IWD 2015-Olufunmilayo Ransom Kuti (Generational legacies)

FUNMILAYO RANSOME KUTI

Born October 25th, 1900 in Abeokuta, Ogun State of Nigeria, she was a teacher, political campaigner, and Women's rights activist. Her heroics in political activism led to her being tagged the doyen of female rights in Nigeria. She was also fondly called The Mother of Africa. The Lioness of Lisabi, according to the West African  Pilot, was a very strong force advocating for women's right to vote.

Her leadership of Egba women on a campaign against arbitrary taxation of women led to the stepping down of King Ademola II of Egbaland in 1949.

 

 Funmilayo was Nigeria's first ever representative at a women's international conference in the USSR in 1963. She was also the co-founder of both the Nigerian Union of Students and the Nigerian Union of Teachers. She made concerted effort to ensure that girls went to school. It's not amazing that she was credited with the founder of the largest African women's organisation ever with 20, 000 members.

Though, Funmilayo was humanly orchestrated, her legacies - bravery, doggedness, and vocal power lived on through her lineage. Her children, Fela and Beko Ransome Kuti constantly threatened the powers that be. They were jailed severally and Fela Anikulapo in particular died without being silenced. Funmilayo's grand-children live her legacy and will undoubtedly pass it on to generations to come.
 pen