#InternationalWomensDay Happy International Women's Day! #BringBackOurGirls

Happy International Women's Day!  #BringBackOurGirls!

Remembering Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, a formidable woman who fought colonialism & patriarchy. 

"You may have been born but not bred! Would you speak to your mother like that?"  Funmilayo Ransome Kuti to a British District Officer during the colonial era, in response to his telling Abeokuta women demonstrators: "shut up, you women!"

Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was also Fela's mother, and mother of Olikoye Ransome Kuti, Beko Ransome Kuti and Dolupo Ransome Kuti. She was Wole Soyinka's aunt. For snippets on her, see: 

Funmilayo Ransome Kuti from a UNESCO site; and/or 

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti *Note that Fela was following his mother's example though, not the other way around. 

You can read about her on wikipedia: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti 

You can also read a bit about her and other Nigerian women activists in my chapter, “Unknown Soldier”: Women’s Radicalism, Activism and State Violence In 20th Century Nigeria at googlebooks. 

Google Books doesn't let you read the whole chapter, so, if you're interested, you can read this draft from this blog: “Unknown Soldier”: Women’s Radicalism and Activism and State Violence In 20th Century Nigeria. 

For an excellent book length study, see For Women and the Nation: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti of Nigeria by Cheryl Johnson-Odim and Nina Emma Mba.  

I'm also remembering Margaret Ekpo, pioneer in Nigerian politics & powerful women's rights activist.

For more information on Margaret Ekpo, see Women, Conflict and Politics: Assessing Margaret Ekpo’s Approach to Political Emancipation and Liberation in Nigeria by Nonso N. Bisonga and  E. E. Andrew­Essien

You can also see more about her on wikipedia: Margaret Ekpo

And NATIONAL HERO: Chief Mrs Margaret Ekpo Full Biography, Life And Works

#InternationalWomensDay

So today, International Women's Day, let's channel the spirits of Funmilayo Ransome Kuti and Margaret Ekpo as we keep demanding: #BringBackOurGirls!

There's a women's strike today in the US.  I can't participate because I must teach.  But in my International Relations class, I'll do a teach-in on the Feminist critique of International Relations. In my African Gender Politics class, we'll do the usual--deconstruct, excavate, interrrogate the nature of patriarchy and women's resistance in its multiple forms. In solidarity with the sisters protesting, I will Wear RED in honor of International Women's Day.  I encourage you to do something too. Here's a link to information about the Women's March at noon in NYC today: NYC Women's March. Another Day Without Women March is scheduled for 4 pm 

Happy International Women's Day! #BringBackOurGirls!