Resistance politics among the women of the old: Funmilayo Kuti, Muthoni wa Kirima and Miriam Makeba in comparative behavioural perspectives

Abstract

History and memories of African liberation cannot be complete without the mention of some women who, through many means in many places, resisted colonialism, slavery and apartheid. Prominent amongst them are Funmilayo Kuti of Nigeria, Muthoni wa Kirima of Kenya and Miriam Makeba of South Africa who all engaged in different resistance politics in ensuring that Africa was liberated. Using the life history approach, this paper takes a behavioural exploration into the similarities and distinctions in their politics, with a view to making certain generalizations considered useful for the final journey of African liberation currently being embarked upon: Decolonization. One generalization is that certain socialization patterns aided the success of these women's struggles. The other is that the different means and environments of their resistance notwithstanding, the trio of Kuti, wa Kirima and Makeba took advantage of some intertwined dominant global ideas to command local and international supports. We recommend that today's girls and women of Africa should explore both of these for achieving their diversified individual goals while at the same time emphasising the indivisibility and final liberation of Africa.