She was pregnant when she fought. She was pregnant when they captured her. She gave birth in a prison cell. The next morning, they hanged her!

Her name was Solitude. And she chose that name herself.

In this week's episode of Women & Resistance, hosts @Aya Fubara Eneli, Esq., and Adesoji Iginla bring you the story of La Mulâtresse Solitude — born 1772 in Guadeloupe, a woman whose life spans rape at sea, Maroon resistance, armed combat, and a state execution the morning after she gave birth.

In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte reinstated slavery in the French colonies — erasing eight years of freedom that the people of Guadeloupe had fought for and built lives within.

Solitude — pregnant — took up arms alongside freedom fighters Louis Delgrès and Joseph Ignace. She fought in every major battle. She survived the mass detonation at Matouba, where 400 freedom fighters chose to blow themselves up rather than submit to re-enslavement. She was captured, imprisoned, and executed the day after delivering her child — because under colonial law, the child was her enslaver's property, and they could not destroy property before it was born.

Her story was nearly erased. Tonight, we restore it through an Afrocentric lens that situates Solitude in the long tradition of African women warriors: Nanny of the Maroons, Queen Nzinga of Angola, Yaa Asantewaa of the Ashanti.

We ask what her life means for Black women's bodily autonomy today. We ask whether her proposed entry into the French Panthéon is recognition or co-optation. And we ask what radical self-determination looks like for Black women across eras.

Takeaways

*History of slavery in Guadeloupe
*La Mulâtresse Solitude's personal story of resistance
*The impact of colonialism and slavery on African descendants
*Legacy of the Haitian Revolution and African resistance
*The importance of memory, history, and resistance in contemporary struggles

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to La Mulâtresse Solitude
01:19 The Life and Legacy of La Mulâtresse Solitude
04:02 Historical Context of Guadeloupe
05:52 The Story of Enslavement
08:41 Resistance and the Fight for Freedom
11:55 The Illusion of Freedom and Napoleon's Return
12:44 The Fight for Freedom
13:24 The Battle of Matuba
14:13 Demonisation and Resistance
15:44 The Role of Women in Resistance
16:58 The Indomitable Spirit
17:55 Legacy and Memory
20:56 The Impact of Revolt
23:20 Recognition and Erasure
25:27 The Role of Black Women in History
28:04 Connecting Past and Present

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Welcome to Women and Resistance, a powerful podcast where we honour the courage, resilience, and revolutionary spirit of women across the globe. Hosted by Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla...

You're listening to Women and Resistance with Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla—where we honour the voices of women who have shaped history through courage and defiance...Now, back to the conversation.

That’s it for this episode of Women and Resistance. Thank you for joining us in amplifying the voices of women who challenge injustice and change the course of history. Be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation. Together We Honour the past, act in the present, and shape the future. Until next time, stay inspired and stay in resistance!

They told her she couldn't play. She told the whole world she was Black. 🖤

This week on Women & Resistance, Aya Fubara Eneli Esq. and Adesoji Iginla go deep into one of the most extraordinary — and underknown — stories of resistance in the African diaspora: the life and legacy of Victoria Santa Cruz (1922–2014), Afro-Peruvian choreographer, composer, activist, and author of the poem that launched a movement.

Born in Lima, Peru, Victoria grew up in a society that had spent a century erasing its African roots through the colonial ideology of mestizaje — racial "mixing" that really meant racial whitening.

She grew up in a home full of Black artists and musicians, and grew up in a country that classified their art as folklore — charming, peripheral, not serious.

At age five, she was told by a white girl that she couldn't play. At age 91, she died knowing that those words had become a global declaration of Black womanhood.

In this episode, we explore:

*The Spanish colonial casta system and how it engineered the erasure of Afro-Peruvians from national identity
*How Victoria built Peru's first Black theatre company with no formal training — then took it to the 1968 Olympics
*Me gritaron negra — the 1978 poem that became the founding text of the Afro-Peruvian women's movement and went viral during Black Lives Matter
*The natural hair movement in Peru and how a single poem sparked it
*Her radical philosophy: "Before Marx, there was rhythm" — why she refused political labels while fighting the hardest political battles
*What it means to use rhythm, dance, and ancestral memory as instruments of liberation — and why colonial powers knew to ban the drum

Takeaways

*Victoria Santa Cruz's impact on Afro-Peruvian culture
*The role of rhythm and dance in resistance
*The history of racial hierarchy and erasure in Peru
*The importance of cultural memory and identity
*Victoria Santa Cruz's activism and legacy

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Victoria Santa Cruz
02:15 The Importance of Cultural Memory
03:56 The Caste System and Its Legacy
05:28 The Struggle for Visibility
07:17 Childhood Experiences of Identity
08:14 Embracing Black Identity
10:09 Cultural Revival and Resistance
11:55 Ancestral Memory and Rhythm
13:13 Empowerment Through Identity
15:01 Reclaiming Blackness and Cultural Heritage
16:29 The Historical Context of Afro-Peruvians
17:47 Teaching and Sharing Ancestral Knowledge
19:33 Legacy and Cultural Recognition
24:12 The Importance of Internal Transformation
25:42 The Ongoing Fight for Visibility
27:56 Connection to Ancestry and Resistance
28:32 Guiding Future Generations
33:03 Continuing the Legacy of Activism

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Welcome to Women and Resistance, a powerful podcast where we honour the courage, resilience, and revolutionary spirit of women across the globe. Hosted by Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla...

You're listening to Women and Resistance with Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla—where we honour the voices of women who have shaped history through courage and defiance...Now, back to the conversation.

That’s it for this episode of Women and Resistance. Thank you for joining us in amplifying the voices of women who challenge injustice and change the course of history. Be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation. Together We Honour the past, act in the present, and shape the future. Until next time, stay inspired and stay in resistance!

This episode explores the life and legacy of Queen Mother Moore, a pioneering Black activist and advocate for reparations, highlighting her contributions from the post-slavery era to modern movements for Black liberation.

Takeaways

*Queen Mother Moore's early life and heritage
*Her role in the Black activism and reparations movement
*Her involvement with African independence and Pan-Africanism
*Her advocacy for Black dignity and systemic change

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Women and Resistance
00:50 The Legacy of Queen Mother Moore
04:03 Queen Mother Moore's Early Life and Identity
08:09 The Call for Reparations
15:02 Activism and Advocacy for Black Rights
18:12 Challenging Norms: Love and Relationships
21:04 The Fight for Black Soldiers
22:45 Collaboration with Civil Rights Leaders
24:01 Galvanising the Community
26:22 Understanding Political Dynamics
27:28 Leaving the Communist Party
29:12 Founding the Universal Association of Ethiopian Women
30:51 Connecting with Africa
32:50 The Case for Reparations
35:22 Organisational Discipline and Activism
36:44 Honouring African Heritage
38:32 The Importance of Documentation

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Welcome to Women and Resistance, a powerful podcast where we honour the courage, resilience, and revolutionary spirit of women across the globe. Hosted by Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla...

You're listening to Women and Resistance with Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla—where we honour the voices of women who have shaped history through courage and defiance...Now, back to the conversation.

That’s it for this episode of Women and Resistance. Thank you for joining us in amplifying the voices of women who challenge injustice and change the course of history. Be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation. Together We Honour the past, act in the present, and shape the future. Until next time, stay inspired and stay in resistance!

In this episode of Women and Resistance, Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla explore the life and work of Zimbabwean writer Yvonne Vera, delving into themes of silence, patriarchy, and historical memory.

The conversation highlights her contributions to literature, her personal journey, and the importance of addressing taboo subjects to foster liberation.

Takeaways

*Yvonne Vera's background and influence
*The role of taboo subjects in her writing
*Her personal experiences with patriarchy and HIV
*The importance of storytelling in resistance
*Her views on liberation and historical memory

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Yvonne Vera's Legacy
01:57 Exploring Taboo Subjects in Literature
04:25 The Impact of Colonialism and Nationalism on Women
06:52 The Duality of Women's Lives
09:14 The Role of Silence in Healing
11:10 The Body as a Vessel of Memory
13:37 The Intersection of Personal and Collective Trauma
15:49 The Complexity of Women's Experiences
18:16 The Silence of War and Its Aftermath
19:48 Challenging Patriarchy and Speaking Out
22:20 The Power of Storytelling
23:10 Women and Violence: A Connection to the Land
24:29 Legacy of Strong Women
27:21 The Writer's Journey: Finding Home in Words
30:49 The Burden of Exile and Healing
34:17 Confronting Patriarchy and Embracing Truth

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Women and Resistance, a powerful podcast where we honour the courage, resilience, and revolutionary spirit of women across the globe. Hosted by Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla...

You're listening to Women and Resistance with Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla—where we honour the voices of women who have shaped history through courage and defiance...Now, back to the conversation.

That’s it for this episode of Women and Resistance. Thank you for joining us in amplifying the voices of women who challenge injustice and change the course of history. Be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation. Together We Honour the past, act in the present, and shape the future. Until next time, stay inspired and stay in resistance!

This episode features the inspiring story of Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil rights leader who overcame unimaginable hardships to fight for voting rights and racial justice.

Her journey from sharecropper to national icon highlights the power of resilience, activism, and community organising.

Takeaways

*Fannie Lou Hamer's early life and hardships
*The civil rights movement and grassroots activism
*Voter registration and political empowerment in Mississippi

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Fanny Lou Hamer
00:54 Fanny Lou Hamer's Early Life and Struggles
04:36 Lessons from Family and Community
07:38 The Reality of Sharecropping and Education
11:41 Health Care Disparities and Personal Trauma
15:40 The Impact of Violence and Control in Mississippi
19:43 Grassroots Activism and the Civil Rights Movement
24:28 Journey to Voter Registration
27:22 Facing Intimidation and Violence
31:38 The Fight for Voting Rights
41:05 Building Community and Freedom
45:43 Legacy and Recognition

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Women and Resistance, a powerful podcast where we honour the courage, resilience, and revolutionary spirit of women across the globe. Hosted by Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla...

You're listening to Women and Resistance with Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla—where we honour the voices of women who have shaped history through courage and defiance...Now, back to the conversation.

That’s it for this episode of Women and Resistance. Thank you for joining us in amplifying the voices of women who challenge injustice and change the course of history. Be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation. Together We Honour the past, act in the present, and shape the future. Until next time, stay inspired and stay in resistance!

In this episode of Women and Resistance, we explore the fierce resistance of Her Majesty Lingeer Ndate Yalla Mbodj in 19th century Senegambia, highlighting her leadership, sovereignty, and the ongoing struggle against colonial forces.

Through her story, we learn about African resilience, sovereignty, and the importance of resisting cultural and political domination.

Takeaways

*Her Majesty Lingere Indarte Yala Mboj's leadership and sovereignty
*Strategies of resistance against French and colonial expansion
*The significance of matrilineal and spiritual authority in African kingdoms
*The impact of colonial divide-and-conquer tactics
*Legacy of African resistance and lessons for today

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Women and Resistance
00:54 The Legacy of Lingere Indarte Yala Mboj
03:32 The Sovereignty of Walo and Its Matrilineal Society
07:08 Marriage as Diplomacy in Leadership
11:34 French Expansion and Resistance
16:11 Defiance Against Colonial Demands
20:26 The Importance of Unity in Resistance
20:36 The Unyielding Spirit of Resistance
24:33 The Nature of Conquest and Its Consequences
28:59 Legacy of Leadership and Resistance
32:01 The Importance of Storytelling and Identity

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Women and Resistance, a powerful podcast where we honour the courage, resilience, and revolutionary spirit of women across the globe. Hosted by Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla...

You're listening to Women and Resistance with Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla—where we honour the voices of women who have shaped history through courage and defiance...Now, back to the conversation.

That’s it for this episode of Women and Resistance. Thank you for joining us in amplifying the voices of women who challenge injustice and change the course of history. Be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation. Together We Honour the past, act in the present, and shape the future. Until next time, stay inspired and stay in resistance!

In this episode of Women and Resistance, we explore the life and legacy of Ida B. Wells, a pioneering journalist and activist known for her fierce opposition to lynching and her commitment to social justice.

The discussion covers her early life, the impact of racism and slavery, her groundbreaking work in journalism, and her enduring influence on civil rights movements.

Wells's story is a testament to the power of activism and the importance of telling one's own story in the fight for justice.

Takeaways

*Ida B. Wells was a pioneering journalist and activist.
*Her early life was shaped by the realities of slavery and racism.
*Lynching was a significant issue that impacted the Black community.
*Wells used journalism as a tool for activism and social change.
*She faced legal challenges in her fight against injustice.
*Wells wrote under the pen name 'Iola' to address racial issues.
*Her work highlighted the importance of community and collective action.
*Wells' legacy continues to inspire modern activists.
*She emphasised the need for Black people to tell their own stories.
*Wells believed in the power of informed communities to effect change.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ida B. Wells
05:25 The Impact of Lynching and Journalism
10:13 The Power of the Press
15:02 Resistance Against Racial Injustice
19:51 Ida B. Wells: A Trailblazer in Journalism
26:46 The Journey of Passion and Purpose
32:33 Understanding Lynching and Its Historical Context
37:44 The Power of Storytelling and Advocacy
42:46 Building Community and Support Networks
47:36 Lessons from History and the Call to Action

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Women and Resistance, a powerful podcast where we honour the courage, resilience, and revolutionary spirit of women across the globe. Hosted by Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla...

You're listening to Women and Resistance with Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla—where we honour the voices of women who have shaped history through courage and defiance...Now, back to the conversation.

That’s it for this episode of Women and Resistance. Thank you for joining us in amplifying the voices of women who challenge injustice and change the course of history. Be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation. Together We Honour the past, act in the present, and shape the future. Until next time, stay inspired and stay in resistance!

In this episode of Women and Resistance, we explore the life and legacy of Audre Lorde.

In this conversation, she discusses her life, identity, and the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality.

She emphasises the importance of collective struggles against oppression and the need for solidarity among marginalised groups. Lorde reflects on her experiences in education, activism, and the power of the erotic as a source of strength.

She challenges societal norms and encourages individuals to fully embrace their identities and experiences.

The conversation culminates in a reflection on her legacy and the ongoing fight for freedom and justice.

Takeaways

*Audre Lorde identifies as a black, lesbian, mother, warrior, and poet, emphasising the importance of intersectionality.
*She discusses the anger often imposed on black women and how it can be a righteous force for change.
*Lorde highlights the need for solidarity among marginalised groups to combat oppression.
*She reflects on her upbringing and the impact of her West Indian heritage on her identity.
*Education played a crucial role in her activism and understanding of societal issues.
*Lorde emphasises the power of the erotic as a source of strength and self-knowledge.
*She critiques the notion of silence as a protective measure for marginalised individuals.
*Lorde argues that racism is a belief in the superiority of one race over others, leading to dominance.
*She encourages individuals to embrace their scars and experiences as part of their identity.
*Lorde's legacy continues to inspire discussions on feminism, race, and sexuality.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Women and Resistance
00:43 Exploring Audre Lorde's Identity
03:16 Intersectionality and Oppression
06:44 Personal History and Family Background
12:03 Childhood Experiences and Education
14:42 Navigating Womanhood and Reproductive Rights
17:24 Motherhood and Personal Evolution
19:12 Love, Politics, and Identity
21:15 Literary Contributions and Readings
21:44 The Power of the Erotic
24:27 Defining Eros and Its Significance
27:02 Exploring Anger and Its Impact
28:57 Racism and the Struggle for Unity
31:45 Anger as a Response to Racism
35:33 The Need for Constructive Anger
38:02 Freedom and Self-Connection
40:22 The Journey of Self-Acceptance
43:54 The Importance of Feeling
46:07 Breaking Free from Constructs

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Women and Resistance, a powerful podcast where we honour the courage, resilience, and revolutionary spirit of women across the globe. Hosted by Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla...

You're listening to Women and Resistance with Aya Fubara Eneli Esq and Adesoji Iginla—where we honour the voices of women who have shaped history through courage and defiance...Now, back to the conversation.

That’s it for this episode of Women and Resistance. Thank you for joining us in amplifying the voices of women who challenge injustice and change the course of history. Be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation. Together We Honour the past, act in the present, and shape the future. Until next time, stay inspired and stay in resistance!