Born: 25 October 1900, Nigeria
Died: 13 April 1978
Country most active: Nigeria
Also known as: NA
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a prominent figure in Nigeria, known for her roles as an educator, political activist, suffragist, and advocate for women’s rights.
Ransome-Kuti was the first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School. She later became a teacher, pioneering preschool programs and literacy classes for underprivileged women.
During the 1940s, she founded the Abeokuta Women’s Union and campaigned vigorously for women’s rights, pushing for better representation in local governance and the elimination of unfair market taxes. She earned the nickname “Lioness of Lisabi” for leading massive women’s marches and protests that compelled the ruling Alake to step down in 1949 temporarily. As her influence grew, she actively participated in Nigeria’s independence movement, attending conferences and representing Nigeria in international discussions on national constitutions. She played a pivotal role in establishing the Nigerian Women’s Union and the Federation of Nigerian Women’s Societies, advocating for women’s voting rights and gaining international recognition as a women’s rights and peace advocate.
Ransome-Kuti was honored with the Lenin Peace Prize and inducted into the Order of the Niger for her outstanding contributions. In her later years, she supported her sons’ criticism of Nigeria’s military regimes. She died at 77 after sustaining injuries during a military raid on her family’s property.