androgynousblackgirl:

Aïssa Maïga in “Bamako” ; a 2006 film directed by Abderrahmane Sissako which depicts a trial taking place in Bamako, the capital of Mali, amid the daily life that is going on in the city. In the midst of that trial, two sides argue whether the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, or perhaps corruption, are guilty of the current financial state of many poverty-stricken African countries.

afrikanwomen: Ms. Bineta Diop of Senegal is the Executive Director and founder of Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS). She began her international career in human rights 27 years ago as Programme Coordinator of the International Commission of Jurists, where she obtained extensive experience in human rights issues not only in Africa but also in Asia and Latin America. Ms. Diop has led Femmes Africa Solidarité in numerous peace-building programmes, including the creation of a strong West African women’s movement, the Mano River Women’s Peace Network (MARWOPNET).  In December 2003, the United Nations General Assembly awarded MARWOPNET the UN Prize in the field of Human Rights.  Diop has observed elections in post-conflict areas such as Liberia and facilitated peace talks, particularly for Burundian and Congolese women. As a member of the African Union Women Committee for Peace and Development (AWCPD), Ms. Diop played an instrumental role in achieving gender parity within the African Union Commission in 2003. These efforts culminated in July of 2004 as the AU took ownership of the gender-mainstreaming programme at the highest level, adopting the “Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa.”  To strengthen these programmes, Ms. Diop is mobilizing all her efforts in building a Pan African Centre for Gender, Peace and Development in Dakar, Senegal. This centre of excellence will serve as a hub for building African leadership with a focus on gender and peaceful resolution of conflicts. The centre’s first program was launched in May 2005 with an African Gender Forum followed by the first African Gender Awards presented to President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal and President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. Diop has received many awards from women groups such as Mano River Women Peace Network, the West African Women Association Award in 2005 as well as the Leadership and Good Governance Award from the International Women Federation for World Peace. Ms. Diop has been elected as Vice-President of the African Union Women’s Committee, and chairs the United Nations Working Group on Peace in Geneva, which is part of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women monitoring the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. She also serves as a member of the Group of International Advisors to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). (—source)

afrikanwomen:

Ms. Bineta Diop of Senegal is the Executive Director and founder of Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS). She began her international career in human rights 27 years ago as Programme Coordinator of the International Commission of Jurists, where she obtained extensive experience in human rights issues not only in Africa but also in Asia and Latin America. Ms. Diop has led Femmes Africa Solidarité in numerous peace-building programmes, including the creation of a strong West African women’s movement, the Mano River Women’s Peace Network (MARWOPNET).  In December 2003, the United Nations General Assembly awarded MARWOPNET the UN Prize in the field of Human Rights. 

Diop has observed elections in post-conflict areas such as Liberia and facilitated peace talks, particularly for Burundian and Congolese women. As a member of the African Union Women Committee for Peace and Development (AWCPD), Ms. Diop played an instrumental role in achieving gender parity within the African Union Commission in 2003. These efforts culminated in July of 2004 as the AU took ownership of the gender-mainstreaming programme at the highest level, adopting the “Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa.” 

To strengthen these programmes, Ms. Diop is mobilizing all her efforts in building a Pan African Centre for Gender, Peace and Development in Dakar, Senegal. This centre of excellence will serve as a hub for building African leadership with a focus on gender and peaceful resolution of conflicts. The centre’s first program was launched in May 2005 with an African Gender Forum followed by the first African Gender Awards presented to President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal and President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. Diop has received many awards from women groups such as Mano River Women Peace Network, the West African Women Association Award in 2005 as well as the Leadership and Good Governance Award from the International Women Federation for World Peace.

Ms. Diop has been elected as Vice-President of the African Union Women’s Committee, and chairs the United Nations Working Group on Peace in Geneva, which is part of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women monitoring the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. She also serves as a member of the Group of International Advisors to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

ourafrica:

The Safe Motherhood Malawi project was developed for Malawian mothers, educating midwives to train community-based health workers to improve midwifery knowledge and care.

Captured by Paolo Patruno, a photographer focused on humanitarian issues and social documentary while working with Non-Profit Organization. Patruno documents the lives of these women and their newborn children.

(via afrostyling)

typicalugandan: “African Beauty Queens” 10th November 1967: Four contestants from Africa line up at their London hotel before the 1967 Miss World beauty contest. From left to right, they are Miss Tanzania (Teresa Shayo), Miss Uganda (Rosemary Salmon), Miss Nigeria (Rosalind Balogun) and Miss Ghana (Araba Vroon). (Photo by Leonard Burt/Central Press/Getty Images)

typicalugandan:

“African Beauty Queens”

10th November 1967: Four contestants from Africa line up at their London hotel before the 1967 Miss World beauty contest.

From left to right, they are Miss Tanzania (Teresa Shayo), Miss Uganda (Rosemary Salmon), Miss Nigeria (Rosalind Balogun) and Miss Ghana (Araba Vroon).

(Photo by Leonard Burt/Central Press/Getty Images)

kilele: Singers perform at the Somali National Theatre in Mogadishu, Somalia Photo by Farah Abdi Warsameh

kilele:

Singers perform at the Somali National Theatre in Mogadishu, Somalia

Photo by Farah Abdi Warsameh

(Source: Guardian)

Life in Words: African Women Poets

africaisdonesuffering:

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Often we see the dominance of men in literary writing; anywhere from poetry to novels. Strong women writers can many times be seen as a rare commodity or something that does not happen all the time. When it comes to women of color, and specifically African women, such writers and their skills are downplayed or not recognized. Even writings concerning the history of literary do their job in leaving out the importance and influence of women writers. Many times we see works which men give their perspectives and criticisms of women. 

Although there are many insightful writings out there which men have written on African women, no one can tell an African women’s story better than an African woman herself. Women poets especially, African women, have often been demoted and ignored. Even many African poetry compilations have done a poor job of showcasing the many different talents of our women by including only a couple poets in them, creating an imbalance and false representation. 

read more

dynamicafrica:

The beauty of the ‘Gele’ photographed by #Nigerian photographer J.D. Okhai Ojeikere

The Yoruba are one of the largest ethno-linguistic or ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language and are found in Nigeria, constituting approximately 21 percent of its total population, and around 30 million individuals throughout West Africa. 

The traditional Yoruba women’s outfit consists of four parts: the buba (a blouse like shirt), the iro (wrap skirt), the gele (head tie/wrap), and the ipele or iborun (shawl or shoulder sash). Aso oke is a hand loomed cloth woven by the Yoruba people and it is traditionally used to make the ensemble, although in more recent times organza, taffeta, damask and laces have been used. Stiff fabrics are preferred, at least for the gele, so that it holds it shape throughout the day.

The gele is wrapped around the head but unlike most head wraps that lie flat on contour of the head, the gele is manipulated to stand away from the head, creating an enormous headpiece.

Over time and with more wealth becoming available to the commoners (versus the royalty), the size and quality of workmanship and fabrication in the gele became to be a potent symbol of a woman’s socio-economic status.

(text source)

dynamicafrica:

Errol Barnett meets Maria Mabjaia, a young girl from #Mozambique who is making waves in the sailing community. Mabjaia won a bronze medal at the All-Africa Games last year. 

(via peopleofthesouth)

afrikanwomen: Asha Haji Elmi is a peace activist from Somalia. She won the Right Livelihood Award (known as the alternative Nobel Prize) in 2008, with three other activists from India, USA and Germany. In September 2009, she was one of five recipients of the Clinton Global Citizen Award. She has a degree in economics from Somalia National University and holds a Master of Business Administration from the US International University in Africa. When women were excluded from the peace process in Somalia (which involved the five traditional clans), she formed the Sixth Clan movement to win a seat at the table. She was selected to the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) of the Republic of Somalia on August 29, 2004, and will serve until 2009. She is also the founder of Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC), created in 1992 during the height of the Somali Civil War. Asha has been acknowledged internationally for her activism against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somalia and in other areas of Africa. She frequently travels to college campuses and universities around the world giving speeches about the political conditions in Somalia, FGM and the resulting effects on Somali women.

afrikanwomen:

Asha Haji Elmi is a peace activist from Somalia. She won the Right Livelihood Award (known as the alternative Nobel Prize) in 2008, with three other activists from India, USA and Germany. In September 2009, she was one of five recipients of the Clinton Global Citizen Award.

She has a degree in economics from Somalia National University and holds a Master of Business Administration from the US International University in Africa.

When women were excluded from the peace process in Somalia (which involved the five traditional clans), she formed the Sixth Clan movement to win a seat at the table. She was selected to the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) of the Republic of Somalia on August 29, 2004, and will serve until 2009. She is also the founder of Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC), created in 1992 during the height of the Somali Civil War.

Asha has been acknowledged internationally for her activism against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somalia and in other areas of Africa. She frequently travels to college campuses and universities around the world giving speeches about the political conditions in Somalia, FGM and the resulting effects on Somali women.

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You will find none of that here :)

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