Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a Nigerian politician, a teacher, women’s rights’ activist. Her feminism and democratic socialism lead to the creation of The Abeokuta women’s union (AWU) and later Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF), organisations and movements that aided Fumilayo Ransome Kuti to promote women’s rights to education, employment and to political participation and tax policy that had drastic consequences for the economic independence of the women in Nigeria, she organised tax strikes, demonstrations and a wide spectrum of measures of civilian disobedience. This led the administration of the Egba kingdom, which was under the authority of Great Britain, to the brink of collapse. These protests, which caused nation-wide and internationally sensation, came in the history as Egba Women’s War or “Nigerian Women’s struggle.
When king Alake Ademola of Egbaland wanted to impose taxes on women, Kuti and the AWU clan went to protest using the slogan ‘no taxation without representation’. They were not equal members of society and were strongly opposed to paying taxes until the injustices were rectified. As the women protested outside the Alake’s house,
‘Funmilayo Ransome Kuti who always wanted a better education for women started the first adult education program for women in the country, which she called “the social welfare club for market women”. Through these clubs, she also helped Nigeria’s independence movement.
Other Important Fact about Funmilayo Ransome Kuti
- Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was born in October 25 1900, Abeokuta Ogun State
- She attended the Abeokuta Grammar school for secondary education, and later went to England for further studies. She returned to Nigeria and became a teacher
- On 20 January 1925, she married the Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti.
- Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was also the first woman in the country to drive a car
- In 1978 Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was thrown from a third-floor window of her son Fela’s compound she died due to the injury she sustained from the fall after being in comma for 2 months on 13 April 1978 aged 77
- She was the mother of the activists Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a musician; Beko Ransome-Kuti, a doctor; and Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a doctor and health minister. She was also grandmother to musicians Seun Kuti and Femi Kuti.
- Her Nephew is Prof. Wole Soyinka