When I told a friend it was INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY a few years ago, he rejoined, “Isn’t that Valentine’s Day?” He has a point.
This year, the theme for this day is “Inspire Inclusion”. Seriously? The theme, though well-meaning, is wrong. It should have been “Inspire Recognition”. Since Eve took the initiative and got Adam to eat “the fruit” women have always been significant.
They carry, bear and nurture children. They do most farm work. In Africa, they do most trading. And looking at trends, they are quietly taking over many professions– like medicine. They already have the major part of nursing and teaching.
Going back to our own history, the role of women, despite the low recognition, has been invaluable. Leaving the incomparable Nana Yaa Asantewaa who showed some balls ( or boobs) while Asantemen were quiet aside, who really believes men alone won our independence? Ama Selley Renner, Kate Swanzy , Elizabeth Ward-Brew and many others were great.
And when the “Big 6” were picked up, it was a woman, Hannah Cudjoe, who organized the most effective protests. In the fight against the Acheampong dictatorship, one pivotal moment was when Mrs Nikoi said, to Acheampong, as Evans-Amfom tip-toed around the main point of the Professional Bodies, “Prof, sit down. General, when are you going to hand over?”
In the exchanges that followed, she said, “You are lucky you are the Head of State, otherwise, I would slap you with my slippers!” The General responded, “You are lucky you are a woman. Otherwise, I would slap you with my shoe!”. The room erupted in laughter.
And who can forget Elizabeth Ohene’s serminal editorial on the AFRC killings while men cowered in fear? Or Winnie Mandela’s leadership of the ANC? No, the women have been there every step of the way.
Finally, thinking about my mother, Madam Abena Atta of blessed memory, the punditocracy and women’s movement has increasingly become less, not more reflective of real women and their challenges. There is a lot of noise today about France enshrining abortion rights in their constitution.
Is this what the women of Fankyeneko are worried about? What about the protections from sexual abuse, like fake women competing in women’s sports, the right to prenatal care and healthcare– like mammogram screening and free contraception and protection of women’s rights in divorce– from domestic violence and support for the millions of single mothers around the world struggling to bring up children?
Those are the things that will lift women. Too often, we confuse the aspirations of elite women for that of the masses of women who toil in silence for themselves and their families. Did the achievements and wealth of Diezani Alison-Madueke really help Nigerian women?
Did the ‘donkomi’ sales of state-owned enterprises in Ghana to 31st December chikas help the masses of women?
Let us recognize what women have always done. They are our mothers, sisters and partners.
Happy women’s day– everyday!
Arthur Kobina Kennedy– Abena Atta’s son.
8th March, 2024.