Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti

Chief **Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti**, MON (/fʊnmi ˈlaɪjoʊ ˈrænsəm ˈkuːti/; born **Frances Abigail Olufunmilayo Olufela Folorunso Thomas**; 25 October 1900 - 13 April 1978), dem sanso know am as **Funmilayo Aníkúlápó-Kuti**, na she be a Nigerian educator, political campaigner, suffragist, den women's rights activist.

Na dem born Fumilayo Ransome Kuti insyd Abeokuta, insyd wat be now insyd Ogun State, wey na she be de first female student make she attend de Abeokuta Grammar School. As a young adult, na she work as a teacher, wey na she dey organize sam of de first preschool classes insyd de country den dey arrange literacy classes for lower-income women.

During de 1940s, na Ransome-Kuti establish de Abeokuta Women’s Union wey na she advocate for women’s rights, dey demand better representation of women insyd local governing bodies den an end to unfair taxes on market women. Na dem describe am by media as de "Lioness of Lisabi", na she lead marches den protests of up to 10,000 women, dey force de ruling Alake make dem temporarily abdicate insyd 1949. As na Ransome-Kuti ein political influence grow, she take part insyd de Nigerian independence movement, dey attend conferences den dey join overseas delegations make dem discuss proposed national constitutions. Na she spearhead de creation of de Nigerian Women’s Union den de Federation of Nigerian Women’s Societies, na she advocate for Nigerian women’s right to vote wey na she cam be a noted member of international peace den women's rights movements.

Na Ransome-Kuti receive de Lenin Peace Prize wey na dem award am membership insyd de Order of the Niger for ein work. Insyd ein later years, na she support ein sons dema criticism of Nigeria ein military governments. She die at de age of 77 after na dem wound am insyd a military raid on family property. Na Ransome-Kuti ein kiddies include de musician Fela Kuti (born Olufela Ransome-Kuti), doctor den activist Beko Ransome-Kuti, den health minister Olikoye Ransome-Kuti.

## Early life den education
Na dem born Frances Abigail Olufunmilayo Olufela Folorunso Thomas, on 25 October 1900 insyd Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, which at de time na e be a part of de Southern Nigeria Protectorate, a Protectorate of de British Empire. She be born to Chief Daniel Olumeyuwa Thomas (1869–1954), a member of de aristocratic Jibolu-Taiwo family, den Lucretia Phyllis Omoyeni Adeosolu (1874–1956). Na ein poppie farm den trade palm produce, wey na ein mommie work as a dressmaker.

Frances' papa be born from Ebenezer Sobowale Thomas, wey himself be born for Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Abigail Fakemi, wey come from Ilesa for Yoruba land. Frances' oldest known family member be her great-grandma, Sarah Taiwo (mama of Ebenezer Sobowale Thomas), wey be Yoruba woman wey slave traders capture for early 19th century before she come back home to her family for Abeokuta. Sarah first husband na Sobowale Thomas. Sarah pickin wey come from Thomas and her two other husbands – the Jibolu-Taiwos – be some of the first Christians wey dey for di area, and dem get plenty influence for di growth of Christianity for Abeokuta.

Frances mama be pikin of Isaac Adeosolu wey dey from Abeokuta, and Harriet, wey be Adeboye pikin from the old town of Ile-Ife. Dem parents marry for 1897, plus dem get two pikin wey die when dem dey small before dem bon Frances.

Although na e be uncommon at de time for Nigerian families make dem invest insyd much education give girlies, na Frances ein parents believe insyd de importance of education give both boys den girlies. Na she attend Abeokuta Grammar School for ein secondary education. Na dem initially open de school to male students per, buh na e admit ein first female students insyd 1914, wey na Frances be first among de six girls dem register for study dat year. From 1919 to 1922, na she attend Wincham Hall School for Girls insyd Cheshire, England, wer na she learn elocution, music, dressmaking, French, den chaw domestic skills. Na e be der wey na she make de permanent decision make she use ein shortened Yoruba name, Funmilayo, instead of ein Christian name Frances, likely in response to she be subject to racial discrimination while na she dey study at Wincham Hall School. Afterwards, she return to Abeokuta wey na she work as a teacher.

## Ein life matter
On 20 January 1925, na Funmilayo marry Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, a member of de Ransome-Kuti family. Na Israel study at de Abeokuta Grammar School chaw years ahead of Funmilayo, wey while na she be still insyd school na de two developed a friendship follow by a courtship. Na Israel find work as a school principal, wey na he strongly believe in bringing people togeda den overcoming ethnic den regional divisions. Na he later cam be a co-founder of both de Nigeria Union of Teachers den of de Nigerian Union of Students. Na ein marriage plus Funmilayo go last 30 years – til Israel ein death – wey na e be marked by a sense of equality den deep mutual respect between de couple.

After marriage, na Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti quit ein old job as a teacher, buh na she soon find oda projects. Insyd 1928 na she establish one of de first preschool classes insyd Nigeria. Around de same time, na she start a club give young women of elite families make she encourage dema "self-improvement", while she sanso dey organize classes give illiterate women. Between 1935 den 1936, na de couple arrange to purchase a secondhand car wey na dem ship am to dem from England. Na Ransome-Kuti be de first woman insyd Abeokuta to drive a car.

Na Ransome-Kuti den ein husby get four kiddies: a daughter dem name Dolupo (1926) den sons Olikoye "Koye" (1927), Olufela "Fela" (1938), den Bekololari "Beko" (1940).

## Activism

### Abeokuta Women's Union
For 1932, Ransome-Kuti help set up di Abeokuta Ladies Club. Di club dey focus on charity work, sewing, catering and adult education classes, and di early members na mostly Christian, Western-educated women from middle class. But by 1940s, di club start dey move towards politics. One illiterate friend wey ask am to help learn how to read inspire Ransome-Kuti to begin organize literacy workshops for market women through di club, and she come sabi better about di social and political wahala wey many Nigerian women dey face. She talk say, “di true position of Nigerian women suppose dey judge from di women wey dey carry pikin for dem back and dey farm from morning to night … no be di women wey dey use tea, sugar, and flour for breakfast”. For 1944, she build strong campaign to stop local authorities wey dey collect rice from market women under false pretenses.

For 1946, dem change di club name to Abeokuta Women's Union (AWU), and e dey open for all women wey dey Abeokuta. Di organization now dey focus on fight against unfair price control and tax wey dey affect market women, with Ransome-Kuti as di president of AWU. She start di union with Grace Eniola Soyinka (her husband sister pikin plus de mother of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka), plus di AWU gradually grow to represent 20,000 official members, plus around 100,000 extra supporters. Dem wan unify women and no make class wahala, so Ransome-Kuti and other educated members dey speak Yoruba and wear traditional Yoruba cloth for union meetings plus events.

Ransome-Kuti first show say she dey roll for politics when she carry AWU lead protest wey dey against tax wey dem dey collect from women. For Abeokuta, apart from normal taxes like income and water, dem dey make market women pay special tax wey go directly to market supervisors wey dem dey call 'parakoyis'. De Alake Ademola II, wey be local chief for Abeokuta, wey don join colonial rule through indirect rule, come put tax for women after dem establish Egba Native Administration for 1914. After dem appeal no work to British people make dem remove the Alake wey dey in charge and stop the tax, Ransome-Kuti and the AWU begin contact newspaper plus dey spread petitions. Dem wan put more pressure on top the big men, so AWU members publicy no gree pay their tax, dey hold long vigils for outside the Alake palace, and arrange make dem check the Sole Native Authority System (SNA) finance records. Dem no just wan end the tax wey dey on top women, but also dey demand make women get represent for SNA executive council.

For late 1947, Abeokuta people don dey stop women make dem no fit organize parades or protests, dem no go give dem permit. But Ransome-Kuti and her crew no gree give up, dem come talk say dem dey plan 'picnics' and 'festivals' instead, dey gather up to 10,000 people for their protests – some times police go come fight dem. Ransome-Kuti dey teach women how to handle tear gas wey dem dey throw for dem, and the AWU dey use their dues take pay for lawyer wey go defend members wey dey arrest. One story talk say when British officer shout say Ransome-Kuti make her women keep quiet, she reply say 'You fit don born, but you no fit get good home training! You go fit talk to your mama like that?' De West African Pilot sabi call her de 'Lioness of Lisabi'.

Tension between AWU protesters plus authority be serious for February 1948 when di Alake talk say AWU women be like 'vipers wey no fit tame' and e ban Ransome-Kuti from entering di palace for political meetings. Right after, AWU members block di palace entrance and no gree di British district officer waka come out. Di matter end for fight when Ransome-Kuti hold di steering wheel of di district officer's car and she no go let go 'until dem free her hand'. Public feeling for di women grow strong. For early 1948, AWU members dey protest di tax, dey use petitions, press conferences, letters to newspapers, and demonstrations. After more protests for late April, di Alake finally answer di women's demands, e suspend di tax for women and set up special committee to check di AWU complaints.

For 1949 wey don start, di AWU try make Alake step down small-small. Newspapers for Nigeria dey carry di gist, plus Ransome-Kuti work with di AWU don blow for everywhere.

##### National work
For 1947, National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons party (NCNC) carry delegation go London, England, to protest one new Nigerian constitution wey dem wan bring. Ransome-Kuti be di only woman for di delegation. For London, Ransome-Kuti dey give talk about Nigerian women matter for London Women's Parliamentary Committee, National Federation of Women's Institutes, plus other groups. E also make people dey vex after e write article for Daily Worker wey talk say colonial rule don really marginalize Nigerian women both for politics den money matter. When Western Provinces conference hold for Nigeria for 1949 to discuss new national constitution, Ransome-Kuti represent Abeokuta and she be di only woman wey dey join di talk. She make strong points for women to get voting rights and against indirect voting system.

For May 1949, Ransome-Kuti wan make Nigerian Women Union (NWU) happen so dem fit support women rights and make dem get voice for country. AWU gree her idea, and dem turn am to Abeokuta branch of  de NWU. For de next years, Ransome-Kuti waka plenty to help set NWU branches for towns and cities all over Nigeria. She be president for both NWU and her hometown union for Abeokuta. NWU dey chase goals to make women get voting power, scatter electoral colleges, and make sure women get better representation for politics.

Ransome-Kuti be one of di founders of NCNC party, and for 1951, she try run for NCNC candidate for di regional assembly but e no work, abi na because dem bring special tax matter wey make plenty of her supporters – especially women – no fit vote. She dey serve as treasurer for NCNC Western Working Committee den later she become di President of NCNC Women’s Organization for di Western Region.

For 1953, Ransome-Kuti gather conference for Abeokuta make dem discuss about women wahala like vote and politics, where 400 women delegates show face for the two-day gist. Dem wey attend come form the Federation of Nigerian Women's Societies (FNWS). FNWS dey push for women to fit enter politics, better education matter, plus make dem create new social services plus healthcare.

For early 1950s, Ransome-Kuti be appointed for Western House of Chiefs den dem give am chieftaincy title of Oloye wey belong to Yoruba people. She na di first woman wey dem appoint for Western House plus one of di few women wey get position for any Nigerian House of Chiefs for dat time. She still dey serve as board member for Nigerian Union of Teachers too.

##### Travel bans den independence
On 6 April 1955, Israel Ransome-Kuti don die from prostate cancer after him dey sick long time. Funmilayo feel am well, because she don dey struggle for years about whether to stop her political work make she fit spend time with am. Over de next twenty years, as she dey do her political work, Ransome-Kuti start invest time and money to open new schools for Abeokuta – na project wey come from their strong belief say education and literacy dey important, both she and her husband sabi am well.

Ransome-Kuti dey waka plenty. For Africa, she build strong connections with women groups wey dey Algeria, Egypt, plus Ghana, plus she even travel go far places like England, China, Soviet Union, Switzerland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, plus Poland.

For 1956, Ransome-Kuti waka go China, give talk on Nigerian women and culture, plus she meet Mao Zedong. She dey believe in some socialist ideas, call herself 'African Socialist'; but she no wan call herself communist, e no dey scare am. Sekof she go China with help from Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF), British people dey suspect say WIDF don recruit am to spread communist things. Dem no gree renew her passport next year. For 1958, when dem invite Ransome-Kuti go women rights conference for America, dem no gree give am visa because dem feel say she get too many communist connections. Even though high-profile friends support am, and she write letter to protest to government, plus hold press conference talk say she no be communist, dem no mind her. E no be till Nigeria gain independence for 1960 say dem finally renew her passport.

For 1959, when Ransome-Kuti no fit run again as NCNC candidate, she go run as independent candidate. But her campaign scatter the votes, make one opponent of NCNC win di seat. After that, dem revoke Ransome-Kuti membership from di party. She later start her own party, di Commoners' People Party, but di party no get leg, e clear off after just one year. Around dat time, Ransome-Kuti’s political enemies start National Council of Women's Societies in an attemp to replace di FNWS.

After Nigeria get im independence for 1960, dem bring universal adult vote wey fit both men and women inside di new constitution. Di Northern Region wey be Muslim area no allow women vote straight away (but dem let women vote for di region later for 1976 by military order).

Nigeria first years wey dem get independence no too dey smooth, plenty wahala dey among dem leaders and representatives. When dem do military coup for 1966 come change power, Ransome-Kuti feel say e be good move for di country, but she no like di violence wey follow after dat counter-coup wey happen dat same year. She dey follow Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) well-well, as she don dey be president for di Nigerian branch since 1963.

For 1965, Ransome-Kuti collect di national honour to be member for di Order of di Niger. Di University of Ibadan give am honorary doctorate of laws for 1968, plus she also collect di Lenin Peace Prize for 1970.

For 1969, dem make Ransome-Kuti chairman for Education Advisory Board by western Nigeria state government, and she dey work as consultant for Federal Ministry of Education wey dey help find teachers wey come from other countries.

E be Fela, her pikin, wey inspire am. Him change him surname make e no carry colonial wahala again. So Ransome-Kuti too, for early 1970s, she gree change her name to 'Anikulapo-Kuti'. 'Anikulapo' na Yoruba word wey mean say 'hunter wey dey carry death for him bag' or 'warrior wey dey carry strong protection'.

## Death
Insyd de later years of Anikulapo-Kuti ein life, ein son Fela, a musician den activist, cam be known for ein vocal criticisms of Nigerian military governments. Na dem arrest Fela den briefly imprison am during de early 1970s, wey na authorities raid ein home den properties chaw times. To show ein disdain for de Federation of Nigeria ein authority, na he name ein home property "the Kalakuta Republic" wey he transform am into a commune wer na paddies den supporters fi gather den spend time widout fear of de military authorities. Insyd November 1974, na Nigerian police raid ein nightclub insyd town plus axes den tear gas, wey lef Fela plus injuries. Insyd 1976, na Fela release an album dem call *Zombie*, insyd wich na he compare de army to mindless machines, den chaw believe dat na dis album act as a final straw insyd de conflict between Fela den de government.

Na Anikulapo-Kuti, often visit ein son at ein compound, wey na she dey der on 18 February 1977 wen na close to 1,000 armed soldiers surround den storm de property. As soon as de soldiers break insyd na dem begin dey destroy property den dey assault de residents. Na dem beat Fela den Bekolari wey na she be severely injured. Na dem throw Anikulapo-Kuti from a second-floor window. Dey follow de attack, na dem hospitalize am wey na she eventually lapse into a coma. She die on 13 April 1978 as a result of ein injuries.

Anikulapo-Kuti body dey rest for Abeokuta, same place wey her husband dey. Plenty people come attend her funeral, market women plus traders shut down dem shops and markets for the whole city to show say dem dey mourn her.  Big Nigerian news paper talk plenty good things, dey call the activist 'progressive revolutionary' plus 'Pan-African visionary'.

One year wey Anikulapo-Kuti die,  Fela carry coffin waka close to 20 kilometres go Dodan Barracks for Lagos (den be Nigeria military headquarters), drop de coffin for gate to shame government small. The way dem enter, her death and how coffin move, he take am tell for him song "Coffin for Head of State".

## Legacy
Biographer Cheryl Johnson-Odim talk say Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti name dey popular for Nigeria, and "no other Nigerian woman for her time fit match her status as national figure or fit get that kind international exposure and connections". Nigerian activist Hajiya Gambo and politician Margaret Ekpo both talk say Ransome-Kuti dey strong influence for demma work, plus Nigerian-British feminist writer Amina Mama don mention say Ransome-Kuti activism shape her belief and perspective. Ghanaian politician Kwame Nkrumah (wey later become first Prime Minister of Ghana) dey draw motivation from Ransome-Kuti when him dey organize Ghana Women's Association.

For 2012, Nigerian government talk say dem wan put Ransome-Kuti face for new N5000 note. For August that year, Ransome-Kuti pikin, musician Seun Kuti, yarn for media say e find the proposal “absurd no be small,” considering de role wey government play  insyde his grandma ein death. Kuti talk say him family never receive any apology for the wahala wey dem cause for their house, as government talk say Ransome-Kuti don face “1000 unknown soldiers.”

Ransome-Kuti wey dem show for 2014 film October 1 by actress Deola Sagoe. For 25 October 2019, dem honor Ransome-Kuti wey don rest with Google Doodle wey Nigerian-Italian illustrator Diana Ejaita create.

For 2022, Bolanle Austen-Peters direct one biopic wey dem call Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, e dey tell di story of Funmilayo; how she sabi shine as di first female student for Abeokuta Grammar School and how she take marry Israel Ransome-Kuti. Di film win Best Overall Feature Film plus Best Screenplay for 2023 Africa International Film Festival. E get stars like Joke Silva, Kehinde Bankole, Ibrahim Suleiman, Jide Kosoko, plus Dele Odule wey dey feature for am.

For 17 May 2024, Tunde Babalola write play wey dem call Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. E dey show Funmilayo Ransome Kuti life, from when she be student for Abeokuta Grammar School, go reach when she marry Israel Ransome-Kuti. Together, dem stand gidigba against wahala by form Abeokuta Women Union, wey lead to violent fight with traditional den colonial leaders wey no gree make dem find justice plus equality.

## Check am too

* List of suffragists and suffragettes

## References

## Read further
Byfield, Judith A. (2003). "Taxation, Women, and the Colonial State: Egba Women's Tax Revolt". *Meridians* **3** (2). JSTOR 40338582

## External links

* ''Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and the Women's Union of Abeokuta''. Illustrations by Alaba Onajin, script and text by Obioma Ofoego, UNESCO, 2014

*Silent film of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and other Nigerian chiefs in London, England on YouTube