Editorial Thoughts
I am a young African Male and passionately a Feminist.
Those two aspects, of a “male” and a “feminist” are not usually seen together but it’s a testament of how far the feminist thought has grown in Africa and indeed the world!
The African Women Role-Models Series is a result of an action plan that was created by the African Union during Africa Youth Day 2014 as a premise to the African Union 2015 theme of “Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”.
With that in mind, as Ignite The Youth Africa (ITY Africa) we decided to play our part and created this Role-Model series. The reason was simple: All human beings need role-models, especially young girls who, because of the massive patriarchy system that is in place, never get to see that they too can accomplish great feats.
The series has one goal; to inspire at least one girl to not only dream, but also believe and act upon their dreams. As ITY Africa, that is our reason for existence, to ignite the youth into creating the world we want to live in.
The pieces that were ultimately written by 11 amazing young Africans were splendid in showing the diversity of our African “s-heroes”! From the field of politics, to literature, business, advocacy and even business, they are all represented. The Anglophone and Francophone regions of Africa were also dully represented.
This is a small but significant step in the youth being part of the Agenda 2063 and to their voices, beliefs and concerns being heard. For us as ITY Africa, it is a growing testament to the fact that, the youth are no longer the future of our continent – they are now the present!
Kudakwashe Manjonjo
Series Editor