Moreen Majiwa- the multi-dimensional feminist

Moreen is a Pan African feminist and lawyer with over 10 years’ experience in the women’s rights movement having worked for organisations such as UAF-Africa and Oxfam. She’s currently the AWESOME Programme Manager at Womankind Worldwide and strongly believes in the power of collective feminist action to dismantle systems of oppression such as patriarchy, white supremacy, capitalism as well as colonial and neo-colonial systems. 

 She came into feminist consciousness during her stint at UAF-Africa where she got grounded in feminist analysis as a solution to some of the most pressing social issues in the world. And she’s been on a quest to introspect capitalism, patriarchy and colonialism’s effects on Africa. This has grounded her to tailor African solutions in response to African problems from a feminist approach. 

 Where would you cluster yourself in the feminist space? Are you an igniter, disrupter, defender, front-liner or sister? 

 I am constantly evolving. My journey in the feminism space has been circular being all the above (igniter disrupter, defender, frontline and sister) at different periods of my life and career. There are moments I’ve been on the front-line in project implementation, but also doubled up as a sister and igniter. For example, I led and executed a programme focused on the ratification of the Maputo protocol where I was an igniter in championing inclusion of grassroot NGOs in the conversation.  

Currently I see myself as a disruptor and as a sister within the AWESOME programme. This has been influenced by the current development space which is still very top-down and I believe African women know the solutions to their problems and should not be seen as beneficiaries as they are also innovators and creative problem solvers. Decisions that affect us are still made outside the continent, and as a disruptor I think there needs to be new ways of thinking that center African feminists analysis  and solutions. 

I acknowledge my frontline sisters and defenders who do the hardest work but rarely get the recognition and funding to keep on with their work. 

 Would you share with us some of your milestones and contributions in the feminism movement? 

I am proud of all my work but particularly the work around the Maputo Protocol which I believe is the most progressive policy on women’s rights in the world. I celebrate my contribution to its implementation and ratification across all African countries while at Oxfam where I saw the fruits of partnership work and regional mobilisation, working alongside grass-root organisations. 

What are you celebrating on this Africa Day? OR Who are you celebrating on this Africa Day? 

I celebrate being African- I love our diversity, resourcefulness and ideas. I celebrate the African Union, it’s a step in the right direction of a unified and independent Africa as one of the youngest continents in the world. I celebrate all the African feminists and African feminism- which holds the lens through which we can champion solutions to equality, patriarchy and ending neo-liberal capitalism.  

What would you like to reiterate in this year’s Africa day in relation to gender equality? And what’s your ideal Africa when it comes to realizing gender equality 

I want an Africa where women have freedom of self-determination, where they feel safe, have bodily autonomy, and where we no longer see ourselves from a colonial lens. An Africa where we celebrate our cultures more and a continent that has more control over its resources.  

Any special quote from feminist sisters or feminist respected leaders that you’d like to highlight on this Africa Day? 

I’ll instead celebrate an African feminist- Winnie Mandela who holds an important space as an African woman who was bold with her feminism during the apartheid era in South Africa. I recommend her biography: Winnie Mandela:A life. It gives us a glimpse into her personal and political life as a feminist.