• Home
  • Bio
  • Media
    • Read
    • Watch/Listen
  • Speaking
  • Work with me
  • Contact

MsAfropolitan

FEMINISM. PAN-AFRICA. SOCIAL CRITICISM. DIASPORA. CULTURE.

  • feminism
  • Africa
  • Pop Culture
  • Social Criticism
  • decolonisation
  • Afropolitanism
  • seven
  • Sensuous Knowledge
    • Sensuous Knowledge references and recommended reading
    • International
    • Sensuous Knowledge news
  • Other Books
  • The MsAfropolitan Philosophy Book Club @ Waterstones

Dinner with 7 African feminists and why

February 4, 2011 By MsAfropolitan 36 Comments

in·spi·ra·tion

Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.

Thursday 03/02/11: Experienced lack of stimulation of the mind resulting in a low level of feeling towards activity = leth·ar·gy

I’ve been feeling sluggish this week, and particularly yesterday. I tackled work assignments in the morning, went to an interesting seminar about the sexually laden rituals of iron smelters in precolonial Congo in the afternoon, and in the evening I attended a boring seminar about something I can’t remember now. I went out for a drink, but after one G&T I decided to go home and do what I’d been wanting to do all day – sleep.

Like Aretha said, what a difference a day makes. Today’s been quite the reverse. Last night I started reading (finally) Buchi Emecheta’s book ‘The Joys of Motherhood’ and her writing was just the inspiration I needed. It triggered a realisation that I’ve been feeling a bit restless, like I should be working on something that I’m not because I’ve not yet defined what that something is. Basically I was feeling sluggish because I needed inspiration.

This got me thinking that one way to prevent lethargy is to be reminded of people that inspire us, role models if you like, although I’m not entirely sure about that term. And so I wondered – how do we know whom we can use as resources of inspiration? I concluded that one good way is to think of people we would love to have dinner with, apart from friends and family.

My imaginary dinner, and I’m limiting myself to seven as is my habit, consists of seven African feminists. There are many men and non-feminist women and white feminists like Gloria Steinem and African-American feminists like bell hooks or Latin American feminists like Isabel Allende and so many more that I’d love to invite, but tonight I am having dinner with these women and here’s why.

1. Nawal El-Saadawi – The Egyptian novelist, essayist and physician, whose works have have the central theme of women’s oppression and desire for self-expression has written books that have been banned in Egypt and some other Arab countries. It’s no surprise that she might rub people the wrong way: claims such as ‘all women are prostitutes in one way or another’ because patriarchy forces women to sell their bodies at a price, and that the lowest paid body is that of a wife, are not likely to be popular. El-Saadawi writes in her book ‘Woman at Point Zero’:

“They said, “You are a savage and dangerous woman.”
I am speaking the truth. And the truth is savage and dangerous.”

Well, I’d love to hear more about what she sees as the truth.

2. Waangari Maathai – The first African woman to win the Nobel peace prize would of course make an honourable guest at my dinner. A spokesperson for ecofeminism, she was also the first East African woman to hold a doctorate, but what she refers to as ‘the tragedy of her life’ was the sexism she encountered at university in Kenya which meant she was unable to continue her academic work.

Her ex-husband is to have said that he wanted a divorce because she was “too educated, too strong, too successful, too stubborn and too hard to control”.

3. Ama Ata Aidoo – The Ghanaian novelist was once asked in an interview how she deals with people saying that she learnt to be a feminist abroad-out of Africa and how she learnt to give voice to the silenced African woman. Aidoo replied, “…if the women in my stories are articulate, it is because that is the only type of women I grew up among. And I learnt those first feminist lessons in Africa from African women.”

Discussing the misconception that most female African writers that write about women’s issues are not feminist, Aidoo rejects those suggestions in her case, saying: “how much more loudly should I declare my feminism?”

4. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Without this champion of primarily, the written word, but also of feminist and pan-African activism, my African feminist themed dinner party would be missing a key ingredient. In On being an African feminist I mentioned that the Nigerian writer has referred to herself as a feminist who likes to wear lipgloss. I kind of like that because even though it’s absolutely fine to not wear lipgloss, or make up, feminism is at a stage where we should accept that women can be simultaneously girly and feminist. I’m not saying that Adichie is girly, I can’t confirm that until after dinner…

5. Bisi Adeleye – Fayemi – Nigerian/Ghanaian feminist activist Adeleye can claim the impressive titles of social entrepreneur, organisational development practitioner, fundraiser, trainer, writer and last and perhaps most significantly, the Executive Director and co-founder of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), an Africa-wide grantmaking foundation for African women’s organisations. She has said:

I am a feminist because I am angry. I am angry because despite what most constitutions, laws, policies andscriptures say, women are still treated as second-class beings. The lives of women and girls do not seem to mean as much as the lives of men and boys.

And also:

I am a feminist because I have hope. I have hope in the love, brilliance and creativity of my sister feminists, who rise and rise again.

6. Shailja Patel – On her blog, the Kenyan writer and poet quotes another huge inspiration of mine, Arundhati Roy, immediately making her my 6th dinner guest.

‘A feminist is a woman who negotiates herself into a position where she has choices,’ Arundhati Roy says and Patel embraces that as her favourite definition of feminism.

7. Jessica Horn – A poet with ‘roots in Uganda’s Mountains of the Moon and the shadows of New York’s Yankee stadium’, Horn has commited her creative and professional life to exploring women’s experience and advocating for respect of women’s rights. As soon as I read the below quote, I knew that Jessica and I would have a lot to talk about during dinner.

I was raised by a woman that I have come to recognise as a revolutionary mother, who used the act of mothering as a process of education and affirmation for the minds and sensibilities of her children. From this upbringing I learned that the real catalyst for liberation is neither force nor discourse, but the revolutionary power of love.

Would you join our table and would you have anything in particular you would ask these women?


Filed Under: feminism, seven Tagged With: Africa, African feminism, African women, African Women's Decade, decolonisation, fiction, gender, happiness, Life, Spirituality, women's issues

Comments

  1. Afrobysoul says

    February 4, 2011 at 11:22 pm

    I just luuuurve your posts! You r so open, personnaly insightful and analatycal on random general issues at the same time, I can only admire it! Here I said it, its official lol…so courageous!

    Here are two awesome women from my country you may want to find out more about, the mechanism of media is a bit of a filter, only a few reach global consciousness ie: high profile, therefore we miss out on the real role and understand the massive influence and contribution of real everyday women in the world….

    Also, it was great to see some1 I personally know on your 7list: Jessica Horn….braap braaaap! lol

    So let me share with you and your followers some data about two rising female awesomeness personnified I look up too.

    Luoise Mushikiwabo: https://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/louise-mushikiwabo

    Cecile Kayirebwa: https://cecile-kayirebwa.com/
    https://www.creativeafricanetwork.com/page/13910/fr

    I hope you ll be inspired,
    Keep keeping on,

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      February 5, 2011 at 1:38 am

      Thank you for the posts luurve:) And right on with the links. It seems I need to throw another dinner party hehe, maybe will have a mixed theme now with men also, especially if they bring Jessica 😉

      Gratitude.

      Reply
  2. beeladonna says

    February 4, 2011 at 11:46 pm

    O! I love! I love!!

    FEMINISM <- hmm I am all for female empowerment I always have been and always will be, but I have never referred to or thought myself to be a feminist … one reason being I still dont fully understand what it (feminism) means. I am aware but I still know I don't fully understand it.
    I have been wanting to explore what feminism means and what it is to be a feminist ( I am yet to do just that).

    Right now I am not sure what it fully means to me to be honest, regardless of all the explanation and examples. The first thing that comes to my mind is "she man woman hater club" LOL but OF COURSE it isn't that and I am more concerned with the shackles women put on themselves and how to break free from all that and taking their lives into their hands and to expel the traditional tunnel beliefs other women have ingrained in our minds 😐 !!!

    I guess I would ask Ama Ata Aidoo what I am. lol

    I personally will dodge this dinner gathering OR i'll attend and be dazzled eyes wide open and ears tingling while I take what you all have to say and not say a word for fear of saying something stupid :-s!

    I would love to hear more about Waangari Maathai especially on how she felt and how she coped with what her ex husband had to say about her. Who he thought she was when they got together and if or how she changed as time went on, and what exactly he couldn't handle and what he would have preferred her to be and why he was so threatened by her and what she thinks females in her shoes or are likely to be to do or react and if she would advice them to tone down all that they are to maintain peace. 😀

    I will think about this more!

    Great! Now I feel every one of you is staring at me … I will cover my face now and sink under the table.

    x

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      February 5, 2011 at 1:29 am

      Sistergirl, thanks for the comment, as usual it made me smile and even chuckle particularly your Q to Ama Ata Aidoo. You would be a great guest, I prefer honesty over pretentiousness any day and nobody is an expert on everything.

      To say somehting briefly about the hating men thing, feminism is not about bashing men but rather about learning to live with men as equals not superiors. Of course there are many men (and women) that prefer if men are superior to women and we do get angry at that not just for the sake of it but because we believe it causes many social, political and economical problems. I think that many women (and men) become feminists when they get to a point when they look around them and think things aren’t looking quite right, and feminism is one way of saying that I don’t like the status quo.

      Reply
      • beeladonna says

        February 8, 2011 at 8:32 am

        😀 lol YAY!!!

        Perfectly explained! I am actually understanding it now much much better!!!
        I cant wait to fully explore it all and now including equality and achievable and biologically possible that is. AWESOME!! Thank you for the explanation really!!!
        Food for thought!!
        xoxox

        Reply
  3. teachermrw says

    February 5, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    Wonderful post, and such wonderfully inspirational women. Wouldn’t it be great if al of these women could be assembled together, in real-life, on say, a Book TV presentation?

    BTW: Aretha did not sing those words you quoted. Dinah Washington did. Here is some background re: the song: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_a_Diff'rence_a_Day_Made

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      February 5, 2011 at 4:34 pm

      Thanks for the correction. Did Aretha also sing it? Would be amazing to see such an assembling

      Reply
  4. teachermrw says

    February 5, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    Let’s try it again: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_a_Diff'rence_a_Day_Made

    Reply
  5. teachermrw says

    February 5, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    Sorry to keep posting. Not sure why the entire link won’t paste. Anyway, just copy and paste the link to learn more about the song. 🙂

    Reply
  6. sheroxlox says

    February 5, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    I personally know a few of the ladies on this list and can say they are all half-women-half-amazing! I think a dinner party would be so awesome but I think I would be too busy learning and feeling inspired I would forget to eat! But no seriously…what would you make? I think perhaps a london-feminist-creatives-dinner party sometime soon?? I would love to be there!

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      February 5, 2011 at 4:31 pm

      Hey! Absolutely! Hmm, I’d (attempt to) make a meal from each of the represented countries 🙂
      Have you heard of blackfeminists UK? we are meeting monday evening, not a dinner party but will certainly be a creative discussion. check it out, https://blackfeminists.blogspot.com/p/meetings.html

      Reply
      • sheroxlox says

        February 5, 2011 at 6:03 pm

        *Aww* Thanks for the invite would love to come! See you there 🙂

        Reply
  7. Diggame says

    February 6, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    I’m steady learning more and more about feminism and how even myself as a man can be a feminist. I know there are some things I still have work on and swirl around but i really liked this list of African woman femininists

    Reply
  8. dantresomi says

    February 6, 2011 at 8:16 pm

    WONDERFUL piece.
    Thank you so much for introducing me to writers I SHOULD KNOW…
    (now i have 2 more tons of reading to do, which is a good thing!)

    Reply
  9. MBA says

    February 6, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    There are some names I did not know and I love the diversity. You list shows how we are come in all ages, colours, backgrounds and fields and also how Africa’s history is not only shaped by factors from within but also its interaction with the world over the centuries 🙂

    Reply
  10. MCG says

    February 8, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    I really enjoyed reading your blog. These are phenomenal women. Everyday, you open my eyes to heroes and inspirations. It has definitely been a pleasure finding and discovering everything on your blog.
    I do wish that more Liberian women would be featured. I read so many African/Women blogs, but rarely see Liberia represented. Please include us as often too, as we also have made a lot of contributions to Africa and as Africans in the diaspora.

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      February 8, 2011 at 10:42 pm

      Thank you for your kind and generous comment, it means a lot to me.
      And I’ll certainly bear in mind to learn and share about more Liberian women (and men), and all the countless other African countries that I so far haven’t touched on.
      In fact I’ve been wanting to do a post on one of our African and global heroines, Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, so keep a look out.

      Reply
  11. ChicTherapy says

    February 12, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    People like this are my heroines…Going against all odds and breaking societal barriers!

    Reply
  12. Nana Darkoa says

    February 23, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    Thank you for sharing this link on the AWDF facebook page. 6 of the 7 women you have mentioned made our ‘Inspirational African Feminist’ list so that’s totally great! I might just include the 7th because I am aware of her and her work. She just for some reason did not immediately come to mind. Thanks for this post. I shall be bookmarking your site

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      March 1, 2011 at 7:41 pm

      Hi Nana, what an honour to read your comment here. Thank you. I’m chuffed that 6 out of 7 made it and would love to share the list on my blog when it’s in place 🙂

      Reply
  13. Nana Darkoa says

    March 3, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    Hi Ms Afropolitan, the pleasure is all mine. I’m looking to post AWDF’s list on International Women’s Day and will send to you as well. Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  14. African Mami says

    April 12, 2011 at 5:51 pm

    Dr.Wangari Maathai is my heroine! This woman showed me since I was a little girl what it meant to be a woman in Africa, and what we must continue to fight for. I absolutely RESPECT her hustle and wish her all the best in life!!!

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      April 22, 2011 at 7:24 pm

      Thanks for the comment, what a great icon to be inspired by already as a child in a world where children too often are influenced only by hollywood-type celebs. Like!

      Reply
  15. Daisy says

    October 29, 2012 at 8:43 pm

    I love this post totally.

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      November 10, 2012 at 8:49 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  16. OrangeMoon says

    November 11, 2012 at 8:28 am

    Just discovered your blog and love it. Am an African feminist and delighted to find other likeminded souls. OM

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      November 13, 2012 at 8:58 pm

      Thank you! Glad you found it

      Reply
  17. Pumla Gqola says

    November 29, 2012 at 11:22 pm

    Minna, this is a fantastic table you have here. I would love to come too, or to eavesdrop any day. Thanks for this post, especially today, when I am battling to find the energy to finish a loooong writing task. In your words, and this post, I am re-energised.

    Reply
    • MsAfropolitan says

      November 30, 2012 at 2:44 pm

      Pumla, your company is cherished. How I hope we can make something like this a reality someday. I too have been lacking energy this week so thanks for visiting and your comment, the very thought of an African feminist dinner has reinvigorated me.

      Reply
  18. Anonymous says

    November 26, 2013 at 12:43 pm

    i can see you are highly inspired by wonderful women and i comment to you about a girl who owns media in Ethiopia and advocates for women rights…hope you will find her very amazing young lady

    Reply
  19. ego vapor cigarette starter kit says

    December 26, 2013 at 5:38 am

    Thanks for your marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you can
    be a great author. I will always bookmark your blog and definitely
    will come back at some point. I want to encourage that
    you continue your great work, have a nice holiday weekend!

    Reply
  20. Roseanne says

    February 13, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    There’s definately a great deal to find out about this issue.
    I love all of the points you made.

    Reply
  21. Irene Amadi says

    April 24, 2015 at 8:31 pm

    “I’ve been feeling a bit restless, like I should be working on something that I’m not because I’ve not yet defined what that something is.” – I’ve been feeling this way since I graduated nine months ago! But your posts inspire me to write. 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention Dinner with 7 African feminists and why | MsAfropolitan -- Topsy.com says:
    February 4, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nii, Minna Salami. Minna Salami said: Please read, share and discuss 'Dinner with 7 African feminists and why' -MsAfropolitan – https://bit.ly/fhwcD7 […]

    Reply
  2. Seven Inspirational African Feminists | Black Feminists says:
    December 26, 2013 at 4:14 pm

    […] Minna Salami This post is a modified version of a post on MsAfropolitan 1. Nawal El-Saadawi – The Egyptian novelist, essayist and physician, whose works have have the […]

    Reply
  3. “A brief history of African feminism” – Ms Afropolitan | iwspace says:
    May 3, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    […] that feminism is not “unAfrican”, that it has always existed in Africa, that so many of the African women we all love to love are/were feminists. But what exactly is the history of African feminism, you might be […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Feminism. Africa. Popular Culture. Social Criticism.

Hi! I'm Minna Salami, I'm a Nigerian-Finnish and Swedish writer and social critic, and the founder of the multiple award-winning blog, MsAfropolitan, which connects feminism with critical reflections on contemporary culture from an Africa-centred perspective. As a lecturer and keynote speaker, I have spoken at over 300 universities, cultural events and conferences, on five continents. I am the author of "Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone - a collection of thought provoking essays that explore questions central to how we see ourselves, our history, and our world." (Harper Collins US) Read full bio

View My Blog Posts

Follow My social media

Visit Us On InstagramVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On FacebookCheck Our Feed

Subscribe to my newsletter

* indicates required

An African Feminist mixtape

Essay: Oyalogy – A poetic approach to African feminism through Yoruba mythology

ESSAY: A brief history of African feminism

ESSAY: A brief history of African feminism

VIDEO: TEDxTalk – To change the world, change your illusions

VIDEO: TEDxTalk – To change the world, change your illusions

VIDEO: ARISE TV TALKING AFRICA INTERVIEW

VIDEO: ARISE TV TALKING AFRICA INTERVIEW

Recent Comments

  • Evgen on There were no matriarchies in precolonial Africa
  • ทางเข้าเล่น joker on The challenge for western feminism in the 21st century
  • Schües on On Abortion
  • AneM on Polygamy in Africa has little to do with sex
  • Khalifa on Polygamy in Africa has little to do with sex

Sensuous Knowledge – Get the book (US version)

Sensuous Knowledge – Get the book (UK version)

Archives

  • August 2022 (4)
  • May 2022 (1)
  • January 2022 (2)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • August 2021 (1)
  • May 2021 (5)
  • April 2021 (3)
  • March 2021 (4)
  • December 2020 (1)
  • October 2020 (1)
  • September 2020 (3)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (2)
  • March 2020 (4)
  • February 2020 (2)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (4)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • December 2018 (2)
  • November 2018 (1)
  • October 2018 (2)
  • August 2018 (1)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • March 2018 (2)
  • February 2018 (2)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (2)
  • September 2017 (3)
  • August 2017 (6)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (3)
  • May 2017 (6)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (3)
  • January 2017 (2)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (3)
  • October 2016 (3)
  • September 2016 (2)
  • August 2016 (2)
  • July 2016 (2)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (3)
  • April 2016 (1)
  • March 2016 (2)
  • February 2016 (2)
  • January 2016 (3)
  • December 2015 (2)
  • November 2015 (3)
  • October 2015 (4)
  • September 2015 (4)
  • August 2015 (3)
  • July 2015 (2)
  • June 2015 (3)
  • May 2015 (4)
  • April 2015 (4)
  • March 2015 (10)
  • February 2015 (4)
  • December 2014 (3)
  • November 2014 (5)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (4)
  • July 2014 (3)
  • June 2014 (3)
  • May 2014 (5)
  • April 2014 (4)
  • March 2014 (2)
  • February 2014 (4)
  • January 2014 (3)
  • December 2013 (3)
  • November 2013 (4)
  • October 2013 (3)
  • September 2013 (4)
  • August 2013 (5)
  • July 2013 (4)
  • June 2013 (4)
  • May 2013 (6)
  • April 2013 (3)
  • March 2013 (7)
  • February 2013 (3)
  • January 2013 (5)
  • December 2012 (4)
  • November 2012 (9)
  • October 2012 (8)
  • September 2012 (4)
  • August 2012 (6)
  • July 2012 (6)
  • June 2012 (5)
  • May 2012 (8)
  • April 2012 (7)
  • March 2012 (5)
  • February 2012 (4)
  • January 2012 (6)
  • December 2011 (5)
  • November 2011 (6)
  • October 2011 (6)
  • September 2011 (8)
  • August 2011 (6)
  • July 2011 (5)
  • June 2011 (5)
  • May 2011 (5)
  • April 2011 (4)
  • March 2011 (7)
  • February 2011 (6)
  • January 2011 (7)
  • December 2010 (5)
  • November 2010 (9)
  • October 2010 (7)
  • September 2010 (5)
  • August 2010 (4)
  • July 2010 (6)
  • June 2010 (5)
  • May 2010 (3)
  • April 2010 (3)
  • March 2010 (1)

more articles

A Historical Overview of African Feminist Strands

August 24, 2022 By MsAfropolitan 3 Comments

… [Continue Reading...]

On Abortion

August 23, 2022 By MsAfropolitan 1 Comment

… [Continue Reading...]

Privacy Policy

https://msafropolitan.com/gdpr

Copyright MsAfropolitan © 2023