Founded | 1985United Kingdom | ,
---|---|
Type | non-governmental organization |
Location | |
Fields | Legal advocacy, education |
Affiliations | Progressive International [1] |
Website | www |
Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) (Swahili for "African women") was established in 1985 in the United Kingdom as a small community organisation for African women. It is now an international and Pan-African feminist non-governmental organisation headquartered in Kampala, Uganda. [2] [3]
AMwA is described as a "training centre" and "advocacy engine" for the women's movement in Africa. [4] [5] It focuses on enhancing women's ability to participate in leadership through education programs, resource and research, providing platforms for advocacy and movements to influence politics and legislation. [6] [7]
In 2014, AMwA, with other women's organisations, conducted a regional conference in Kampala on the theme "Strengthening African Women’s Voices in the Post-2015 Processes". [8] [5] The conference intended to serve as a reminder of the common issues African women continue to face, including gender-based violence. [9] [10]
Some of the organisations that have helped support Akina Mama wa Afrika include the African Women's Development Fund and the Sigrid Rausing Trust. [11] [12]
The AWLI, established first in 1996, focus on themes such as gender-based violence, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, anti-poverty efforts and peace building. [13] [14] [15] [16] It is designed by women leaders from Africa, for providing professional support, networking opportunities and workshops to women activists aged 18–45 from across the continent. [7] [5]
Sigrid Maria Elisabet Rausing is a Swedish philanthropist, anthropologist and publisher. She is the founder of the Sigrid Rausing Trust, one of the United Kingdom's largest philanthropic foundations, and owner of Granta magazine and Granta Books.
Sylvia Rosila Tamale is a Ugandan academic, and human rights activist in Uganda. She was the first woman dean in the law faculty at Makerere University, Uganda.
Fahamu is a not-for-profit organization supporting organizations and social movements championing progressive social change and human rights. With branches in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Senegal, and Kenya, Fahamu primarily engages with civil and human rights organizations through Pambazuka News, an online platform focusing on social justice. Additionally, they offer online courses on human rights and social justice and employ new technologies, including SMS, for information dissemination, lobbying, and interactions.
Research Action and Information Network for the Bodily Integrity of Women is an international non-governmental organisation working to eliminate female circumcision and female genital mutilation.
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Nigerian-British feminist activist, writer and policy advocate. She was first lady of Ekiti State, Nigeria as wife of Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi from 2018 to 2022. She previously served as first lady from 2010 to 2014 during her husband's first term in office. In 2001, she co-founded the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF), the first Pan-African grant-making organisation. She serves as a UN Women Nigeria Senior Advisor, and was appointed as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King's College, University of London in 2017. She is CEO of Above Whispers Limited, and runs an online community called Abovewhispers.com.
Wanjiru Kihoro was an economist, writer and feminist activist from Kenya. She was one of the founders of the pan-African women's organisation Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) and the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners in Kenya (CRPPK), to protest the incarceration of Kenyans during Daniel arap Moi's regime.
Jessica Horn is a Ugandan feminist activist, writer, poet, and technical advisor on women's rights Her work focuses on women's rights, bodily autonomy and freedom from violence, and African feminist movement building. She was named as an African woman changemaker by ARISE Magazine and as one of Applause Africa's "40 African Changemakers under 40". She joined the African Women's Development Fund as director of programmes in October 2015.
The Uganda Women's Network (UWONET) is a Ugandan non-governmental organization (NGO) working to advance public policy regarding women's rights. It is an umbrella organisation of national women's NGOs and individuals operating in East Africa. The executive director is Rita H. Aciro-Lakor.
Irene Ovonji-Odida is a Ugandan lawyer, politician, and women's rights activist. A member of the Uganda Law Reform Commission, she contributed to the writing of the 1995 Ugandan Constitution and helped to shape the East African Community. She has worked for various charities including ActionAid and carried out election monitoring in Uganda and Tanzania. She was an elected member of the East African Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2006.
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah is a Ghanaian feminist writer and blogger. She co-founded award-winning blog Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women and has written for The Guardian and Open Democracy. Sekyiamah is the Director for Communications manager at the Association for Women's Rights in Development and a member of the Black Feminism Forum Working Group which organised the historic first Black Feminist Forum in Bahia, Brazil.
Mandisa Monakali is a public speaker, educator, social worker, researcher, lobbyist, advocate, project manager, strategic planner, workshop and community organizer. She is the founder and Executive Director of Ilitha Labantu.
Dawn Cavanagh was. She is a South African activist, writer, and feminist.
Stella Nansikombi Mukasa Makubuya, , was a Ugandan human-rights lawyer, and women's rights activist who served as the Regional Director for Africa at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW).
Amina Doherty is a Nigerian/Antiguan feminist, artist and women's rights advocate. As an African-Caribbean feminist and women's rights advocate, her work is centered around raising awareness for social justice through movement-building, and innovative approaches to philanthropy and grantmaking. Amina's work takes many forms: art exhibitions, community programs, cultural events, philanthropic advising, and grantmaking initiatives.
Margaret Komuhangi is a Ugandan politician. She is the elected Woman Member of Parliament for Nakasongola District and the representative for NRM, the ruling political party in Uganda. She previously served as the chairperson, committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development, from 2014 to 2018.
Eunice Musiime is a Ugandan lawyer, feminist and development specialist. She is the current Executive Director of Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA). She is also the chairperson of the Federation of Uganda Women Lawyers (FIDA). On 1 January 2005, she wrote a framework report on Organic Agriculture in Uganda with other two authors, Boaz Keizire and Moses Muwanga.
Prickly Roses is a Ugandan drama film produced by Eleanor Nabwiso and directed by Mathew Nabwiso at Nabwiso Films in association with Akina Mama Wa Afrika, supported by Hivos. It stars Hellen Lukoma as Nankya, Eleanor Nabwiso as Nazziwa and Sarafina Muhawenimana as Kezia.
Hilda Flavia Nakabuye is a Ugandan climate and environmental rights activist who founded Uganda's Fridays for Future movement. She also advocates for greater gender equality and racial diversity in the climate change movement. One of her environmental concerns is saving Lake Victoria, which connects Uganda to neighboring countries. As part of her activism, Nakabuye visits schools and communities to empower more women to join the fight against climate change, stating that "the climate crisis has no borders". She also created Climate Striker Diaries, an online platform to encourage digital awareness about climate change.
Christine Butegwa is a feminist, writer, entrepreneur, and gender and development activist based in Uganda. She is the author of the book titled, "The Mighty Angwech and More: Female Legends from Ugandan folklore". Christine is an interior designer and was the director of Rukundo Design Décor. In 2002, she co-produced a video, "A Tale of Ten Years: The Experience of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University with Murerwa Rian". She is currently the founder and CEO of Jabali Consulting Ltd, a pan African gender and development consulting firm based in Kampala, Uganda.
The Uganda Media Women's Association (UMWA) - is a nonprofit non-governmental organization located in Kampala, Uganda, focused on human rights advocacy and women's rights.