It is widely known that hard work is seldom recognized in real-time and is typical, more frequently appreciated in hindsight. This observation spans things as significant as efforts poured into other people or the amount of time spent slaving for a particular purpose. Perhaps this is a result of the system in which life operates, where the full picture of one’s journey is not seen till the end of it, causing people to act with the hope, that someday, their desires and ambitions will eventually culminate to mean something.
As time goes on, regardless of what your dreams and hard work manifest to be, they all form a part of history, which unfortunately is not afforded the privilege of capturing the entirety of one’s story. When our efforts are eventually being narrated, it is told in isolation of what our dreams started from, and oftentimes misconstrued or diminished. This experience is more particular to women, who have consistently been erased in the retelling of history or have been portrayed inaccurately.
Funmilayo Ramson Kuti, amongst many things, was an activist who led the Abeokuta Women’s Union revolt (Egba Women’s Revolt) against unfair taxation in the 1940s. If she was aware her fight as an activist, political leader, and revolutionary was being reduced to being the first woman to drive a car in Nigeria or the mother of music legend Fela Kuti, she would probably be incensed. It is obvious through this example, that women’s history is a precarious part of history that has been subject to the whims of people’s biases and untoward intentions.
In order to circumvent this dangerous norm, we have asked some incredible women to tell us how they would want to be remembered through history; what they have achieved, what they still aim to achieve, and what impact they intend to have on society. This way, when their desires are being fulfilled and history is being told, this intimate script can not only feed into an accurate narration of their own stories but be an opportunity for them to shape it too.
Laila Johnson-Salami
As a journalist, my passion lies in uncovering stories that make a difference in people’s lives. Over the last six years, I have had the privilege of covering a diverse range of topics – from politics and healthcare to environmental issues and international affairs. While I am proud of the work that I’ve accomplished so far, I’m always striving to do more. My aim is to continue using my platform to highlight the stories of those who are often overlooked and to advocate for change that will have a real impact on people’s lives. Ultimately, I want to leave a lasting legacy that inspires others to make a positive difference in the world. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a long line of trailblazing women who have used their voices to create change and I hope to continue documenting for many years to come.
Lanaire Aderemi
My name is lanaire aderemi and I am a writer and artist committed to amplifying and archiving untold stories. I am also a PhD candidate in Literary Practice at the University of Warwick and a part of the Soho Theatre Writers Lab. I work across several fields including poetry, theatre, and music and intend on creating work that makes room for joy and playfulness.
I believe memory work is so important for society and so, my work aims to recover erased and misremembered voices and stories. Archives are all around us –– from our homes to fabric to our ceremonies. By digging through archives, my aim is to preserve personal, cultural, and collective memory.
Theatre is a powerful medium for telling stories and my plays aim to educate people about untold stories and histories. I am particularly intrigued by the creativity of Nigerian mass movements as they have taught me about the power of unity and highlighted the innovative ways we mobilize and resist. Through plays such as ‘protests, hymns, and caskets’ , my work aims to document our past and educate audiences about forgotten but important histories like the Egba Women’s Revolt – an anti-colonial movement led by 10,000 market women.
My desire is that people learn about history in an exciting way so that they can truly experience stories. Through powerful soundscapes and an immersive audio-drama, I created ‘story story’, a 4-part audio drama on key events in Nigeria’s history. My hope is that productions like ‘story story’ remind people that acknowledging the past is important to create better todays and tomorrows.
I really believe that great stories can transform worlds and awaken imaginations. I want to be remembered as an artist that worked alongside creatives to create legacy work – a term I created to describe work that sits outside time, makes people feel seen, and incite change.
My single mustard seed is a celebration of child-like faith and joy.
Simi Badiru
Since officially moving back and starting my career in 2019, I have A&R’d at Universal Music and was actively involved in the release of Alpha P’s debut project amongst other exciting things. After Universal I moved on to LSF PR where I handled PR for global brands such as Auidomack, Pernod Ricard, Ledrop, and Afri-Labs. After leaving LSF, I was determined to go back to my first love, – music and I think my new role at as Head Of Artist Services & Relationships at Trace Anglophone West Africa reflects that perfectly.
Amongst all this, I have also been co-hosting the F&S Uncensored podcast over the past 4 years with over 190 episodes. Last year, we received a grant from Spotify which has really helped in the development of the podcast.
I hope to be able to keep doing impactful work whilst pushing and amplifying music. Up until this point, I’ve been very lucky to find myself in roles that allow me to thrive and be my best self and career-wise I aim to continue working in key positions within the entertainment industry that allow me to make impactful decisions that ultimately benefit artists and push our music way beyond our borders. Maybe one day I’ll become a label head, who knows?
I also aim to be able to provide tools for artists to become adequately educated in the business of music. The industry and space we have right now lacks structure which gives room for artists to be exploited. I hope to give artists the opportunity to be educated on how to navigate the industry so everyone is treated fairly.
I would like to be remembered for my impact on the careers of young, upcoming, and underground African talent. Throughout my career, the one thing that has continued to be a driving force for me is wanting to amplify and give African talent as much of a platform as I can, and I live and breathe this mantra daily.
Mojisola O
My name is Mojisola, I am a social entrepreneur and a career adviser (legal). I am currently training to qualify as a criminal lawyer in England and Wales and an Attorney in New York.
One of my proudest achievements is incorporating a charity organisation that focuses on promoting education, mentoring young girls, and eradicating child pregnancy in Nigeria.
I have successfully mentored 20 young girls in my society and ensured that they completed their secondary school education. I am also in the process of finding sponsorship opportunities to ensure that they complete a university degree of their choice. I have organised several events for over 500 students emphasising the importance of education and teaching them about their sexual health.
Unfortunately, Nigeria is one of the many countries where a significant number of children and young people suffer abuse and neglect. A lot of people are now desensitized and have accepted abuse as the norm. Very few people are fighting for children’s rights.
I want to contribute to the development of plans that bring about the changes necessary to ensure the safety, stability, and development of children and young people in Nigeria. I intend to do this by creating more awareness, advocating for children, learning more about advanced child protection, and educating society on the importance of this.
I want to be remembered as the woman who used her legal background to change the criminal justice system in Nigeria to one that protects the interests of children and young people.
Mofiyinfoluwa O
My name is Mofiyinfoluwa O and my life’s work is to write stories that heal and uplift, stories that preserve us from the decay of forgetfulness and erasure. My writing life today is rooted within an ancestry of African and Black women poets and writers: like Titilope Sonuga and Lucille Cliftion. There is no me without them. My first ever piece was published on Medium in the summer of 2017 and since then my work has appeared in Guernica, Agbowo and The Black Warrior Review. Later this year, 2023, my award-winning essay, ‘The Responsibility of Remembrance’ will be published in AFREADA. It is an essay about my grandmother, and the ways in which we honour our ancestors through memory.
My work unapologetically and proudly rests upon African and Black women, especially fat women because it is important to me that my work serves as a place where fat beauty and worth are established as truth. In 2022, I was accepted into the University of Iowa Non-Fiction Writer’s Program and awarded the 2022 Iowa Arts Fellowship for an outstanding application. Since being here, I have discovered and strengthened my calling to teach and to build community through writing. In 2022, I led two masterclasses, one with Agbowo and another with the NWP in Iowa; discovering how central teaching and knowledge-sharing are to my praxis and existence as a writer.
All of this is only possible because of my Creator, The Lifter of My Head and The Source of All My Stories, God Almighty. With God helping me, my aim is to continue to write words that people can find healing in, work that holds a mirror up to society and questions deeply held beliefs that seek to subjugate and disappear us. I hope to publish collections of essays, novels, short story collections and hopefully to return to my first love, poetry. When I think of impact all I hope is that I contribute to a world in which young African girls can dream bigger, can see themselves as beautiful, free and worthy. A world in which they have the confidence to create whatever they wish, with confidence and grit. So help me God.
Sade Onabowale
Let’s take this all the way back to school. I bagged my Bsc and MSc in some of the top schools in the world – UCL and LSE and managed to graduate in the top percentile of my class, despite having to do both my final exams while my father was fighting cancer. He passed away in 2017, and I think every day that I wake up and keep going rather than let grief sink me is a massive achievement. Since I completed my studies, I have gained a wealth of experience across multiple industries, from Retail to Tech Consulting to Leading Operations at a fintech startup, to Program Management. I have never been afraid to start from the bottom and build my way up, and have developed a high level of adaptability and flexibility as a result. Four years ago, I returned to Nigeria, where I had never worked full-time before. I jumped right in, taking on a data analyst role in a small company with most of its operations outside of Lagos. Through my hard work and dedication, I quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Senior Manager of Operations, overseeing operations across 12 locations. During my tenure, I implemented successful strategies to increase sales and reduce collection defaults, even amidst the pandemic. I also implemented internal tools to track key metrics, improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the company.
Today, I am fortunate to work with startups as part of an accelerator program that provides African startups with Google’s best Products, Processes, and People, helping them better serve their customers. Outside of work, I started a book club during the pandemic, focusing on women and non-binary writers whose voices have been historically marginalized. I am proud to have grown this community to hundreds of women across the globe, who meet 2-3 times a month to discuss books that challenge our perspectives and broaden our worldviews.
I am currently prioritizing finding diverse ways to support initiatives that promote achieving SDG Goal No. 5, which is Gender Equality. Unfortunately, Africa lags behind the rest of the world in achieving this goal. However, I am committed to doing my part in closing this gap.
To achieve this, I am focusing on three main activities. Firstly, I am spotlighting women founders in the African tech ecosystem to showcase their achievements and encourage more women to enter the field. Secondly, I am volunteering my time and resources to mentor young women, providing them with guidance and support as they navigate their careers. Lastly, I am leveraging the stories of African women writers to raise awareness and inspire action toward gender equality. Through these efforts, I hope to contribute to a world where women are empowered and treated equally, regardless of their gender.
Similarly to what I previously mentioned, I am dedicated to working on projects, products, and collaborations with individuals who share the intention of creating a world where women can have the same social, economic, and political opportunities to thrive. Community is also a significant aspect of my work and personal life.
As a Nigerian, I have seen firsthand how challenging life can be for young people, especially young women, in my country. Whenever I feel hopeless, I rely on my community to restore my sense of purpose and motivation. Unfortunately, with the rise of mobile phones and social media, and the rapid urbanization of our living spaces, genuine community building is becoming increasingly scarce. Despite living in the most connected time in history, studies suggest that we are becoming more isolated as a society, indicating a decline in our sense of community. Therefore, I am committed to facilitating meaningful community building through my work. I believe that gathering individuals around shared interests and noble causes can generate the hope necessary to propel us forward, despite the challenges we may face. By fostering authentic connections and collaborations, I hope to help build a world where individuals, particularly women, are empowered to reach their full potential, and where genuine community support is readily available.