ready for content creation – they have limited desktop usage, lack of income to afford web hosting even if domain is free, heavy reliance on international social media sites instead of local ones.”

But Freedom Registry said that Mali would also attract extra revenue from the move, with advertising income from domains which lapse split between the company and the Malian authorities.

“Currently we add about 20% to the GDP of Tokelau, and although it is a small country, Mali is much bigger and the potential is huge,” said Zuurbier. “But its not only about the money – to Mali it’s the infrastructure we provide.”

“In the past countries needed to invest heavily in equipment to increase their internet traffic, but now it all exists in the cloud – so its a service that we can provide for them at no charge in Mali. It’s a win-win situation where everyone in Mali will get their domain name for free, internationally people can register domains in Mali for free, and Mali doesn’t have to invest but can still get a lot of international business.”

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010

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Kate Kibarah was once the chubby girl who got called names in school. After losing the weight and gaining the confidence and admiration of numerous inquisitive minds, she set out to change the way Kenya and the rest of Africa thinks about their bodies and their eating habits. Meet Kate Kibarah, founder and CEO of Kate’s Organics. Healthy living is her passion, and her vision is to help every individual she encounters to experience the body and health they want and deserve.

Name: Kate Kibarah (Clinical Nutritionist & Colon Hydrotherapist and Health Coach)
Position: Managing Director & CEO at Kate’s Organics & Rejuvenate
Short Story: Healthy Living is a passion of mine. It is my calling. My vision is to help humanity experience the body and health they deserve and to keep people healthy through adopting a healthy lifestyle. I want people to be healthy because health is God given if we could only do what is right. This is what has driven me to be who, and where, I am today. I started the whole healthy living experience on myself by losing weight and adopting a healthy lifestyle. People close to me noticed the transformation and began asking question, and slowly like a ripple in the water, I started teaching small classes on healthy living and within no time started my consultancy service doing lectures, TV and radio programs, a colonic hydrotherapy service, packed health products and so on.
Age: Not revealed
Country of Birth: Kenya
Country of Residence: Kenya
Education: Clinical Nutrition and Colon Hydrotherapy
Marital status: Single
Role Model: Eleni Gebremehdin, former CEO of Ethiopian Commodity Exchange. She is an astute leader and entrepreneur who single-handedly built the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange as a model for the rest of Africa.
Favorite Thing to Do: International Travels & meeting people who challenge me vertically.
Favorite Dish: Githeri cooked by my mother
Guilty Pleasure(s): I plead the 5th
Last Book Read: A book by John C Maxwell on leadership
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/KateKibarah and www.facebook.com/katesorganics
Twitter Handle: @KateKibarah
Website: www.kateorganics.co.ke

“The crucial balance of harmony of body soul and mind is also essential to attaining a healthy lifestyle. Success in keeping a good balance will to a large extent yield the desired results. I would advise that you keep (guard) your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit – if you share my faith. A tailpiece – If you do not take food like medicine, you will certainly end up taking medicine like food!”

Tell me a little bit about your personal background.
I am a God fearing, patient and tolerant woman. I am also a self-driven person full of drive and passion for healthy living and wellness.

How, and why, did you start Kate’s Organics?
I grew up as an obese child and I was often called ‘balloon’ by other kids. Kids can be so mean. As I grew older, I changed my lifestyle and people took notice and began asking me what I had done to lose the weight. I started as a health consultant offering a healthy lifestyle advisory service and a colonic hydrotherapy service involving specialized health training courses, lectures and presentations for corporations, social networks and groups targeting both men and women across different age groups from children through to senior citizens. Before long, I was offering health programs on TV and Radio and even founded a virtual lifestyle health club, but most of my clients could not get access to healthy, organic foods which I often recommend. In response to the growing need to provide a broad range of solutions to improve human health and well-being and to promote a healthy lifestyle across Kenyan society, I started Kate’s Organics offering an integrated set of organic health products and services to include both consultancy and advisory aimed at transforming lifestyles into healthier ones. 

In your experience, what do you think healthy living means to Africans (Kenyans specifically)?  Healthy living means to live a healthy lifestyle. It is a composite lifestyle that promotes longevity and sound health (body mind and soul). It therefore consists essentially of how you build your nutrient intake and how they are metabolized! It is the net result of our body’s metabolic process that contributes to the physical, physiological and ultimately anatomical outcomes of the body part of our being. Consequently, what you bring into your body determines what kind of metabolic results you obtain. It should be pointed out that we are as different as we look because the greater parts of the metabolic pathways we adopt are a function of our genetic make-up. That is why someone eats 20 Hamburgers in a week and his weight is unchanged and the other eats one in a week and he’s got to work that single burger out of his body.

The crucial balance of harmony of body soul and mind is also essential to attaining a healthy lifestyle. Success in keeping a good balance will to a large extent yield the desired results. I would advise that you keep (guard) your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit – if you share my faith. A tailpiece – If you do not take food like medicine, you will certainly end up taking medicine like food!

What are some of the consultancy services you provide and who do you typically provide them to? Well, we offer consultancy in all areas of healthy living, nutrition and wellness. This includes a colonic hydrotherapy service, lectures and trainings on healthy living, programs on TV and radio, and articles in the print media. I have also written books (one a recipe book) on indigenous foods. We also offer one-on-one consultancy on weight loss, disease prevention and management. My clientele base is basically everyone, especially the health conscious.

The consultancy and advisory service aims to promote human health and well-being through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. Bad eating habits and lifestyles are identified and dietary solutions are recommended on both a group and individual basis. We also promote and educate on the importance of eating organic foods. We provide specialized training courses, lectures and presentations for corporations, social networks and groups targeting both men and women across different age groups from children through to senior citizens.  We also invite clients to join Kate’s healthy lifestyle virtual club and receive online advice as well as attend specialized talks.

Describe the most challenging part of running an organic food business in Kenya.
From our experience, consumer information, knowledge and sensitization systems on the whole discussion on organic products is very weak. We still have a long way to go when it comes to convincing the consumer of the benefits of organic products as premium wholesome products. Sometimes, cheap can be expensive! However, venturing into such a heavily challenged market can be discouraging. I am thus left with my conviction that informing the wainanchi on the long term benefits and wholesomeness of organic products will significantly grow the market. This is my present consolation. I believe the future is organic.

How involved are you with local farmers, and what are some of the benefits they stand to gain by doing business with Kate’s Organics?  Do you see any glaring challenges for local farmers?
We work with teams of single mothers and widows in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania who grow the organic foods for us. We support them with everything necessary for their farming needs from providing seedlings, technical knowhow to trainings or any other service necessary that they require. This has benefitted the farmers too because they now have a market for their produce. We also provide schemes for the farmers to offer various forms of support mechanisms. In general, I think the main challenge for local famers everywhere is lack of the technical know-how and much more so having no access to markets for their produce.

Tell me a little bit about two of your best selling products and their benefits.
All our range of products are best-sellers, especially the anti-oxidant teas. I can say our moringa tea and Kate’s Organics moringa oleifera powder.  

Moringa is widely known for its health boosting properties, thus acquiring the name ‘Never Die’.  Kate’s Organics Moringa Oleifers leaf powder is the absolute super food power packed with many nutrients, vitamins and minerals. It is a source of incredible health benefits and a wealth of essential disease preventing nutrients. It is absolutely the ultimate, natural, organic, energy and endurance health supplement making it the most powerful anti-oxidant.  Kate’s Organics Moringa Leaf powder is that super food that helps to keep our bodies protected and healthy naturally. We need this type of healthy supplement in our diets every day to ensure that we are getting the vital nutrients that we need for healthy bodies to fight and/or prevent diseases.

As much as I said they are all best sellers, Kate’s organics Green tea is also a flag bearer. Green tea is known to be the tea with the highest number of antioxidants and phytochemicals as well as other important nutrients, vitamins and minerals.  Kate’s Organics Green Tea is a great tea with many healthy benefits. Generally green tea is known and has been used for centuries in health maintenance.  Kate’s Organics Green tea is amongst the best in the Country and just like our other products it is organically grown.

One of the main functions of Kate’s Organics Green tea is raising the body’s metabolism which in turn helps in increasing the efficiency of body functions. It also increases fat oxidation and fat metabolism and maximizes the body’s fat potential thus aiding promoting weight loss, a well known property by many. Excess body fat is associated with obesity, high blood pressure, cancers, diabetes and even heart disease. Getting rid of the bad fat from your diet and in your body is very important for ensuring a healthy body.

If you could tell an aspiring business woman to invest in just one thing, what would it be, and why?
My investment preference is all about LIFE and LIVELIHOODS. Not necessarily of a fiscal nature, I focus on the end rather than the means. As a woman myself, I place a premium on strengthening livelihood potentials of the vulnerable in our population. That is why I employ only socially challenged individuals -orphans, the despised and outcasts (for want of a better word etc) and I positively facilitate wealth creation and livelihoods for the socially challenged and vulnerable groups. In other words, people who would otherwise be unable to make ends meet are being offered to do so – as my main clientele in sourcing my primary products.

Funke Bucknor-obruthe went to school to become a lawyer. It’s what her parents wanted her to become, but she knew she was better at and passionate about something else. Her track record as a lawyer (four weeks in a law firm, a few months here and there dabbling in communications and advertising) is evidence that this brilliant, detail-oriented, organized and successful event planner wasn’t born to practice law. She was born to plan events. And boy is she good at it! Twelve years ago, Funke helped a friend plan her wedding and never looked back. She has been living her dream ever since. Today, Funke Bucknor-obruthe is a trend-setting, premier event planner in Nigeria, and founder of Zapphaire Events, an independent, full service event planning enterprise, delivering high quality services through highly qualified and competent staff.  Zapphaire Events has planned and organized many high profile events in Nigeria to date. Meet Funke Bucknor-obruthe, business woman, wife and mother to two lovely girls.

Name: Funke Bucknor-obruthe
Position: CEO Zapphaire Events
Short Story: About 12 years ago, just after law school, I got the opportunity to help my friend and her sister with her wedding. That’s where it all started. We got great referrals from everyone and 12 years later…voila!
Age: 36 years-old
Country of Birth: Nigeria
Country of Residence: Nigeria
Education: University of Lagos and Nigerian Law School in Abuja
Marital status: Married with two lovely girls
Role Model: A lot of people are my role models, such as Oprah Winfrey
Favorite Thing to Do: Reading and watching television
Favorite Dish: I absolutely love indomie noodles
Guilty Pleasure(s): Ice-cream and cheesecake
Last Book Read: My last book read was by Robin Sharma
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/funke.bucknorobruthe
Twitter Handle: @funkebucknor
Website: www.zapphaire.com and www.furtullah.com

“The most challenging part of my job is people management, staff retention and the constant need to excel in an environment that allows mediocrity.”

How did you get started in event planning?

A bit accidental really. I absolutely loved planning events, so about 12years ago just after law school, I got the opportunity to help my friend and her sister with her wedding. We got great referrals from everyone.

Explain the name Zapphaire Events. What’s the inspiration behind it?

Wow the name ZAPPHAIRE Events; I was just sitting in front of my system one day when I thought about the sapphire stone. I thought why not spell it with a “z” and the additional “a” was accidental. So it’s really unique.

How long have you been in the business of planning events, and what are some of the ways you’ve seen the industry evolve over the years?

I’ve been in the industry for 12 years, and I’m one of the pioneers – there was only one other person in this professionally at the time I got started. The industry has grown immensely, from just me and Lara to everyone now becoming planners. Even the service providers and vendors in existence now are very different from what they were back then.

Lighting is a big part of events now and decor has changed. The banqueting aspect has totally changed also. So much has changed, and to be a part of that history and change is humbling.

When did it first hit you that you were successful and finally living your dream?

Hmm success; I don’t even know if I can say we are successful yet because we are still evolving and developing. But we have trained so many other planners who now own successful businesses so maybe that defines success.

Also just living my dream is a blessing. I love planning events, it’s always been my passion and so to do that and get paid for it is great.

Describe the most challenging part of your job.

The most challenging part of my job is people management, staff retention and the constant need to excel in an environment that allows mediocrity.

You have planned some really high profile events in Nigeria. Is there ever a time when you get a call and you can’t believe whose event you’ll be planning next?

I get excited every time I get a call. Maybe a little more super excited about some than others, but the feeling is generally awesome all around.

In March last year, you published The Essential Bridal Handbook, making you a published author in addition to being an event planner. What inspired you to write a bridal handbook tailored towards the Nigerian bridal market? Do you believe it has served its purpose?

There was a need in the Nigerian market for brides to get help with planning their own weddings, or to have proper insight on what to ask and do and expect. There were a lot of assumptions on either side, from the client’s perspective and also from the vendor’s perspective. That needed to be corrected.

Also, the book is a journal, so you can write in it. It also has a checklist to help dot all i’s and cross the t’s. It also has great tips from established and experienced vendors.

It has definitely served its purpose; the reviews have been more than awesome.

If you could tell an aspiring business woman to invest in just one thing, what would it be, and why?

Invest in ideas and people. Thanks so much, Funke Bucknor-obruthe

Picture from http://blackhistoryheroes.blogspot.com/2010/05/queen-mother-nana-yaa-asantewaa.html

In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) which is commemorated every 8th March, I pay this tribute to the legendary Yaa Asantewaa, a great African traditional ruler and probably the greatest of them all in the last century. Many people have commented positively or negatively on Yaa Asantewaa without a proper knowledge of the historical and political circumstances under which she emerged to become the icon that she is. In the typical Ghanaian fashion, tribal sentiments are the overriding factor in deifying or demonising leaders. Yaa Asantewaa is no exception to this rule.

My wife queried me about not acknowledging IWD a couple of days ago. I told her it was demeaning to women to be given one day in a year, leaving the remaining 364 days for men. That is not my reality and I also believe not the reality of millions of Ghanaians and Africans who will tell you the crucial role played by their mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunts in their everyday life. They celebrate every day in honour of these great women in their life. The Europeans fought their first war and called it World War 1, the second war and called it World War 2, now they make the whole world celebrate what is effectively the celebration of their women’s emancipation as International Women’s Day (IWD).

A brief historical account of the evolution of 8th March celebration juxtaposed against the story of Yaa Asantewaa will hopefully enable us to see the power and liberty of the African woman within the global context of women liberation and therefore how IWD should be celebrated in Africa.

On February 28, 1909, the first national Women’s day was celebrated in the US as a follow up to a declaration of the now defunct Socialist Party of America. In August 1910, delegates at the International Women’s Conference in Copenhagen organised under the auspices of the Socialist Second International and proposed the establishment of an annual International Woman’s Day as a strategy to promote equal rights, including suffrage for women. On March 18 1911, IWD was marked for the first time in many countries in Western Europe. In Vienna for example, demonstrators carrying banners demanded to be allowed to vote and to hold public office. Russia celebrated its first IWD on the last Sunday of February of 1913 and China declared in 1949 that 8th March would mark IWD. In 1977, The UN proclaimed 8th of March as the UN Day for Women’s rights.

Yaa Asantewaa, born in 1840, was made Queen Mother of Ejisu, a state in the Asante Kingdom, during the tenure of her brother Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese as Ejisuhene or Chief of Ejisu. As you will recall, Asante had been formed as a federation by Anokye in 1701 and by 1742 had expanded through war to occupy present day Brong-Ahafo, the three regions in the north and some of the southern and coastal states. The relationship with the coastal states invariably brought Ashanti into conflict with European powers especially the British over territorial claims and trading routes. Many wars were fought between the British and its allies on one hand and Ashanti on the other.

It was the threat of Ashanti and its incursions on the coast that forced the coastal states to sign the Bond Treaty on 6th March 1844 with the British. That treaty turned the previously independent coastal states into a British protectorate and that began the colonisation process. It is important to note that Europeans had been on our coast since 1472 and had signed several treaties with local tribes but never directly involved them in the day-to-day governance of these tribes until March 1844. It is therefore reasonable to deduce that the primary concern of Europeans on our coast was economic. Politics became a convenient tool to expedite economic gains and we foisted it on the British. They did not have to fight to colonise us. We went to ask for protection from them.

After the first Anglo-Asante war which ended in 1831 during which Sir Charles McCarthy and Ensign Wetherall were killed, the British recognised the reality of Ashanti threat and proceeded to sign a peace treaty with them which held for over 30years. The Pra River divided the two spheres of influence. In 1863 Ashanti crossed the river in pursuit of a fugitive Kwasi Gyana and that started the second Anglo-Ashanti war. Ashanti seemed to have won the first two wars. The third war was started again by the Ashantis when they invaded Elmina in December 1873 after the Dutch had sold their possessions to the British and left the Gold Coast, but by March 1874 they had been comprehensively defeated.

Ashanti was made to sign the Treaty of Fomena in July 1874 which required that they pay 50 000 ounces of gold to the crown for war expenses, to guarantee freedom of movement of goods and people between Ashanti and the coast and crucially to renounce any territorial claim to the south. I believe this territorial claim has defined the relationship between Ashanti and the rest of the country and to a very large extent, our politics. The NPP slogan of ‘’ye gye ye man’’ in the 1992 elections was a subtle rejection of the territorial clause in the Treaty. The flocking of the rest of the country to the NDC was reminiscent of the protection the coastal states sought under the Bond Treaty.

Yaa Asantewaa was 34 years-old in 1874 and while there is no account of her involvement in the third Anglo-Asante war, she was old enough to see the humiliation of her kingdom by foreign led troops. When the British declared the Gold Coast as a colony in 1874, Ashanti was not included. It remained a separate province. This is additional evidence that the British were more interested in trade and commerce than governance. Who will buy a cow if he can get the milk for free? Ashanti even rejected a protectorate offer in 1891 and continued operating independently from the rest of the country until 1896.

By 1896, the British had become concerned about German and French presence in Ashanti and sought to gain full control of Ashanti once and for all. So under a pretext of Ashanti not paying the fine under the Fomena treaty, Sir Francis Scott led a multinational force to Kumasi in January 1896 to start the 4th Anglo-Asante war. Asantehene Nana Agyeman Prempeh ordered that no one resist and as a result, the empire crumbled. How are the mighty fallen? Prempeh and many of his lieutenants were exiled. The confederacy was dissolved and the title of Asantehene outlawed. Ashanti became a British protectorate, the only tribe to become so by force of arms. This is important because it clearly shows the difference between Ashanti psychology and that of the rest of the country.

In 1894 when Yaa Asantewaa’s brother the Ejisuhene died, she used her position as the Queen Mother to install her own young grandson as the new chief. That was and still is the power of the Queen Mother in the Ashanti political system. Yaa Asantewaa’s grandson and the new Ejisuhene was among those exiled with Prempeh after the 1896 war. Yaa Asantewaa thus became the regent of the Ejisu chiefdom until the next war which is rightfully called the Yaa Asantewaa War. Understanding this historical and political reality of Ashanti and Nana Yaa is very important in appreciating the factors which together made this great woman.

In March 1900, with a cloak of vulgar triumphalism, the British Governor-General of the Gold Coast, Frederick Hodgson entered Kumasi and made a speech to assembled Ashanti leaders which I reproduce below;

‘’Your King Prempeh I is in exile and will not return to Ashanti. His power and authority will be taken over by the Representative of the Queen of Britain. The terms of the 1874 Peace Treaty of Formena, which required you to pay the costs of the 1874 war, have not been forgotten. You have to pay with interest the sum of £160,000 a year. Then there is the matter of the Golden Stool of Ashanti. The Queen is entitled to the stool; she must receive it.

Where is the Golden Stool? I am the representative of the Paramount Power. Why have you relegated me to this ordinary chair? Why did you not take the opportunity of my coming to Kumasi to bring the Golden Stool for me to sit upon? However, you may be quite sure that though the Government has not received the Golden Stool at his hands it will rule over you with the same impartiality and fairness as if you produced it’’.

Proud Yaa Asantewaa still mourning the destruction of their kingdom and abduction of the king and her own grandson by these infidels could not take the extraordinary arrogance and disrespect exhibited by the Governor-General by demanding the Soul of her nation, the Golden Stool. That was the last straw and fighting to death to defend her heritage and dignity was the only option. Later in the day when the Ashanti leadership met to discuss their reaction to his speech and there was no agreement on the way forward, Yaa Asantewaa stood up and made this famous speech:

‘’Now I have seen that some of you fear to go forward to fight for our king. If it were in the brave days, the days of Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye, and Opoku Ware, chiefs would not sit down to see their king taken away without firing a shot. No white man could have dared to speak to a chief of the Ashanti in the way the Governor spoke to you chiefs this morning. Is it true that the bravery of the Ashanti is no more? I cannot believe it. It cannot be! I must say this, if you, the men of Ashanti, will not go forward, then we will. We, the women, will. I shall call upon my fellow women. We will fight the white men. We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields’’.

The reason for the war is very clear. The War was neither about restoration of the slave trade nor was it about whether or not Ashanti should be part of the Gold Coast (and in effect Ghana). It was resisting an obnoxious system represented by a disrespectful infidel who had the nerves to ask for the soul of her nation. It was a war of resistance against colonization. It was a moral war in defense of what is right and true. Yaa Asantewaa could not care less if other tribes had allowed themselves to be raped by the white man. She would have none of that in her territory. Any problem with that? She fought a war she knew she would lose but fought it nonetheless and paid the price. This is not some Ashanti manufactured history, the British will tell you the same story. It was only after this war that Ashanti became part of the colony on 1st January 1902. Thus Ashanti was under colonial rule for only 55years. This is also very important.

The relevance of Yaa Asantewaa to modern day Ghana cannot be overemphasized. We are in a more precarious situation than Ashanti at the time of Nana Yaa. The Hodgsons of today demand anything from us and we willingly give them more than they ask for. Who can stand up to the US, UK, France, Germany, and lately, China if their greed and interests clash with our sovereignty? Only recently, South Africa mortgaged its sovereignty to China by refusing the Dalai Lama a visiting visa. I know Nana Yaa turned in her grave and queried the spirit of Shaka with Wulomei rhetorical question, ‘’aso nyɛ hɔɔ wɔ da ni nyɛ gboi lo?’’ to wit, did you sell us before you died?

Yaa Asantewaa was not only a political and a military leader. She was a moral leader and a defender of the truth and human dignity. She was a transcendental phenomenon who cut across tribes, religions and even nationalities. She fought against an evil system and wherever that system surfaces, she becomes relevant. She was not a tribal hero, not even a national one. She was a foremost international hero who stood up against colonization and all that was evil. When the history of resistance to white penetration into Africa is to be written, Nana Yaa will be in the same class as Queen Nzingha Mbani of the Mbundu people (Angola). That is why Yaa Asantewaa has to be celebrated. But we must always remember that her relevance lies in the fact that she fought an evil system and not necessarily a racist system. The colour of the system she fought was incidental. Evil has no colour. We have evil systems all over Africa and fighting such should be the work of our modern day Nana Yaas. In my humble opinion that should be the focus of IWD in Africa. We want women who at the peril of their lives will defend the truth.

Defense of the truth does not have to be as dramatic as that of Nana Yaa. Whenever you fight injustice in whichever way, you further the aims of Yaa Asantewaa. It is reported that Ms Emma Mitchell resigned from Rawlings government because of the way the ex-President man-handled his vice, Mr. Ackaah. That was the spirit of Yaa Asantewaa at work. Emma did not resign because of violence against another woman by a man but one committed against a man by another man. She sacrificed her daily bread in the process. That cabinet meeting would have been like the Asanteman Council of 25 March 1900. There was an obvious bully in town yet not a single male minister lifted his hand in protest. It took a woman ‘’Nana Yaa,’’ Emma Mitchell, to do the right thing. That is what we call a liberated woman.

Yaa Asantewaa’s story is an excellent example of the power and liberty of an African woman, unadulterated by Islam and medieval European Christianity, and underscores the fact that whatever roles western women fought for, African women already had them and even more. In 1911 women were demonstrating in Vienna to have a vote and be appointed to public offices. In 1894, Yaa Asantewaa did not only have a vote but she actually appointed the ruler. In 1900, she was not just a public office holder but she waged a war against the powerful British Empire. Yaa Asantewaa did not live in colonized Ghana, so she could not have liberated Ghana. But if every tribe had just one Nana Yaa, Ghana would not have been colonized in the first place. We must not cut our noses to spite our faces by trivializing the achievements of Nana Yaa on the altar of tribalism.

I want my sisters to depart from the agenda set by western women in celebrating their IWD which is based on getting more from society, to grasping Yaa Asantewaa’s concept of woman power and liberty by giving to their communities and standing for truth and justice. The presence of women in government and other high-ranking positions means nothing if they would not stand up like Nana Yaa did. Do not take lessons about women’s rights from Britain. That nation waged war against Ashanti women and unashamedly exiled Nana Yaa Asantewaa. My sisters, you have enough to change Ghana and Africa for good. Fight evil even at the peril of your lives; resign from work if necessary, and take a stand for the truth. That is the way we should celebrate International Women’s Day. That is the best way to celebrate Nana Yaa Asantewaa.

Long live Yaa Asantewaa, Long live women of Ghana and Long live women of Africa.