Women · By era
A collection · 30 women · 4 regions

Women of the colonial era

Colonial rule stripped many African women of the political and economic standing they had held for generations. They did not accept it.

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Three women to meet first

Portrait of Lilian Ngoyi, South Africa
Colonial · South Africa · 1911–1980Lilian NgoyiAnti-apartheid leader who became the first woman elected to the ANC executive. Led the 1956 Women's March against pass…
Portrait of Yaa Asantewaa, GhanaColonial
Yaa AsantewaaGhana · 1840–1921
Portrait of Huda Shaarawi, EgyptColonial
Huda ShaarawiEgypt · 1879–1947
All 30

A to Z

Sorted by name
A
Portrait of Adelaide Casely-Hayford
Adelaide Casely-Hayford Sierra Leone · 1868–1960
Portrait of Aline Sitoé Diatta
Aline Sitoé Diatta Senegal · 1920–1944
C
Portrait of Charlotte Maxeke
Charlotte Maxeke South Africa · 1871–1939
D
Portrait of Dulcie September
Dulcie September South Africa · 1935–1988
E
E
Efunroye Tinubu Nigeria · 1805–1887
Portrait of Ellen Kuzwayo
Ellen Kuzwayo South Africa · 1914–2006
Portrait of Empress Zewditu
Empress Zewditu Ethiopia · 1876–1930
Portrait of Esther Afua Ocloo
Esther Afua Ocloo Ghana · 1919–2002
F
Portrait of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti Nigeria · 1900–1978
H
Portrait of Helen Suzman
Helen Suzman South Africa · 1917–2009
Portrait of Huda Shaarawi
Huda Shaarawi Egypt · 1879–1947
J
Portrait of Josephine Bakhita
Josephine Bakhita Sudan · 1869–1947
Portrait of Josina Machel
Josina Machel Mozambique · 1945–1971
L
Portrait of Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli
Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli Eswatini · 1858–1925
Portrait of Lalla Fatma N'Soumer
Lalla Fatma N'Soumer Algeria · 1830–1863
Portrait of Lilian Ngoyi
Lilian Ngoyi South Africa · 1911–1980
M
Portrait of Mabel Dove Danquah
Mabel Dove Danquah Ghana · 1905–1984
Portrait of Madam Yoko
Madam Yoko Sierra Leone · 1849–1906
Portrait of Mekatilili wa Menza
Mekatilili wa Menza Kenya · 1840–1924
N
Portrait of Nadine Gordimer
Nadine Gordimer South Africa · 1923–2014
Portrait of Ndaté Yalla Mbodj
Ndaté Yalla Mbodj Senegal · 1810–1860
Portrait of Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana
Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana Zimbabwe · 1840–1898
N
Nwanyeruwa Nigeria · Unknown
O
Portrait of Olive Schreiner
Olive Schreiner South Africa · 1855–1920
Portrait of Omu Okwei
Omu Okwei Nigeria · 1872–1943
R
Portrait of Ruth First
Ruth First South Africa · 1925–1982
S
Portrait of Sara Forbes Bonetta
Sara Forbes Bonetta Nigeria · 1843–1880
S
Sarraounia Mangou Niger · 1850–present
T
Portrait of Taytu Betul
Taytu Betul Ethiopia · 1851–1918
Y
Portrait of Yaa Asantewaa
Yaa Asantewaa Ghana · 1840–1921
Other eras
Pre-Colonial16 women Independence22 women Modern74 women Contemporary59 women