Next Friday, March 7, AWDF and our new partner, Brand Woman Africa, will be hosting an International Women’s Day celebration at the Alliance Française d’Accra. In anticipation of this artistic adventure, the press and several artists who will be featuring their work, were invited to the AWDF headquarters for a small meet-up. Despite the heat, everyone had a chance to share a bit of themselves and we heard from AWDF CEO, Theo Sowa; BWA Founder, Anita Erskine-Amaizo; AfterSchool Ghana Founder, Kinna Likimani; and Alliance Française Director,

Patrice Gilles.

From right: Patrice Gilles, Theo Sowa, Anita Erskine-Amaizo, Kinna Likimani

“Philanthropy is not something that others ‘do’ to Africa. We have African philanthropy to celebrate.”

– Sowa

Gilles recognizes the importance of feminism and the strength of the African woman. Alliance Francaise d’Accra has loved working with AWDF and hopes to continue the partnership to bring more attention to the issues that are important to the fund.

“People overlook the arts, but art is what brings out the issues…I want to get African women to write their stories…get them to move their stories out of their stomachs and onto paper…when you put your thoughts onto paper, that is a radical act.” – Likimani

Likimani recognizes her friend, Alba Simprim, for her contributions to the art world and for being brave enough to share her thoughts through art.

“Women are always saying, ‘I look up to you,’ and ‘I want to be like you.’ And I say that if you want to be like me you would have to stop the clock, go back in time and literally crawl into my mother’s womb…You can be you, and be better than me.”- Erskine-Amaizo

“We want the world to know that we are self-sufficient. With or without external help, we can actually do it…I want [BWA]‘s story to be told from the perspective of the young African woman whose life we were able to change. I’m excited about the future of the modern African woman” – Erskine- Amaizo

French-Haitian musician, Cae, voices her excitement for next week’s event and how privileged she feels to be able to work with all of the women involved.

Sena Ahadji is another artist who will be at IWD March 7. She is a woman of many talents and finds inspiration in others and wishes to provoke peoples’ imaginations.

Closing remarks: “We have to remember that we still have a long way to go. We still see that it’s MEN, MEN, MEN! If you want true success, you have to include women. It is only when African women reach their potential that Africa reaches its potential.”- Sowa

AWDF staff members get to know Cae and Kinna. From right: Likimani, Grace Amenyogbeli, Cae, Gertrude Annoh-Quarshie, Zeytuna Abdella Azasoo

AWDF Finance Assistant, Mavis Gardiner, surrounded by her co-workers and friends who make the efforts of the organisation possible.

AWDF family, including Knowledge Management Specialist, Sionne Neely in blue, who has been dedicating her time and hard work to International Women’s Day this year.

Theo Sowa poses with three of the featured artists, Cae, Zohra Opoku and Alba Simprim. Likimani has said that “bringing culture to AWDF has made all of the difference.”

AWDF, Brand Woman Africa, Alliance Française and the African women artists hope to see you all next Friday, beginning at 6 PM. International Women’s Day deserves to be celebrated, whether you know about feminism or not. Come show your support for these women, it is sure to be a night to remember.

Photos by Emily Barnard