Igbesi Aiye Chief Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (The life and times of Chief Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti)

Abstract

This manuscript contains the biography of Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a Nigerian activist, feminist, and the first woman in Abeokuta to drive a car. History recognizes her as the first female Nigerian political activist. She is also regarded as “The Mother of Africa.” Her full name is Francis Abigail Olufunmilayo Thomas. Mrs. Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was born on October 25, 1900 to Lucretia Phyllis Omoyeni Adeosulu and Daniel Olumeyuwa Thomas. She attended the Abeokuta Grammar School and completed her education in England. She returned to Nigeria and became a teacher. Chief Funmilayo was then married to Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in 1925. She later became the leader of the Nigerian Union of Students and later on joined the Nigerian Union of Teachers. This Yoruba Anjemi manuscript also highlights Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti's educational, social, and political struggles as an activist, politician, and educator in Nigeria. She actively fought for gender equality and started a campaign to help Nigerian women obtain the right to drive a car. She created the Commoners' People's Party to challenge the ruling National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons party (NCNC). During the Cold War, Funmilayo Kuti traveled around the countries of the Eastern Bloc, including USSR, China and Hungary. Mao Zedong met with her in 1956. She was one of the most influential people who negotiated for the independence of her country with the British authorities. She died aged 77 after receiving injuries from a military raid on her family property.