Maria was recognised by the Indonesia in 1969 as a National Hero for her. work towards the emancipation of women. This was 45 years after her death in 1924. Born Maria Josphine Catherine Maramis she was made an orphan when both her parents died froma disease when she was only 6. Maria, with her siblings were adopted by their uncle. Girls were primed for marriage from an early age. They were taught to read and write and received some science and history tuition. When she married her name changed to Maria Walanda Maramis. She began to write an opinion column for the local newpaper. Her topic owere motherhood and the woman’s role in caring for the health, well being and education of their families. In 1917 she founded Perctaan Ibu Kepada Anak Turunannya PIKAT , in English The Love of a Mother toward her children. The organization taught mothers how to cook, sew and childcare. PIKAT spread to other islands. It offered women a network through which they could exchange skills and information. Her daughters became teachers. Maria also worked for political change. In 1921 women were given permission to vote for their representatives. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Margaret Yvonne Busby, born in Gold Coast (now Ghana ), became the youngest, first black female publisher in GB. Along with Clive Allison they were co-founders of Alison and Busby, a London based Publishing House, in the 1960s. Notable works Daughters of Africa 1992 New Daughters of Africa 2019 2020 she was voted one of the 100 Great Black Britons. 2021 honoured with the London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement award. 2023 named president of English PEN. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Loujain is from Saudi Arabia. Until 2018 women were not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. In 2014 she deliberately set out to challenge Saudi Arabia’s proscription against female drivers by live streaming her trip as part of a Women to Drive campaign. She was jailed for 73 days.n She has been arrested and released on several occasions for defying the ban . She has been charged with** attempting to destabilise the kingdom** In May 2018 she was effectively kidnapped in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) In 2018 the law was changed. The ban was lifted while she was in jail. In jail she is said to have endured torture, electrocution and threats of dismemberment and rape. In December 2020 she was sentenced to 5 years 8 months in jail by a special (terrorism court’. She was released on 10th February 2021 on strict prohibition conditions and faces a 5 year ban on travel. Despite her release Lourjain is far from free. Awards for her defiance In 2015 she was ranked 3rd in top 100 Most Powerful Arab Woman In 2019 received the PEN America/Barbey Freedom 2019/20 nominated for Nobel Peace Prize 2020 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Malihi Abidi

Jameel Alia Jamil may be a beautiful woman but she wants us to think carefully about that. As a child, born to a Pakistani father and a British Pakistani mother, she faced numerous health issues. As a teenager she had anorexia nervosa (14-17). Aged 17 she had a serious spinal injworldury after being struck by a car. Her recovery from the accident apparently changed her relationship with her body. She is known for her Instagram account 'I weigh’ She realised that she had been conditioned to hate her body by a culture that profits from the self-loathing of young girls. She wants girls to be proud, for us to fell valuable…and look past the flesh on our bones. In 2016 she relocated to the US. She hosts the TBS late-night game show The Misery Index and is a judge on Legendary. Through her willingness to criticise her peers and the structure of the entertainment industry Jameela is a positive and visible role model for millions around the world. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Berta was assassinated, in her home, in 2016, by armed intruders after many years of threats against her life. She was a Honduran environmental activist, indigenous leader, co-founder and coordinator of the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organization of Honduras (COPINH). She had dedicated her life to change Honduras where the rights of indigenous people were routinely violated,activists killed and women died every 18 hours. She successfully led a grassroots campaign/ blockade in 2013, which lasted a year against the world’s largest dam builder to stop the building of the Agua Zarca Dam at the Rio Gualcarque. Protesters were beaten, shot and tortured by the military Berta’s courageous efforts won her the prestigious Golden Environmental Prize.in 2015. In July 2021 Roberto David Castillo, the former president of Desarrollos Energeticos SA (DESA), was found guilty of being a co-conspirator in her murder and sentenced to 22 1/ 2 years in prison. Sources Wikipedia* RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World* by Maliha Abidi

Fatema grew up in the harem of her affluent paternal grandmother along with various female kin and servants. She came of age during a progressive movement. She had the opportunity to step outside the harem doors and receive a university eduction Beyond the Veil: Male-female Dynamics in Muslim Society, written for her PhD, recognizes the power of Muslim women in relation to the Islamic faith. She is regarded as an Influential feminist figure, as she was a renowned public speaker, scholar, teacher, writer and sociologist. Fatema is considered to be one of the founders of Islamic feminism. Sources Wikipedia** RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi*

Leymah Roberta Gbowe, with her collaborator Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ,and WIPNET, were responsible for ending the second Liberia Civil War in 2003. Together they led the Women of Liberia M ass Action of Peace (WIPNET) to end the civil war. They took hundreds of women to the hotel where the peace talks had stalled and stopped the negotiators from leaving until days later an agreement was reached… *The peace hall has been seized by General Leymah and her troops *Abubaker (Read the paragraph In June …) The president of Liberia , Charles Taylor went into exile but was eventually apprehended and sentenced to 50 years imprisonment. 2005 Ellen-Johnson Sirleaf became the first woman president of Liberia. 2011 Leymah and Ellen shared the Nobel Peace prize with Tawakei Kaman. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Gua was born in a family of peasants in the impoverished region of Hua County, Henan Province in China. Seeing the poverty, underdevelopment in her village and the violation to her own grandmothers was the stimulus for her lifelong dedication to improving the rights of women . Aged 18 she attended law school at Peking University, graduating in 1983. She worked at the Ministry of Justice, All China Federation for Women, The All China Association of Lawyers.* In 1995 she attended the Fourth International Forum for Women Lawyers and the United Nations International World Conference on Women in Beijing. Her intension was to observe and interview members, she left an activist. She, with others, founded the Beijing University Law School Women’s Legal Research and Services Centre, also in 1995. It was the first non-profit- making non-government organization specializing in women’s legal aid in China. It grew to become an influential force in safeguarding the rights and interests of women. 2010 Beijing University disassociated itself from the centre. 2016 Chinese government ordered it to be shut down. Despite this Guo continues her work as first public interest lawyer fighting full-time on the front lines to protect women’s rights. In 2019 Gua was awarded Right Livelihood Award for her pioneering and persistent work in securing women’s rights in China. Sources used Wikipedia RISE:Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Wangechi is primarily known for her painting, sculpture, film and performance work. She has established her career in New York City and lived there for more than 20 years. She has directed the female body as subject through collage painting, immersive installation and live and video performance while exploring questions of self -image, gender constructs, cultural trauma, and environmental destruction and notions of beauty and power. Her work often centred on Black women’s bodies.Her Afrofuturist worldscapes confront the pain and discourse of our time. Her art work allowed her to release her anxiety following the 9/11 terrorists attacks. She created beautiful collages using paints, inks and cut-outs from magazines, In 2003 she was invited to take part in a group exhibition with 12 other artists - a major turning point in her career. In 2018 she created scuptures for the exterior niche of the facade for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is the founder of* Africa’s Out* a platform to* advance change through the power of art and activism.* Wangechi has exhibited across the world, an artist attuned to some of the most complex nuances of the 21st century. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Have Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Wilma and her 10 siblings grew up in extreme poverty in Oklahoma Cherokee territory. They spoke Cherokee, and were taught traditions by tribal elders. The family moved to San Francisco where they lived in a troubled neighbourhood and struggled financially. Separated from tribal ways and facing racism and discrimination she found school difficult. This helped transform her into a feminist and activist. She married, had 2 daughters but her husband discouraged her personal growth. Her dedication to native American issues pushed her to pursue university education. She divorced her husband and began to work as a social worker.in Oakland. She returned with her daughters to Oklahoma to work for the Cherokee nation. She developed programmes for healthcare, child and elderly welfare. She also secured community infrastructure development grants. Surviving a near fatal accident she became Deputy Chief to Ross Swimmer. On Ross moving into federal politics she became chief. She held the post for 10 years - re-elected twice. She was progressive, farsighted and focused on cultural pride. She emphasised economic growth and social programmes. There was improvement in all areas *I want to be remembered as the person who helped restore faith in ourselves Wilma Mankiller on the Cherokee Nation Sources Wikipedia RISE:Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Oumou is a Grammy Award winning Malian Wassoulou musician from Bamako, Mali. In 1970 , aged just 2, she was brought up by her mother, Aminata Diakite. Her career 'began ’ at the age of 5 when she won an inter-kindergarten singing competition in Bamako, at the Omnisport Stadium, in front of an audience of several thousand. She left school at an early age and began singing in the streets to help her mother. Aged 16 she went on tour with the percussion group Djoliba to Europe and the Caribbean. Inspired by her reception on tour she established her own musical group. In 1990 recorded her first album* Moussoulou* (Women) with Amandou Ba Guindo - 200,000 copies sold. (in total recorded 8 albums -see Discography) She is considered an ambassador of Wassoulou. Her music has been inspired by the music and traditional dances of the area. Since 1990 she has performed at some on the most important venues in the world. Oumou . is an advocate for women’s rights, opposing child marriage and polygamy. In 2003 she was named ambassador for FAO. In 2022 she was cast in her first acting role. She does not want to become a politician While you’re an artist, you’re free to say what you think, when you are a politician you follow instructions from higher up. Oumon Sangare ,

Umm Kylthum and a B was an Egyptian singer, songwriter and film actress. She was active from the 1920s to the 1970s. In her native Egypt she is a national icon and has dubbed as The Voice of Egypt and Egypt’s** Fourth Pyramid. She was the daughter of an imam who performed religious songs at local weddings. Having heard her father practising one day she asked if she could join his small, all male group. She stood in when her brother fell ill before a public performance. Word soon spread about her enchanting voice and she received invites from near by villages- walking miles to reach the venue. Her early concerts were controversial - some members of the community disapproved of gatherings for entertainment. Her father, for her safety and reputation, suggested she wore a boy’s coat and a Bedouin headscarf. In the 1930s she moved to cosmopolitan Cairo where her reputation grew and grew. Umm had a very strong contralto voice, the lowest female voice, with a range of over 7 octaves, and she performed without a microphone. Her concerts lasted for hours. Audiences regularly requested encores of her favourite lines- she was known to improvise and never sang the same line exactly the same - she might change the scale or the emphasis ! For 40 years she broadcast a live concert on the last Thursday in the month. She recorded over 300 songs over her 60 year career. One of her best songs Enta Omn has been covered and reinterpreted numerous times. Umm embodied pan-Arab unity and her songs of love, longing and loss are still played in taxis, radios and cafes across the Arab world today. Sources Wikipedia *RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World * by Maliha Abidi

Tererai was born in Rhodesia ( now Zimbabwe)in 1965. The children in the poor village of Zvipani received little education. The boys received some basic primary education to help them get a job; the girls almost none because they were expected to get married. Tererai’s father accepted a ‘brideprice’ of a cow and she was married aged just 11. By the age 18 she was the mother of 3 children ( a fourth lost due to poor nourishment). Her husband beat her for wanting an education In 1991 Jo Luck, who headed a development organization visited her village. Jo asked her about her dreams, she replied to get degrees in America. Encouraged by her mother she wrote down those dreams, put the paper in a tin and buried it. In 1998 she moved to Oklahoma with her husband and 5 children. 2001 she had a degree in agriculture education. In 2003 MA degree , husband deported for abuse. Married Mark Trent. 2008 PhD degree- looked at HIV/AIDS programs for women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa. After each degree she returned to Zimbabwe, unearthed the tin and checked off each goal. In 2009 her life story featured in Half the Sky by Nicholas and Sherl WuDunn. Excerpt from book published by The New York Times. Oprah Winfrey ran a segment in an episode. Oprah sent a crew with Tererai to Zimbabwe to dig up the tin. In 2009 she founded the Tinagona Foundation, later renamed Tererai Trent International which has funded several schools in Zimbabwe. In 2011 Oprah revealed Tereria was her all-time favourite guest and donated $1,5 million so she could build a school in her home village. 2015 published children’s book The Girl who Buried her Dreams in a Can 2017 * Awakened Woman: Remembering and Igniting Our Sacred Dreams** a self help book, was named the Outstanding Literary Work, Instructional at the 49th NAAP Image Awards. She has helped educate 1000s of children In Zambabwe while inspiring millions around the world. Tereria fulfilled her dreams Sources Wikipedia *RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World * by Maliha Abidi

Tebello Nyokong (OMB, FRR, Hon FRSC, FRSSAf) is a South African chemist and distinguished professor at Rhodes University. INCREDIBLE to think that in her childhood she had to wear second-hand clothes and was barefoot- her ambition was to own a pair of shoes. As a young child she went to live with her grandparents in the mountains of Lesotho. She learned science observing the wildlife as an 8 year old while caring for sheep. School one day, sheep next day. When she started university she was originally steered away from, science - told it was too difficult. She changed direction and in 2 years with perseverance, completed the science course. 1977 earned BSc degree in chemistry and biology. !987 earned an MA and Ph.D in chemistry Received a Fulbright fellowship to continue her post-doctoral studies at the university of Notre Dame in US. Returned to Lesotho. 1992 began to lecture at Rhodes University. Moved rapidly through the ranks from lecturer, to professor, to distinguished professor. Tebello is known for her research in nanotechnology as well as her work in photo-dynamic therapy. She is paving the way for safer cancer detection without the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy. She researched alternative cancer treatment to chemotherapy. She developing a drug that combined with photodynamic therapy can be injected into the patient and activated by light. She has had 100s of articles published. She has invested her time in training a new generation of chemists, and in programmes to supply unused lab equipment to schools. Tebello has received many awards and honours. She has paved the way for other women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She now has her shoes and many are trying to follow in her footsteps. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Taytu was the third wife of Emperor Manelik II. She was an influential figure in anti-colonial resistance against the Italians during the 19th scramble for Africa. Along with her husband they founded the modern Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in 1886. As empress she played a valuable role advising her husband on all political matters. Together they laid foundations for medical care, postal service, wool production, the railways and the tax system.Under the powerful couple Ethiopia advanced into the beginning of the 20th century. The Treaty of Wuchale (1889) was signed with Ethiopia and Italy to strengthen their relationship but the Amharic (Ethiopian language) and Italian versions were different. An added article in the Italian version declared Ethiopia a protectorate of Italy. Italy had wanted Ethiopia to become a colony. WAR ensued - the battle of Adwa followed . Taytu was present on the front line and led the Ethiopians to a historic victory with strategic brilliance and courage. Ethiopia had successfully defended its sovereignty and became an inspiration for African freedom. In early 1900’s Manelik II fell seriously ill and Taytu took all the decisions for Ethiopia. In her fourth and final marriage she married king Manelik of Shewa who later become Emperor of Ethiopia Sources Wikipedia *RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World * *by Maliha Abidi .

Sanmoa was born in Chongqing, China in 1948. With the communists rising in power her family moved to Taiwan. She was an avid reader which caused her to neglect some areas of other studies. Her father educated her at home. and also hired other teachers. Her art teacher called herself Echo and she inspired Sanmoa to adopt the same name. In 1967 she set off on a journey to US and Europe.Mastered both German and Spanish. Married Jose Maria Quero, an engineer, in 1973.He quit his job to become her travel partner. They went to the Sahara desert. Stories of the Sahara, her first book, was a collection of travel essays -it eventually sold more than 10 million copies. In her lifetime she visited 59 countries. She wrote 19 more books. Tragically she committed suicide in 1991. Sanmoa 's books continue to be red in many languages by readers all around the world. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Raziyyat-Utd-Dunya Wa Ud-Din, popularly known as Razia Sultan, was the fifth Sultan of Delhi. She was courageous, just and generous. She was the only female ruler to sit on the Delhi throne. She was the daughter of Sultan Shamsuddin Litutmish. He had 3 sons. The eldest and heir died prematurely The other two were more interested in the indulgence of royal pleasures rather than leadership. Razia administered Delhi (1231-2) when her father was busy in the Gwalior campaign. Litutmish nominated her to succeed him. fe or mistreaa On his death Ruknuddin Firuz , her half brother, succeeded him and his mother, Shah Turkan, wanted Razia executed. But Razia instigated the general public against him. Ruknuddin and his mother were assassinated. Razia, a female, was now Sultan.She adopted masculine attire in court and on the battlefield.She believed in her supremacy as a ruler and took the title Sultan - (she refused to be called Sultana because it denoted a wife or mistress of the Sultan). Her reign was short. She was a great leader who cared deeply about the empire and was popular with her subjects. She expanded the territory of the state, and fostered peace and prosperity. There was unfortunately resentment against her and she reigned for less than years (1236-40) . She married one of the rebel leaders - Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia in an attempt to regain the throne but was defeated by her half brother and successor Muizuddin Bahramin in October 1240 . She was killed shortly afterwards. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Baby Noor Jehan was her stage name(born Allah Rakhi Wasai) was a famous playback singer (one whose voice is played over actor’s lip-syncing) and an actress. She worked first for British India and then the cinema in Pakistan. She had command of Hindustani classical music as well as other genres. She recorded over 20,000 songs in different languages -Urdu, Punjabi and Sindhi. She sang 2,442 songs in 1,148 films. She was awarded 15 Nigar awards and the national* Star of Excellence*. In 1951 she appeared as a main character in her first Pakistan film. She was also co-director with her husband - becoming Pakistan’s first female film director. Her career lasted over 50 years. 1965 saw the war of Pakistan with India. Her patriotic songs broadcast on the radio apparently had a profound effect on the morale of the Pakistani soldiers. Following the partition of India she moved her family to the new nation of Pakistan. Her presence in Pakistan shored up the entertainment industry in Lahore. Noor returned to India in 1982 where she was received by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Sources Wikipedia RISE:Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Negin is a female conductor leading the Zohra - the first all female orchastra in Afghanistan. Being a girl, under Taliban rule, she could never share her passion with her family. He first steps were in secret until she finally revealed her passion to her father who supported her… She was sent to an orphanage called the Afghan Child Education and Care Organization (AFCECO). Aged 13 she was selected for the Afghanistan Institute for Music by musicologist Ahmad Naser Samast. Half the students are street kids or orphans. Talented and hard working she learned to play the lute-like robab and the piano. , She also studied singing before becoming a conductor. In 2017 they performed outside Afghanistan for the first time at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. They have since been on tours to Switzerland and Germany. I will never accept defeat. I will continue to play music. I do not feel safe but when people say 'That is Negin Khpalwak ’ that gives me energy. Sources Wikipedia RISE:Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Nawal El Saadawi wrote numerous books on the subject of women in Islam. She was described as Egypt’s most radical woman. Nawal was founder and president of the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association and co-founder of the Arab Association for Human Rights. She studied medicine in Cairo and New York. She was appointed Director General of Health Education at Egypt’s Ministry of Health. She remained in post until she published Women and Sex -in which she criticised FGM (Female Gential Mutilation) - aged just 6 she had under done FMG.She was expelled. As a psychiatrist she had special insight into the traumas and injustices Egyptian women faced daily. Her writing empowered women but proved unacceptable to Egyptian political and religious authorities. She was imprisoned for a time and wrote Memories from the Women’s Prison (1983) using toilet paper and an eyebrow pencil . Nawal was a prolific writer writing both non-fiction and fiction.They were translated into many languages. ( Selected works) She fled Egypt in 1988 when her life was threatened. She returned to Cairo in 1996 where she stayed until her death in 2021. They call me a wild and dangerous woman. I speak the truth. And truth is wild and dangerous Nawal El Saadawi Sources Wikipedia Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the Worldby Maliha Abidi