African feminist futures: Reflection on AfWID Conference, January 27-31, 2025
Attending the African Women in Dialogue (AfWID) conference this year was a truly enriching experience. We were fortunate to engage with women delegates from 55 African countries. This third annual dialogue successfully convened over 1,000 African women from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to address pivotal continental issues. Witnessing the gathering of African women’s rights advocates, activists, actionists, thinkers, doers, and leaders in one place is truly inspiring—a rare and moving occurrence.
The conference, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, created an environment where participants could share their unique experiences and expertise, ultimately broadening the vision for African women. The forum’s representation of political minorities is a remarkable achievement. Witnessing the voices of individuals from countries struggling with freedom issues and those living in exile was profoundly impactful. The deliberate attempt to practice an inclusive atmosphere was empowering.
The connections made and insights gathered during the event were invaluable, reinforcing the collective strength of African women and our commitment to effecting change on a continental scale. Moreover, the dialogue was not just about sharing ideas; it celebrated resilience and innovation among African women. The various sessions encouraged empowerment and collaborative strategies to face common challenges. This gathering of minds was a testament to the power of unity and the importance of rallying around shared goals. Overall, the AfWID conference was a catalyst for reflection and actionable steps that we can take to promote progress for women across Africa.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA). Consequently, the AfWID conference commemorated African women’s rights advocates who participated in the 1995 implementation of a comprehensive policy agenda aimed at advancing gender equality and empowering women globally. The declaration emphasises several critical areas: health, education, and economic participation. It outlines strategic objectives and actions to achieve these goals, ensuring that women's rights remain central to global development agendas. For many, the AfWID ceremonial recognition was profoundly moving, capturing the struggles and triumphs of Black African women over the past three decades. Reflecting on the challenges thirty years ago evokes a deeper understanding of present difficulties. This pivotal moment in history for these women underscores the importance of recognising their achievements while acknowledging the ongoing disparities. This context becomes even more critical when considering the continent’s current chaotic political landscape and multiple crises that have implications for progress in gender equality and representation.
For many, the AfWID ceremonial recognition was profoundly moving, capturing the struggles and triumphs of Black African women over the past three decades.
While we celebrate the accomplishments mentioned, it is essential to acknowledge some unsettling issues that have emerged along the way. We wish to highlight these challenges not to diminish our progress but to address them constructively, with the ultimate goal of co-creating a feminist future that deeply embodies and reflects a pan-African, inclusive, equitable, and transformative vision for all people across the continent.
War, advocacy, and solidarity
Despite the excitement of being among women’s rights advocates, activists, thinkers, and doers, the conference was also marked by disappointments steeped in rage and anger. The first incident involved the Sudanese women delegates confronting the initial panel for neglecting Sudan's current crisis of war and displacement. This bold intervention by the Sudanese delegates received overwhelming support, ululation, and agreement in the room. Many appreciated how the organisers promptly acknowledged the delegates by stating, “We see you, we recognise your pain, and we stand in solidarity with you.” The facilitator also requested that the entire room stand silently for a few minutes. However, in the following days, we realised that such activist statements and performances were used to pacify the anger expressed during that intervention, mirrored by the absence of any follow-up providing a digital or other platform to highlight the situation in Sudan.
Despite the excitement of being among women’s rights advocates, activists, thinkers, and doers, the conference was also marked by disappointments steeped in rage and anger.
As people from the continent, we understand too well how our struggles are often reported more for political gain than for genuine solidarity with the people. We have seen time and again how the struggles of African women are rendered invisible, compelling us to work hard to draw attention to our cause, sometimes at the expense of competing between crises - “I stand with Palestine, but I also want the issues in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Ethiopia to be seen,” we often assert. However, we did not expect this same issue to follow us in AfWID. Soon after Sudanese feminists expressed their frustration and urged the organisers to create a space for discussion, all attention shifted to the situation in Sudan. Several of us continued to ask, “What about the DRC? What about Ethiopia? Kenya is also experiencing a political crisis, and soon,” It was incredibly frustrating because, on that day, an active conflict was being reported from Kinshasa, the DRC.
We did not overlook the magazine published and shared at the end of the conference; we express our gratitude to the team who worked tirelessly through long nights. However, using the hashtag during the conference would have been significantly more impactful in highlighting the crisis in African countries and building momentum for the women’s movement in Africa. We believe it was a missed opportunity for the organisers and women’s rights advocates. What greater power can one possess than capitalising on the collective of 1,000 women and their social media spaces to work on advocacy against war and distraction and call for solidarity?
Visibility and meaningful access to space
AfWID is undeniably a powerful and empowering Pan-African platform. However, we have observed a risk of it becoming exclusionary or classist. This concern materialises from multiple systemic and structural injustices: (1) the experiences of participants from countries with “weaker passports,” who reported discriminatory treatment by South African embassies when applying for visas. It is crucial to ensure that the forum remains inclusive and accessible to all women invited to participate, regardless of nationality or socioeconomic status. (2) Although the conference featured exceptional LGBTIQA+ advocates and activists from various African nations, it did not create an inclusive environment for queer individuals. Discussions with some advocates revealed a lack of representation among the panellists and speakers and the absence of space, even as a side event where LGBTIQA+ movement leaders could share insights from their regional and national contexts. (3) Disabilities advocates made a similar comment; while there was an intentional attempt to involve women with disabilities, during the regional meeting actively, one advocate mentioned that it would have been wonderful if disability advocates had a side event to facilitate more networking and exchange of information about the opportunities and challenges faced in different countries.
The pursuit of equal rights and freedom for African women is inseparable from the rights and freedoms of the most marginalised in our communities - sex workers, people with disability, African LGBTIQA+ community, and refugees. We all face oppression under the same patriarchal heterosexist system. Moreover, there’s incredible power in dreaming collectively and organising to create a better world where no one faces killing, torture, or discrimination due to their identity—whether it be gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or race. Representation without active participation risks being seen as tokenism, a reality that we, as black African women, are all too familiar with. We need to do better.
The pursuit of equal rights and freedom for African women is inseparable from the rights and freedoms of the most marginalised in our communities - sex workers, people with disability, African LGBTIQA+ community, and refugees. We all face oppression under the same patriarchal heterosexist system.
Pan African intentions: Nation - Regional - Continental
Organising delegates from 55 African countries is a considerable undertaking in today's social and political crisis. AfWID has achieved this and deserves commendation for its outstanding work. This was made possible through the relentless efforts of regional and national coordinators, who have worked tirelessly to involve women from their countries and regions in women’s rights within their respective professions and areas of expertise. Not only is this a logistical challenge, but gathering representatives must also be difficult. This provides even more reasons to appreciate the decentralised work process and structure that afford autonomy to those appointed nationally and regionally.
Although the decentralised approach to regional and country coordinators is a brilliant strategy, AfWID could benefit from establishing common and basic guidelines and criteria for participant selection to maximise the platform’s impact. While gathering 1,000 people for a shared purpose is impressive, this success should not be assessed solely by numbers. For instance, the decision to have participants share rooms raised valid privacy and security concerns, especially in today’s digital age. It would be prudent for AfWID to reassess this approach to mitigate potential risks in the future.
Concerning the conference itself, this effort was undermined by the lack of programme sessions that thematically focus on geopolitical structures, and women’s movement struggles within this dynamic context were not represented. Consequently, the blind spots highlighted in the above sections, numerous opportunities were overlooked, and issues remained unaddressed, even at a superficial level – including, but not limited to, political uprisings, revolutions, coups, and the establishment of new governments, along with their implications for women. These matters were only mentioned during regional meetings, which were somewhat shaped by the region's priorities, taking current realities into account while reflecting on the experiences of those at the conference. It depends entirely on the power and interest of the regional coordinator to report back and highlight the issues raised in these three-hour meetings.
For many, it remains unclear how regional affairs relate to continental and translate to the pan-Africanist calls for action when reflecting on the overall event. While recognising the complexities of national and regional politics, promoting shared objectives that transcend colonial boundaries is essential.
Healing as central?
Collective healing is not just a concept; it is vital for fostering unity and resilience on the African continent. This healing process is crucial for individual well-being and sustainable movement building that can bring about positive change in our societies. The healing session, which lasted a day and a half, exemplified AfWID’s commitment to this cause. It highlighted the importance of infusing the principles of collective healing into all our feminist gatherings, emphasising that such practices are fundamentally radical and transformative.
Collective healing is not just a concept; it is vital for fostering unity and resilience on the African continent.
However, we must express our concern that sometimes venting can be confused with genuine healing. True healing necessitates a more individualised approach and is inherently communal. It requires profound, relatable techniques specifically designed for the unique situations of individuals and groups. Although the initiative is commendable, a sustainable framework should be implemented to support this healing journey.
In addition, there is a significant challenge that emerges from the prevalence of mainstream healing practices that often alienate many individuals, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds. These approaches can feel foreign and inaccessible to the majority, potentially creating barriers to genuine connection and understanding. Therefore, it is imperative that we actively seek to curate African healing practices that resonate with the experiences of African women. For instance, in many East African countries, making coffee and incense with a circle of women is one practice frequently used by women. Such familiar practices are present in our culture; surely, our ancestors have had ways of healing, but they might not look like the meditation techniques of today’s world. This ongoing exploration requires us to be open and courageous in embracing indigenous practices historically belonging to our cultures.
Communication as a political strategy
Based on our monitoring and assessment of social media engagement, #AfWID and #AfWID2025 primarily focused on reporting current events, highlighting statements made by influential individuals, and sharing photographs that captured poignant moments reflecting the prevailing intention and collective energy at that time. While informative, this approach fails to tap into the more profound potential social media offers for activism and solidarity.
Retrospectively, we recognised a missed opportunity to fully leverage this hyper-visible space and the power inherent across various social media platforms. For example, instead of merely conveying a message to the exhausted and worried women in Sudan that, "We see you, we stand in solidarity with you," the communications team of the organisers could have harnessed the hashtag to bring urgent attention to the pressing issues faced in Sudan and the DRC. This tactic would have been relevant and timely and sparked a pan-African feminist activism movement that would resonate deeply, inspiring many individuals to report on, engage with, and reshare those critical posts.
During the conference, AfWID's social media platforms only reported on everyday occurrences, maintaining a safe and sanitised distance from the significant controversies and crises affecting the continent. This trend reflects a broader failure to recognise and harness the transformative power at our fingertips, coupled with the influence that the digital realm can have on real-world issues. Furthermore, by not engaging with these platforms more effectively, we risk rendering our collective voice less potent in advocating for change. It is crucial to understand that social media is a powerful tool in the struggle for justice and visibility, particularly for marginalised groups. This serves as a potent reminder that there remains a pressing need for more dynamic, responsive, and passionate engagement from all stakeholders.
Finally, we would like to create a space for a poignant moment that touched us profoundly—a young Rwandan participant who shared her experience of living in a liminal space with great emotion. Although her country does not embrace her, she can still represent her nation at the forum. This illustrates both a beautiful act of resilience and a sorrowful reality. While governments and authorities may attempt to physically exile citizens, they cannot suppress the resilience of the people—especially women and, more broadly, all human beings.
While governments and authorities may attempt to physically exile citizens, they cannot suppress the resilience of the people—especially women and, more broadly, all human beings.
Recommendation
- To foster a truly pan-African collective movement, we suggest that AfWID should not always be based in South Africa. Instead, other African countries ought to be nominated for organisational roles. This can aid us in better understanding the diverse challenges faced across the continent.
- AfWID should engage with national and regional coordinators, going beyond merely organising logistics for the conference. It should also prioritise feminist agendas that address regional issues needing urgent collective attention.
- Dynamic communication and media usage are essential for the work that AfWID is undertaking. Such extraordinary moments cannot simply be reduced to mere “highlights of the day” captures; there is power and knowledge that can be harnessed to address relevant issues. We must inevitably take a stance on some of the challenges we are witnessing and experiencing on our continent.
AfWID holds tremendous power as a pan-African platform for women leaders. By engaging in an open dialogue with African women leaders, strategising on agenda priorities for the continent, addressing the noted challenges, refining its methods, and intentionally designing an inclusive forum, we can make this initiative sustainable, empowering, and impactful.