Accra Women’s March, showing up for solidarity

When I showed up to the Accra Women’s March, the first thing I thought was, “Damn, so many white people.” To be honest, I kind of expected that. This was, after all, one of the sister marches set up to show solidarity with thousands of people marching in Washington DC and other parts of the US. Also, the main organiser in Accra is an American lady. Even my white friend who attended the march remarked, “It’s so white!” when she showed up.

I had some reservations about attending, mainly thanks to a few articles I’d read. These are article by African American feminists who argued that the march being organised in DC wasn’t inclusive, especially of women of colour. However, hearing that efforts had been made to make the march more inclusive and it had become way more than an anti-Trump march (not that I have any issues with an anti-Trump march), I hoped the same would be true of the Accra march.

I also had to ask myself: I will happyily march for the rights of people tens of thousands of miles away from me but would they march for me? Maybe not but I dediced to not let that stop me. Another thought I had: I haven't marched for Ghanaian issues or Zambian issues so why should I attend this America-centric event? In the end I chose empathy and solidarity. The main march may have been organised a world away but I support the cause and while geography matters, it would not be my only consideration.

The march was organised in record time. Held on Saturday 21 January, the main organiser decided to make something happen on Monday and somehow pulled it off. Our meeting point was just outside the US embassy. I showed up ready to march in my Chuck Taylors but it turns out, we didn’t actually march. We had a permit to gather but not march. Perhaps, a result of having little time to plan but all things considered, a lot was done in only five days. What we did do was talk about why we were there. My inarticulate self was chosen first. I said I was there out of empathy, for human rights including women’s rights and LGBTQIA rights and for people persecuted for their religion or lack of it. 

These are just some of the reasons people gave for showing up:

I just don’t get racism
- Teenage girl of mixed heritage

The US is better than this

- Referring to Trump being elected US president

Climate justice

For my children

To show Trump we’re here and we’re gonna be watching

No human should be termed illegal

For my children and grandchildren

Silence is agreement

To support my wife and daughter
- A Ghanaian man married to an American woman. His wife and daughter were marching in the US and since he couldn't be with them, marching in Accra was the next best thing.

We’re still the majority

The American president is influential and having Trump in office legitimises prejudice

We can stop Trump

Empowerment of women helps everyone

Standing Rock and native rights

Black Lives Matter

My son who wants to go back
- African American woman living in Ghana. Her son wants to return to the US but she fears for his life especially in light of recent cases of police brutality.

Maternal health

Reproductive rights

Ultimately, I’m glad I went. It was great to be among like minded people and be reminded that I'm not alone. While the setting was "so white" ultimately there was diversity. A diversity of reasons people showed up, a mix of nationalities and men who turned up to support women. Our group of over 100 people had representation from the US, Ghana, Canada, Ethiopia, Senegal and Zambia, among others.

                            

The Young Feminists Gathering: sisterhood in action

 A few days ago I experienced a rare and beautiful thing; a meeting of young feminists in a safe space. In this case, that space was the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) office and this was the first ever Young Feminists Gathering they have hosted. It’s not often that I meet feminists in my hometown of Lusaka or in Accra where I’m currently staying.  More common are the misguided voices saying feminism is unAfrican or that feminists are just angry women who can't find a man.

After the ice breaking – which included introductions and spelling each other’s names with our butts (weird, but we actually did that!) - an AWDF staff member, Belinda, gave a talk about the organization including its history and the work it does. Next up was a talk about our “Feminist African Ancestors” given by Maame, another AWDF staff member. The feminist ancestors included late Zanzibari musician Bi Kidude and the ladies of the Igbo’s Women’s War, also known as the Aba Women’s Riot. I was familiar with Bi Kidude, a woman who challenged traditional gender roles in a conservative Muslim society and defied expectations. But I was totally unaware of the ladies of southern Nigeria, who in 1929 staged a revolt against colonial taxation. This served as a reminder that I need to learn more about women of colour, both past and present, and their fights against the system designed to oppress them.

Another AWDF staffer, Jessica, spoke about the definition of feminism or rather as she put it, “feminisms.” It was the first time I’d heard it referred to in the plural but it immediately made sense. While there are some basics many feminists agree on (a belief in equality of the sexes), there is no one feminism and I continue to discover new types. From atheist feminism to Islamic feminism and choice feminism to eco-feminism, diversity exists within the movement.  

Feeling woke

After a discussion on the meaning of feminism we moved on to discussing certain words and concepts, relevant to women's and more broadly speaking, social justice issues. Each of us picked a piece of paper with a word or concept that was to be discussed. Terms included meninist and ant-feminist triggers such as patriarchy, rape culture and mansplaining. Others were choice, sisterhood, self-care, misogyny, misandry, heterosexism, personal is political, gender non-conforming and a personal favourite, intersectionality. Boy was I feeling woke and up to date with the lingo, until we got to 'chosen family,' a term I’d never heard.  And might I add, it was great being with people who got it and didn’t find the language strange. 

 Source

What’s wrong with anger anyway?

Addressing the stereotype of the ‘angry feminist’ some ladies questioned what the problem with anger is anyway. Anger at injustices causes some to act and can help bring about positive change. Anger in and of itself shouldn’t be a problem. But some of the ladies in attendance could attest to how speaking out about social injustices and inequities we see and experience can often lead to dismissive tone policing (attacking the tone of a message rather than critiquing its content). 

He’s the man!

Grabbing takeout with a male friend (who just so happens to be a feminist ally) after the YFG, I noticed that our server turned his back to me and made a point of only showing the bill to my friend only. I had planned to pay a least part of the bill and I asked the server why he didn’t bother showing it to me. The response, as he looked at my friend and then back at me: “He’s the man!” Aside from thinking this man needed to be brush up on his customer service, I thought back to the end of the YFG, when we were asked to give one word describing how we felt. I gave two: grateful and validated. Sitting in that fast food place, I felt grateful and validated once more. Grateful to have spent the afternoon with ladies who understood the trouble with comments like the one the server made. Granted, the comment was not meant to be harmful, but my male friend and I found ourselves subject to gender stereotyping and it was less than an hour since I left the YFG and that is where the feeling of validation came in.