In a world that so often misrepresents women, reclaiming feminism is vital for African women seeking to break free from oppressive systems and redefine their identities.
I can’t say when it started, but I’ve noticed a shift — many women these days have become uncomfortable with calling themselves feminists. Many women do not want to be portrayed as man-hating or seen as trying to alienate men. During conversations with friends, bringing up feminism feels off-limits, as if discussions around women’s rights are too heavy or unnecessary. In today’s environment, women often shy away from feminism because they are worried about the connotations and stigma of being associated with feminist politics.
I realised that society has skewed the perspective of what it truly means to be a feminist. From mainstream media to religious doctrines and even government policies, a patriarchal lens has framed the narrative far too often. Yet at its core, a feminist is simply someone who believes in the social, political and economic equality of all women. It’s astounding that this definition continues to remain negative. Encouraging the word “feminist” to be demonised, especially in a world that clearly oppresses women just for being women. This distortion not only alienates women from the movement meant to empower them but also allows systems of inequality to thrive unchallenged.
Why is feminism important?
With the current global state of affairs being in an uproar, gender-based crimes have only increased. Women continue to face systemic inequality, violence, and underrepresentation in leadership, education, and economic opportunities. In Nigeria, issues such as child marriage, gender-based violence, limited access to education for girls, and discriminatory laws highlight the urgent need for feminist advocacy. Femicide in Nigeria is at an all-time high. Between 2022 – 2025 over 600 women have been murdered due to sexual and gender based violence, often meted out by men. Women still battle the gender pay gap, workplace harassment, and political marginalisation.
Our lived experiences position us to challenge the injustices we face. It is because of this that women must be feminists. By embracing feminism, women everywhere can demand equal rights, amplify each other’s voices, and dismantle the structures that have long silenced and oppressed us. These days, we are losing the art of radical feminism, the feminists who boldly challenged the roots of patriarchy without apology or compromise. Without their fearless energy, the fight for gender equality risks becoming watered down, performative, and easily ignored.
A brief history of feminism
Women not wanting to identify as feminists isn’t a new development. Between the first wave and the second wave of feminism, many early feminists struggled with the terminology. In 1848, during the first wave of Western feminism, many women across America and Europe were part of the Suffrage Movement. This movement fought for the right of a woman to vote. Many of these women, who were white, fought for their own rights to receive an education, own property and for legal recognition as a citizen outside their marriage.
During this time, the Abolition Movement to abolish slavery was also taking place. Black women like Harriet Tubman fought hard for freedom, building the underground railroad to guide enslaved people to a free life. When the second wave of feminism came in, it was more diverse. Black women fighting for their right to be seen as fully a woman, to have the same right to vote, to own property and to earn a living.
However, many Black women did not initially identify with the feminist label. The first wave largely excluded their struggles and prioritised the concerns of white women. It wasn’t until the second wave that Black women began to shape feminism more intentionally, bringing their unique perspectives and laying the foundation for a more inclusive, intersectional movement.
The earliest feminist movement on the continent
In Africa, women were also resisting colonial and patriarchal structures. One important example is the Aba Women’s Riots of 1929 in Nigeria. Thousands of Igbo women organised massive protests against British colonial policies and economic exploitation. They challenged them for restricting the role of a woman in society and in the government. These women went against colonial rule and patriarchal systems, demanding political inclusion and justice. This marked one of the earliest organised feminist movements on the continent.
However, mainstream narratives often sideline the contributions of African women to feminist history. In Africa , feminism is an ideology attributed to white women. This is why it was a pivotal moment when writer and activist Alice Walker introduced the term “womanism”. A framework that centres the experiences of Black women and other women of colour, emphasising community, spiritual wholeness, and liberation for all. “Womanism” pushes back against the exclusion and racism that often plague mainstream feminism. This allowed space for a more inclusive and culturally grounded fight for justice across the globe.
Read also: These African women have fought to keep feminism alive
The church’s role in shaping feminism
The African church and colonial legacy have both played significant roles in limiting the acceptance of feminism across the continent. Colonialism imposed rigid European gender norms that clashed with many pre-colonial African societies, where women held powerful economic, political, and spiritual roles. This isn’t to say that our pre-colonial societies didn’t have their own forms of misogyny and patriarchy. However, when combined with colonial ideas on womanhood, we get a cocktail of patriarchal ideas that are still in place today. Christian missionary teachings, which emphasised female submission, purity, and domesticity as moral ideals, reinforced them.
The church, in particular, has often promoted the image of the ideal woman as a wife and mother. Reinforcing the idea that a woman’s worth lies in her ability to marry and serve her husband. As a result, society frequently views independent women — those who pursue education, career, or choose not to marry — with suspicion or disdain. This deep-rooted fear of the independent woman continues to shape societal expectations. It often silences feminist voices and discourages young women from challenging patriarchal norms that are often framed as religious or cultural values.
Many Nigerian women often find their journey to self-discovery entangled with church politics and rigid religious expectations that define womanhood. Feminism offers the space to ask deeper questions: Who am I beyond the roles society places on me? What do I believe, outside of what I’ve been told to accept? What does it mean to be a soul within a body experiencing life? In reclaiming their voice, body, and purpose, a woman begins to connect with a more honest, personal form of themselves. One rooted in freedom, spirituality, dignity, and truth. This kind of awakening not only transforms a woman’s life but also shapes society, challenging norms that hold everyone back. When Nigerian women find themselves beyond the walls of tradition and fear, they become catalysts for a more just, compassionate, and progressive society.
Redefining feminism through Africa’s history and heroes
People often unfairly paint women who call themselves feminists as angry, bitter, man-hating, or rebellious, labels designed to shame and silence them. Society portrays feminists as women who reject family, faith, tradition, or femininity itself. This creates a false narrative that pushes many women away from the movement. In many cultures, especially in Nigeria, being a feminist can mean being accused of disrespecting men, being “too loud,” or being told you’ll never find a husband.
These stereotypes are not only untrue but also damaging; they discourage women from standing up for their rights and questioning the structures that oppress them. As long as people continue to misunderstand and misrepresent feminism, many women will continue to feel afraid or ashamed to identify with a movement that is, at its core, about dignity, justice, and equality for all.
In the face of these misconceptions, women in Nigeria and across Africa need to reclaim feminism on their own terms. Our history is rich with examples of African women who stood up against oppression long before feminism became a global term. The 1929 Aba Women’s Riots, “Women’s War” were great examples of resistance that challenged authority and predetermined structures. These women didn’t wait for permission to speak; they demanded justice and helped shape political reforms across colonial Nigeria.
Iconic women like Buchi Emecheta, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti have also fearlessly shaped narratives around womanhood. They have used their platforms to confront the liberation and agency of women in Nigerian society. Their courage reminds us that feminism in Africa is not foreign or imported; it’s rooted in our own legacy.
Why we should all be feminists
To be a feminist today is to continue that legacy, to demand more for ourselves and our communities. It is to insist that African women deserve full agency, respect, and freedom. In a world where policies, religion, and societal norms continue to limit the freedom and potential of women, choosing to identify as a feminist is a powerful act. For young African women, feminism gives the language to challenge systems that demand they shrink, submit, and stay silent. It challenges the belief that a woman’s worth lies in marriage, obedience, or suffering, and instead affirms her right to live freely, speak boldly, and dream fully.
Being a feminist is about demanding dignity, justice, and equality in spaces that have long denied women those basic rights. Now more than ever, young African women need to embrace feminism as a necessary path to a future that safeguards women’s rights.
Read More: A space for trad wives in modern feminism: empowerment or regression?
