Women in the decolonisation of Africa
Nationalist and independence movements throughout Africa have been predominantly led by men; however, women also held important roles.
[1] Women participated in various anti-colonial roles, ranging from grassroots organising to providing crucial support during the struggle for independence.
Their activities included organising protests, distributing anti-colonial propaganda, and offering vital assistance such as food and medical care to injured guerrilla soldiers.
[1] Women involved in anti-colonial efforts frequently encountered violent opposition from colonial authorities, resulting in incidents of imprisonment and torture, as consequences for their participation in such endeavors.
[2] Despite the significant contributions and hardships endured by women during the decolonisation process, their roles in the struggle for independence across the continent have often been overlooked in historical accounts.
In many mainstream African history narratives, women's contributions remain largely invisible or misrepresented, leading to a lack of recognition compared to their male counterparts.
Urban women, who constituted about twenty percent of the overall force, had received some kind of education and usually chose to enter on the side of the FLN of their own accord.
[8] Largely illiterate rural women, on the other hand, the remaining eighty percent, due to their geographic location in respect to the operations of FLN often became involved in the conflict as a result of proximity paired with force.
[17] The Ashanti people are organized in a matrilineal system, where lineage is traced through women who descend from a common female ancestor.
We are the ones who give birth to the world…[26]On December 12, 1963, Kenya declared independence from Britain after years of anti-colonial efforts involving both men and women.
Various colonial laws, including communal labor and the hut and poll taxes, were perceived as disproportionately affecting women, leading to resentment within the female population.
Kikuyu women played crucial roles in organising and sustaining supply lines that facilitated the delivery of essential resources such as food, medicine, weapons, and information to the rebel forces.
Notably, women themselves participated as combatants, particularly in the forest forces, where they undertook various camp duties including cooking, cleaning, gathering firewood, and transporting water.
[29] Kikuyu women, experienced torture and sexual abuse at the hands of British soldiers, underscoring the complexities of their involvement.
While some notable figures, like Field-Marshal Muthoni wa Kirima, have gained recognition for their roles as top-ranking female fighters, there are thousands of women whose names have not been documented or acknowledged: Wambui wa Kanyari, also known as Matron, is a significant female leader within the Mau Mau movement, whose contributions are often overlooked.
Beyond medical duties, she extended support to pregnant women seeking sanctuary in the forest, many of whom had endured traumatic incidents like rape or imprisonment.
[31] Furthermore, Matron played a crucial role in nursing injured women, offering care and support to those who had sustained gunshot wounds or other injuries during confrontations with colonial forces.
Her dedication to providing medical care and support to fellow rebels underscores the resilience and solidarity that characterised the struggle for independence in Kenya.
This was a delicate task, as it required navigating traditional customs that discouraged women from participating in ritualistic ceremonies.
Bandi's efforts to involve women in the oathing process were aimed at maintaining cultural sensitivities while also bolstering support for the rebellion.
Their bravery and dedication highlight the diverse roles that women played in shaping the course of Kenyan history during this pivotal period.
Many women were motivated to join the PDCI due to grievances related to forced labor, a central aspect of discontentment under colonial rule.
In northern Côte d’Ivoire, where much of French recruitment took place, women experienced disruption to their lives through labor conscription.
[32] The increasing repression by the colonial state, marked by the imprisonment of male relatives, spurred militant mothers to engage in more visible activism.
These women played crucial roles within the party, offering vital support to those detained by French authorities, particularly at the overcrowded and deteriorating Grand Bassam prison.
Despite difficult circumstances, they ensured that incarcerated activists received necessities such as food, clean clothing, and emotional comfort.
