International African Women’s Day - Unveiling the Unexpected, July 31st, 2024

July 31 is the opportunity to celebrate International African Women's Day. This year, what if we dived into unexpected stories and prospects that show the diversity and prove the complexity of African women's experiences.

Techno geek Grandmothers: Game changer in innovation
A group of grandmothers are turning the perception of age and technology upside-down in Tanzania. As part of the “Solar Grandmothers” program, these elderly women are trained to install and service solar panels, bringing light and renewable energy to their rural communities. These keepers of tradition defied gender and age stereotypes and have become pioneers of green technology, demonstrating that innovation has no age limit.

Conservation warriors
In southern Africa, a group of brave women known as the "Black Mambas" are fighting poaching in nature reserves. These women, mostly mothers and young girls from local communities, perform patrols, using their knowledge of the terrain to protect wildlife. Their commitment builds a new way of conservation, where women play a central role not only as protectors of nature, but also as models of community leadership.

Architects of climate resilience
Climate change is hitting the African continent hard, but women are showing a remarkable resilience. In the arid Sahel region, women are developing market gardens using water conservation and permaculture techniques. Their work is not limited to food production; they build resilient systems to face droughts and inspire entire communities to adapt to extreme climate conditions.

E-justice pioneers
Digital revolution in Africa often tells the story of young entrepreneurs and tech startups. However, figures like Dorcas Muthoni in Kenya and Nnenna Nwakanma in Côte d'Ivoire are fighting for inclusive e-justice. They endeavor for equal access to information technologies and the protection of digital rights, particularly for women and girls. 

Guardians of cultural heritage
The preservation of African languages and cultures is a fight often led by women. Across the continent, women like Zenzile Miriam Makeba, known as "Mama Africa", and Cesària Evora have used music and art to preserve and promote African cultural diversity. Today, initiatives like that of Mamadou Sow in Senegal, who teaches young girls the musical traditions of the kora, sustain this cultural heritage. These efforts highlight the importance of women in passing on knowledge and traditions to future generations.

Food innovators of the W-Arly-Pendjari complex
Women's groups in Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger, have transformed the local fishing industry through an innovative fish preservation technique: the Chorkor oven. This method not only improves the quality of the dried fish and avoids the loss of the raw material, it also protects the environment through reduced and improved wood consumption. These women learned to build and use the Chorkor oven and have become leaders in promoting sustainable and economic practices. Their success attracted other communities and inspired wider adoption of this eco-friendly technology.

Beyond stereotypes
The celebration of the International African Women's Day requires the recognition and promotion of these unusual and powerful stories. African women are not only examples of resilience and survival; they are innovators, leaders, warriors of justice and guardians of heritage. Their stories inspire and challenge the standards, proving the endless and ever-evolving potential of African women.

Not only do we need to honor the contributions of African women, we also must pave the way for a deeper understanding of their role in shaping the continent's future.