Aoua Kéita

**Aoua Kéita** (12 July 1912 for Bamako, French Sudan – 7 May 1980 for Bamako, Mali) be one Malian independence activist, politician den writer.

Kéita for 1959 become de first woman wey dem elect go parliament insyd one colonial African country. She turn international superstar for de fight against colonial rule, den for 1960 she take political office for Mali as Modibo Keïta establish one socialist regime.

## Education
Dem born her for Bamako insyd wetin be French Sudan dat time. Ein poppie, Karamogo Kéita, come from Guinea, e fight for World War I den e be member for de colonial hygiene service. Ein mommie, Miriam Coulibaly, come from Ivory Coast.

Insyd 1923, ein poppie send Aoua go de first girls’ school for Bamako, even though ein mommie no gree. For 1928, she finish from Bamako ein *foyer des métisses*, one boarding school wey mostly be for mixed-race girls, but dem allow small African girls make dem join. Three years later, she finish ein studies for *École de Médecine de Dakar* den she become midwife. She start work for de colonial government, den dem post am go Gao wey she work for 12 years.

## Political career
Insyd 1935, she marry one doctor wey ein name be Daouda Diawara, na him make she begin get interest for politics. Dem two join de political party *Rassemblement Démocratique Africain* (African Democratic Assembly; RDA) as dem form am for 1946. Dat same year, she help deliver Alpha Oumar Konaré for Kayes — later he go be Mali ein president for two terms. Kéita den Diawara separate for 1949 sake of pressure from Diawara ein mommie, after dem find say Kéita no fit born pikin. As punishment for ein anti-colonial activism, dem begin post am go faraway places, like Gao for 1950 den Nara around mid-1950s. For 1951, she throw way ein French citizenship den campaign for RDA inside de 1951 French election wey de party win three parliamentary seats. As RDA begin get power, she rise go high inside de party. For September 1958, dem elect her enter de RDA ein top body, *Bureau Politique National*. For 1959, she win seat for Parliament inside Sikasso. She join de committee wey dem appoint make dem draft constitution for de Sudanese Republic (wey dem later call Mali). She be de first woman for all de Francophone West African Countries wey dem elect enter National Legislative Assembly for her country.

Mali get ein independence insyd 1960. For dat same year, she be de only woman wey win seat for de new National Assembly, plus de only woman for de party ein leadership top. She serve too as secretary-general for de *Commission Sociale des Femmes* when dem start am for 1962. She play big role for how dem draft den pass de *Marriage and Guardianship Code*, wey bring new rights give Malian women. But for inside de 1960s, de RDA begin turn more radical, den one longtime rival, Mariam Keïta — wey be senior wife of President Modibo Keïta — push her comot from power.

Insyd 1966, she stop ein midwife work. When dem overthrow Modibo Keïta for coup d’état insyd 1968, she lef de country. For de 1970s, she plus ein second husband, Djimé Diallo, live for Brazzaville inside Republic of de Congo. She publish ein autobiography for 1975; *Femme d’Afrique. La vie d’Aoua Kéita racontée par elle-même*, wey talk about ein life reach de 1950s. When things better small for Mali but worse for Congo, dem move go Bamako for 1979. She die de following year.

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