WOMEN — #WECHOOSETOCELEBRATE
Give us a break, we have been challenging the status quo all year, today, we celebrate!
It is international women’s day and WE have come a long way. I am here to show gratitude to every woman I have ever crossed paths with. I am grateful for all of you; all of us.
We must reflect on how far we have come as a collective and appreciate what our raised voices have achieved.
Today and every other day, the acts of women generations before continue to shape our lives for good. How do we thank — Queen Lúwo Gbàgìdá, the first and only female Ooni of Ife, Orompoto, the first and only female Alaafin of Oyo who years after their lives still inspire women by the lives they led.
You see, something as random as another woman’s existence is enough to be grateful for. A woman’s existence teaches another woman worthiness in a way that she can go forth and occupy spaces unapologetically.
Jacqueline Moudeina and Wangarĩ Muta Maathai are the most suited representation of African women who do not conform to social conventions, women whose only limitation is the one they set for themselves. How would younger women have learnt it was possible to challenge a former head of state until he was found guilty of crimes against humanity in an African tribunal or be the first African woman to win the Nobel Prize if these women did not live life on their own terms.
Again, I thank these women…and what better time than this moment to thank that sister who willfully stood behind me on the queue to help cover my stained skirt. We both didn’t get to exchange names or contact but I still carry that gesture everywhere with me.
Because random women know how to show up for one another, I know EVERY sister has a story about another sister who came to her defence, made her day better, recommended her in a room full of opportunities or inspired her by just being. I ask that we say a little prayer for them.
Lastly, “Here is to strong women, May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”
But a better version is, here is to women!
#IChooseToLiberate
