Akina Mama wa Afrika, the GBV Prevention Network, Make Way and QWESHUNGA join the global campaign for 16 Days of Activism with a resounding message: amidst it all, we must reclaim our feminist joy.

Why Feminist Joy, you may ask? Well, as African feminists dreaming and working towards better futures for ourselves and others, all our efforts come down to the pursuit of collective joy and liberation. 

Ironically, in our advocacy work for the wellness of others, we are robbed of our joy as we constantly clash with the systems that stand between us and the lives we could all live. Our happiness is perpetually disrupted as we experience and witness the sustained socio-political-economic and climate crises. 

Part of our resistance to this sustained attempt to rob us of our joy is to theorise and practice continuously reclaiming our happiness. Of course, as African feminists, we believe this must be done collectively, from personal to communal to political levels.

As part of our offering, Akina Mama wa Afrika, convened Ugandan feminists to discuss pathways to reclaiming feminist joy. The letters feature feminist perspectives and recommendations on feminist joy towards the self, women, minoritised communities, future generations and the land.

This guide also provides resources on how to build joy centered communities through poetry, music lists and readings from Africans. 

Download the Guide