Art by Chidinma Nnoli

As we march towards march, I want to recognize Women’s History Month, where we celebrate each other’s achievements in all aspects of life. I am quite astounded by a woman’s layers; like an onion, she reveals a depth embedded within her, thriving through adversities that may or may not be seen by the outside world. Beginning with our ancestors, we have inherited a multitude of attitudes that help us embody our inner strengths.

My grandmother, for example, who is 90, continues to surprise me every day despite us living together for so long. She is a woman of discipline and an archive of memories- she knows exactly what happened on January 20, 2001, Saturday afternoon per se. A purposeful woman like her is driven by wit and sarcasm and knows how to weave her social life in the direction she desires. I have never seen her sleep or eat outside of the hour she does those things every single day. She is a force to be reckoned with, which makes me think- if she has the opportunity of an education, you and I would benefit from her sharp mind, I could say the same thing about our grandmothers, who were forced to marry young.

Yet, despite being a young bride, to a rigid husband, she made a bold choice- she ran away and started her life in another city, all alone. She stood alone, and she stood strong. In the years that followed, she managed to start her shop and build her life from the ground up. She once told me she had a big farm she owned and managed from dusk till dawn, which doesn’t surprise me knowing her directorial skills. If I could have even half the strength she had, I would consider myself a happy woman.

To all the women out there who continue to rise above their weaknesses no matter their age, My admiration knows no bounds. Unlike our counterparts, we navigate a man’s world, and it is far from a cakewalk. I could give you a million reasons but we all know them by heart. However, we are not victims; we are the sole owners of our destiny. whatever life throws at us, we will continue making lemonade; even with stones.

So, let’s celebrate this month by acknowledging the girls and women around us, and offering each other words of encouragement and recognition. Finally, let’s not just celebrate women this month – let’s uplift, support, and champion each other every single day.

On that note, I would like to dedicate this blog post to AWiB’s incredible women – those who make the dream work, who are unafraid to be vulnerable and strong – I say that in the same breath.

Happy women’s month.

Written by: Ruth Mekasha

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