African Women in Arts and Culture
11 women in the archive worked for arts & culture. They came from different countries and different centuries, but each of them saw a wrong that others accepted and set out to change it. Read their stories to see how the same cause looked from very different lives.
11 women in the archive
ModernBaleka Mbete
South African politician and poet. ANC veteran; first woman Speaker of the National Assembly; Deputy President; advocate for women's representation and the arts.
ModernFunke Akindele
Nigerian actress, producer, and screenwriter; one of Nollywood's biggest stars. Known for 'Jenifa's Diary'; advocate for women in film and business.
ModernJoke Silva
Nigerian actress, director, and producer; pioneer of Nigerian theatre and film. Co-founder of Lufodo Group; advocate for arts education and women in the industry.
IndependenceLadi Kwali
Gbagyi master potter who carried Nigerian hand-building tradition onto the world stage. The first woman at the Abuja Pottery Training Centre, an MBE, an NNOM holder, and the only woman on a Nigerian banknote.
ModernLola Shoneyin
Nigerian poet and novelist; author of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives. Founder of the Ake Arts & Book Festival; champion of African literature and free expression.
ModernMercy Johnson
Nigerian actress, director, and producer; one of Nollywood's most popular stars. Multiple award winner; advocate for women in film and family-friendly content.
ModernNgozi Nwosu
Nigerian actress; veteran of Nollywood and television. Advocate for health and kidney disease awareness after her own public health journey; beloved for roles in 'Fuji House of Commotion' and others.
ModernRita Dominic
Nigerian actress and producer; multiple award winner in Nollywood. Co-founder of The Audrey Silva Company; advocate for quality film and women's leadership in the industry.
ModernSade Adu
British-Nigerian singer-songwriter; lead singer of the band Sade. Grammy-winning artist known for 'Smooth Operator' and 'No Ordinary Love'; one of the most successful female artists in British music history.
ModernSola Sobowale
Nigerian actress, writer, and producer; star of 'King of Boys' and 'The Wedding Party'. One of Nollywood's most respected veterans; advocate for strong female roles.
ModernTiwa Savage
Nigerian singer-songwriter and actress; one of the leading women in Afrobeats. First Nigerian woman to win MTV EMA; advocate for women in music and entertainment.