The Sierra Leone Women's Movement (SLWM) was a Sierra Leonean women's organization founded by Constance Cummings-John in 1951 in collaboration with women leaders from Sierra Leone markets.[1]
The SWLM was founded in the aftermath of a 1951 Freetown demonstration of ten thousand women protesting the high cost of living and proposed increases in market dues. The women, led by Mabel Dove Danquah and Hannah Benka-Coker, blamed Lebanese wholesalers for the rising food prices, and petitioned for women to be given a monopoly to buy palm oil and rice directly from the governmental agricultural station.[2]
The Women's Movement campaigned on a mix of issues of importance to women, including trading rights and education, and lobbied for a farmers' bank. It published its own newspaper, set up a women traders' cooperative, and ran evening classes.[3] Though several prominent women in the SLWM were Creole, the organization also included Temne women, such as Haja Sukainatu Bangura, who served as the SLWM's vice-chairperson.[4]
In 1955 Milton Margai managed to win the SWLM's active support for the Sierra Leone People's Party.[5] In 1960 the SLWM became a founder member of the Federation of Sierra Leone Women's Organizations.[3]
Referencesedit
^Kathleen Sheldon (2008). "African Liberation and Nationalist Movements". In Bonnie G. Smith (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History. Oxford University Press. p. 52. ISBN978-0-19-514890-9.
^Filomena Steady (2005). Women and Collective Action in Africa: Development, Democratization, and Empowerment, with Special Focus on Sierra Leone. Palgrave Macmillan US. pp. 62–65. ISBN978-1-4039-7949-0.
^ abMarika Sherwood (2003). "Constance Cummings-John". In Hakim Adi; Marika Sherwood (eds.). Pan-African History: Political Figures from Africa and the Diaspora Since 1787. Routledge. p. 31. ISBN978-1-134-68933-0.
^Joseph J. Bangura (2012). "Gender and Ethnic Relations in Sierra Leone: Temne Women in Colonial Freetown". History in Africa. 39: 267–292.
^West Africa. Afrimedia International. 2001. p. 17.
Further readingedit
Diary of the Sierra Leone Women's Movement, 1951-1981. Freetown: Government Printer, 1981.
January 01, 1970
sierra, leone, women, movement, slwm, sierra, leonean, women, organization, founded, constance, cummings, john, 1951, collaboration, with, women, leaders, from, sierra, leone, markets, swlm, founded, aftermath, 1951, freetown, demonstration, thousand, women, p. The Sierra Leone Women s Movement SLWM was a Sierra Leonean women s organization founded by Constance Cummings John in 1951 in collaboration with women leaders from Sierra Leone markets 1 The SWLM was founded in the aftermath of a 1951 Freetown demonstration of ten thousand women protesting the high cost of living and proposed increases in market dues The women led by Mabel Dove Danquah and Hannah Benka Coker blamed Lebanese wholesalers for the rising food prices and petitioned for women to be given a monopoly to buy palm oil and rice directly from the governmental agricultural station 2 The Women s Movement campaigned on a mix of issues of importance to women including trading rights and education and lobbied for a farmers bank It published its own newspaper set up a women traders cooperative and ran evening classes 3 Though several prominent women in the SLWM were Creole the organization also included Temne women such as Haja Sukainatu Bangura who served as the SLWM s vice chairperson 4 In 1955 Milton Margai managed to win the SWLM s active support for the Sierra Leone People s Party 5 In 1960 the SLWM became a founder member of the Federation of Sierra Leone Women s Organizations 3 References edit Kathleen Sheldon 2008 African Liberation and Nationalist Movements In Bonnie G Smith ed The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History Oxford University Press p 52 ISBN 978 0 19 514890 9 Filomena Steady 2005 Women and Collective Action in Africa Development Democratization and Empowerment with Special Focus on Sierra Leone Palgrave Macmillan US pp 62 65 ISBN 978 1 4039 7949 0 a b Marika Sherwood 2003 Constance Cummings John In Hakim Adi Marika Sherwood eds Pan African History Political Figures from Africa and the Diaspora Since 1787 Routledge p 31 ISBN 978 1 134 68933 0 Joseph J Bangura 2012 Gender and Ethnic Relations in Sierra Leone Temne Women in Colonial Freetown History in Africa 39 267 292 West Africa Afrimedia International 2001 p 17 Further reading editDiary of the Sierra Leone Women s Movement 1951 1981 Freetown Government Printer 1981 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sierra Leone Women 27s Movement amp oldid 1212648174, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
