Human beings we are bound to forget. In regards to this, it is not surprising that some of our African freedom fighters have gone amiss. This is mostly because they have not been revered accordingly. The African man needs to remind himself where he came from and how he got himself to where he is now. Blood was shed, lives were lost and efforts were put in place to contribute to the freedom of Africans from the white man’s colonialism and slavery
And this can be achieved by acknowledging the efforts of our fallen soldiers. Interestingly, women were also involved. Mothers, Wives, and Even daughters felt the need to help in freeing her people. This article majorly aims to embrace contributions of the African women as well as men to enlighten and educate more on their journey to freedom. Read on to learn them.
Africa freedom fighters we should never forget
Ahmed Sekou Toure
A man recognized in the French west Africa for being the first President to have challenged the French colonization and led his country to independence. This was after the French president Charles de Gaulles was put under pressure by the French colonies.
A constitutional referendum was organized and the African colonies were granted a choice to either be set on gradual independence or the immediate independence. Other countries settled for the gradual independence. Conversely, Guinea, under the leadership of Toure opted for the immediate independence. Toure preferred his freedom to slavery.
Victoria Mxenge
Following the death of her husband, Griffiths Mxenge, an anti-apartheid activist who was very prominent in the fight for South Africa’s freedom, Victoria was not about to halt the legal practice efforts and establishments made by her husband. She was at the forefront in raising her voice against the brutality inflicted upon the young people in the prisons.
Victoria also joined the defense team in the trial of leaders of the UDF and the National Indian Congress in the Pietermaritzburg Supreme Court. She was also a member of the release Nelson Mandela Committee and a devoted Natal treasurer of the UDF at that time. Only not to stop there. Victoria believed that women could make great contributions towards achieving the desired freedom for her country. For this reason, she was part and parcel of the National Organization of Women.
Her life was stripped away from her following an attack by gunmen as she was heading home from her political errands. She was headed to her home in Umlazi when she was assassinated in front of her children. Her death proved how resilient she was at fighting for her people’s freedom. A true freedom fighter. Victoria was only 43 years old at her time of death
Dorothy Adams
She was born in 1928, in Wellington, a few kilometers away from Cape Town, South Africa’s capital city. Her father working in a factory and her mother being a cook, worked very hard to take care of their family. They were part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. As a result, religion played a major role in Adams early life. She also managed to complete her teaching training at 17 years old.
As she grew older, she came to realize that the apartheid government was now using the very church she grew up with to promote segregation. In fact, it dawned to her that the “Group Areas Act” implementation was aided by the church. She was utterly disappointed by the church for not rejecting the act. Like other freedom fighters!
As a result, she turned her back on her religion and sorted to politics. She linked herself to the Teachers League of South Africa (TLSA). She was also a member of the Non-European Unity Movement and the National Liberation Front. Where she fully participated in efforts made to end the then existing apartheid government.
Yaa Asantewaa
Also known as the African Joan of Arc. Nonetheless, she was also a politician, war strategist and political activist. She is known for leading a rebellion against the British to defend the golden stool which then represented the symbol for the Ashanti nation. This took place in the year 1900.
The rebellion was ultimately suppressed by the British forces who afterwards enforced her into exile in Seychelles. Despite her arrest, Yaa brought hope to her motherland. she remained a symbol of courage and great strength in the face of oppression. This later translated to more efforts being put in place to achieve what Yaa had started and grant freedom to their country. What most freedom fighters advocated for!
Funmilayo Ransome Kuti
Kuti was one of the people in Nigeria who fully participated in the fight against the British colonialism. As an activist Kuti voiced her concerns on women’s right to political representation. She strongly advocated for women’s empowerment especially in the, marginalized areas. She went ahead and formed a women’s union called the Abekuti Women Union. A union that became very rampant in protesting against colonial taxation.
What is actually amusing is that her willpower to fight against the British, trickled down to her son Fena Kitu. Fena used music as a weapon to expose the military tyrants and foreign superiors who not only terrorized his country but the African continent at large. With all these efforts attached to her name, the country does not acknowledge her as a National hero.
Mariama Ba
From an early age, Mariam was a determined feminist. She disapproved what she had supposed to be inequalities between men and women resulting from African traditions. She grew to be a steadfast advocate towards altering the laws and traditions that subdued women in her country.
Being a wife and a mother did not stop her from becoming a writer and a political activist. Fully empowered and taking the lead in fighting for women’s rights in Senegal. She used her books to denounce the prevailing disparaging status of women in the society. she spearheaded the demand for women’s rights on the violence subjected on them and unveiled the opportunities not being offered to women. She also stated the issue of polygamy as a menace to the African woman.
Josina Muthemba Machel
Before she became the wife of Samora Machel, the first president of the Mozambican republic, Muthemba was very active in the efforts made to achieve her country’s independence. From an early age, Muthemba joined the clandestine student group. And later the Mozambique liberation (FRELIMO) front in the year 1960.
Apparently she was the one who led a group of army women who actually were not left behind in fighting for their countries liberation. They were called the women’s detachment movement later today known as the organization of Mozambican women. Her life was fully dedicated to saving her country from domination.
Last words
It is important to remind and pay tribute to our heroes who paid a heavy price even some with their own lives just to gain freedom from the colonialists that had taken a toll on the Africans. Enslaving people in their own country! However, the courage and struggles from these leaders and other freedom fighters made us free!
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