Art, in its many forms, has been a force for societal change for women throughout history. Whether through visual art, literature, music, or performance, artists have been able to speak out against societal norms that have kept women oppressed and marginalized.
Nebila Abdulmelik led the #JusticeForLiz campaign signed by nearly 2 million people globally to sentence three rapists who gang-raped and killed a 16-year-old Kenyan girl. Mary Cassatt challenged the traditional male gaze in art by creating works celebrating female sexuality and femininity. Writers like Audre Lorde and Mona Eltahawy crafted literature that explored women's inner lives and gave voice to their struggles.
In music, artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone used their lyrics and melodies to address gender inequality, racism, and oppression. Today, we continue to see both famous and lesser-known artists using their platforms and creative talents to call attention to issues faced by women such; as the #MeToo movement, the fight for equal pay, and reproductive rights.
From musicians and poets to actresses and visual artists, here are eight women African women artists using their platforms to inspire empathy, spark discussion, and mobilize people for change.
Tinatswe Mhaka
Tinatswe Mhaka is a Zimbabwean feminist author, lawyer and digital storyteller who famously spent the day at Rotten Row criminal court, physically counting the number of sexual offences heard in 2019 and 2020. With findings, she wrote blogs determining the trends in sexual offences urging for the documentation of our lived realities as African women. This mission shapes her work till today.
Mhaka founded Feminist Voices Zimbabwe, a non-governmental organisation which began as a blogging platform anchored to co-create feminist realities through community, conversation, and building knowledge that comes from women’s authentic lived experiences.
Zoleka Mazibuko
Zoleka Zinhle Mazibuko is a Zimbabwean-South African freelance opinion author who analyses contemporary social issues, African politics and culture through decolonial intersectional feminism and African decolonization theory. She holds a cum laude BA in Law, French and Political Science undergraduate degree and is currently in the final year of her honours degree in Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Pretoria.
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Jessica Horn
Jessica Horn is a Ugandan feminist activist, writer, poet, and technical advisor. Her written work promotes women's rights, including bodily autonomy, freedom from violence, and the growth of African feminist movements. She has received recognition as an African woman changemaker by ARISE Magazine and as one of the "40 African Changemakers under 40" by Applause Africa. Horn took on the role of director of programmes at the African Women's Development Fund in 2015 and managed funding for women's and minority rights at the Sigrid Rausing Trust, one of Europe's largest private human rights funders.
In 2003, Horn received a Soros Reproductive Health and Rights Fellowship for her work as an action researcher. Her research on feminist approaches to addressing female genital mutilation in Egypt. Horn also authored two monographs on the effects of Christian fundamentalism on women's rights in Africa for the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms initiative. In 2013, she was the lead author for the Gender and Social Movements Cutting Edge Pack published by BRIDGE at the Institute for Development Studies, University of Sussex.
Jama Jack
Jama Jack is a feminist leader, blogger, and communications professional. Her passion drives her to protect them from discrimination and violence. Jack's interests lie in the convergence of advocacy communication and social change. She employs her professional expertise and background to aid organisations and programs that support women and girls in The Gambia and other areas.
One of her blog series titled, #SaveGambianGirls helped document the stories of Gambian girls and women who were raped or murdered and sent out a call for justice by continuing to say their names and share their stories.
Vera
Vera is a Zimbabwean feminist musician and podcaster with seven years of experience as a program coordinator for some of Zimbabwe’s well-known arts development organizations, such as; Young Voices Network, Pamberi Trust, Jibilika Dance Trust, and Magamba Network. She has been a driving force for the creative economy and has strong beliefs about creating programming that is inclusive and accessible for all while speaking to the needs of young people and their communities.
Vera is currently on the board of Project iThemba, a youth-driven creative enterprise that hosts creativity for change workshops for the LGBTQ community. She also runs her creative hub called the Incubator ZW which has trained six aspiring women journalists and videographers and was one of the first platforms to have an openly trans woman as a cohost.
Ammara Brown
Ammara Brown is a multi-award-winning Zimbabwean female singer (Afro-pop/RnB), songwriter, actress and brand ambassador with one of the biggest artistic platforms in the country. She was one of the artists invited to perform at the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
"Tichichema", a song inspired by her life, helped champion a national conversation around the prevalence of Gender Based Violence in the country and across the continent.
Tshegofatso Senne
Tshegofatso Senne is a South African Feminist Writer and content creator whose work is rooted in pleasure. She writes, researches and speaks on issues concerning feminism, community, sexual and reproductive justice, consent, rape culture and justice, theorising how these topics intersect with pleasure. Her work in this area led to the creation of the community platform Hedone, which brings people together to explore and understand the power of trauma awareness and pleasure in their daily lives.
Tshegofatso utilises her platform to help other writers and content creators by funding the creation of more stories that change the narrative for African women and Queer people.