Spare us the buzz words: This is what investment in women means to African feminists

For International Women’s Day, Akina Mama wa Afrika hosted a panel discussion ‘Spare us the buzz words: This is what investment in women means to African feminists’.

As African radical feminists, we are far from fooled by the cosmetic “investment efforts” done within this neocolonial, capitalist and imperialist den. Our radical decolonial and intersectional lens enables us to see that there are no permanent gains to be harvested from investment efforts that gloss over rather than tear down the oppressive systemic structures like Patriarchy, Capitalism, Racism, Neoliberalism, Neocolonialism, inter alia. We know that as long as these systems exist, they will keep minting the problems that keep women as the face of poverty and the poster child of every oppression. Therefore, as we commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day under the theme: “Invest in Women,” we invite you all to a deep and honest examination of what “investing in women” truly means and the kind of work it will take. Above the din drummed up by greedy profit driven entities making vacuous declarations of their desire to invest in women, here are feminist approaches to investing in women from an economic, political leadership and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights front.

• Panel Moderator:
  • Culton Scovia Nakamya – Award winning journalist and media practitioner.
• Speakers:
  • Buky Williams – Pan African Feminist and SRHR Lead of Akina Mama wa Afrika.
  • Babirye Patience Gloria – Advocate on the regional council for youth with disabilities under the Make Way.
  • Flavia Kyomukama – Executive Director of Action Group for Health, Human Rights, and HIV/AIDS.
  • Loretta Okeny Owino – Feminist and Human Rights Activist, SRHR lead at VSO and program implementation manager of the Make Way Programme.
  • Stella Nansamba – Economist Feminist and works on the Women Political Leadership Programme at AMwA Venue: Sankara Pan Afrikan Library.

For more information and recommendations, you can check this special newsletter created by AMwA on International Women’s Day.