Several women in Africa have left their mark on a proud history with remarkable achievements in a challenging environment characterized by violence and ignorance and fueled by the stereotypical image of women. The majority of women in Africa have not received a good education and have rarely been encouraged to pursue their dreams, attain positions, and complete the career paths they deserve. In fact, the social environment sometimes forced them to pay the price for their activity and ambitions.
Although African women are the primary victims of crises, poverty, and diseases, they have continued to fight for a better life and greater educational and job opportunities, instigating revolutions and changes in their societies, leaving golden imprints in various fields in the history of Africa and the world.
**Leaders and Warriors**
While ancient history recounts how Cleopatra captivated the world with her wisdom and achieved a renaissance in economy and governance, there are other honorable yet less famous examples of women who succeeded in leading groups and waging wars in ancient times, such as Amina of Zazzau, a warrior queen of the Hausa in Nigeria, and Yaa Asantewaa, the queen mother of Ejisu, who led the Ashanti rebellion against British colonial rule in the early 20th century.
Despite the fact that history books rarely mention African women in all their glorious details and roles in power structures and society, and although famous female figures are few and far between, this does not negate the existence of a long list of African women who have made history since ancient times, leaving their marks either in power or in the shadows.
In addition to queens and resistance fighters, there are thinkers, poets, and leading rights advocates who have fought in closed societies for women's causes, African unity, and anti-colonialism. Here, we present examples of some of the most notable African women who have not received much attention:
- **Ellen Johnson Sirleaf**: The first woman to serve as president in Africa, thus opening the door for her gender to reach the highest state positions that women in advanced countries like the United States have yet to achieve. After Ellen, who was president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018, Joyce Banda and Catherine Samba-Panza managed to ascend to the presidency in Angola and the Central African Republic, respectively. Ellen served as President of Harvard University, was a history professor, authored numerous works, and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.
- **Fatima al-Fihri**: She spent her wealth serving science and scholars, founding the University of Al Quaraouiyine in Fez, Morocco, in 859 AD, which is considered the oldest university in the world.
- **Taitu Betul**: A warrior princess and empress of Ethiopia, she played a crucial role in the Ethiopian victory over the Italian invasion in 1896. She founded Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital and today's headquarters of the African Union.
- **Kimpa Vita**: A revolutionary leader from the Kingdom of Kongo, she fought for the reunification of her country, which was then a victim of Portuguese chaos; she was captured, sentenced to death, and burned at the stake on July 2, 1706, by order of King Dom Pedro IV.
- **Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti**: One of the symbols of the struggle against colonialism in Nigeria, she led a significant battle in the mid-20th century for women's liberation and self-determination not only in Nigeria but across the continent.
- **Huda Sha'arawi**: A feminist activist and nationalist, she founded the Egyptian Feminist Union and staunchly defended women's issues and rights.
- **Tanella Boni**: An inspiring philosopher, novelist, and poet from Ivory Coast, she has published several works addressing issues of violence and the status of African women.
