The greatest African women fought for people’s rights, ventured into careers they weren’t allowed to practise, and were trailblazers in many other spaces. The impact of their work remains to this day and has inspired more women to pursue their passions. From business, politics, media, health and more, we tell you more about these women.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigeria
Chimamanda Ngozi has written her name in the annals of African literature. Her books have received global attention because of the topics she addresses. Purple Hibiscus, We Should All Be Feminists and Half a Yellow Sun set the ball rolling. She’s given numerous speeches around the world on feminism and Africa.
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Lupita Nyong’o, Kenya
The Kenyan-Mexican actress is the face of natural beauty. Since winning her Oscar Award wearing a short haircut, Nyong’o inspired many black girls and women to love themselves. It was a powerful moment, as black women have always felt inadequate for not having straight hair and embodying European beauty standards. Consequently, black women resort to using harmful products to live up to societal beauty standards.
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Bonang Matheba, South Africa
If you want a lesson in personal brand marketing, South African media personality Bonang Matheba is the person to look up to. She always steps out in style and her confidence commands the room. Matheba’s rise started at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and made her way into the industry’s biggest stages.
She’s been featured in several magazines and hosted global shows like Miss South Africa. Additionally, Matheba runs a luxury beverage brand House of Bonang and champions girls’ education.
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Professor Wangari Maathai, Kenya
Wangari Maathai was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her environmental activism. She started the Green Belt Movement to push for environment conservation. Maathai butted heads with officials in the Kenyan government to protect public areas like Uhuru Park from demolition.
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Ulanda Mtamba, Malawi
She’s a Malawian campaigner advocating for the end of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and girls’ education. Mtamba also wants governments to direct funds towards women’s health. She’s the country director of a nonprofit NGO AGE Africa.
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Zandile Ndhlovu, South Africa
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Zandile is South Africa’s first free diving instructor, a white-dominated industry. Ndhlovu is fighting the stereotype that black people can’t swim by helping them become comfortable in the water. She does this through the Black Mermaid Foundation, through which she exposes people to the ocean and hopes it will drive interest in diving.
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Maria Mutola, Mozambique
When we talk about the women’s 800m, we think about Caster Semenya and deservedly so. That said, Maria Mutola was one of the best female runners in this distance. She won a silver medal at the African Championships and represented the country in the 1988 Olympics.
Mutola was the only athlete in history to have won the World Indoor, Continental Games, Olympic, Continental Championships, and Commonwealth Games in the same event.
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Miriam Makeba, South Africa
Also known as Mama Afrika, Makeba was an actress, civil rights activist, singer, songwriter, and actress. She campaigned for the end of the anti-apartheid regime, singing songs that captured the pain and frustrations of people. She was the first African to win the Grammy Award.
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Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania
Samia Suluhu Hassan is the sixth president of Tanzania and the first woman to hold that position. Suluhu has been on the political scene for a long time. She started as a clerk in the Zanzibar government and held several offices including being the Vice-President to the late John Pombe Magufuli to ascending to power.
These are some of the greatest African women. They left an indelible mark on the continent, uplifting our social standing and showing our strength. Although some issues are yet to be fully resolved, these women have paved the way for them to be in the limelight.
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