AWID: The Second African Feminist Forum (AFF) was recently held in Uganda, following on from the first Forum that was held in Ghana in November 2006. Could you give us a brief overview of what happened in Uganda?

Shamillah Wilson (SW): At the second AFF we built on the work we did in 2006. The space had expanded with many new people coming in which is very exciting, inspiring and energising. The AFF brought together multi generational experiences and expressions and provided a systematic process for feminists from the continent to take stock of our agency and to clarify/reclaim our feminist politics individually, organisationally and as movements regionally and nationally.

The 2nd AFF explored the relationship between African feminists and the broader democratic and human rights struggles on the continent, particularly in light of the Kenyan and Zimbabwean experiences and how African women’s organizations responded to the same. It also saw stronger participation from the emergent lesbian movement on the continent, pushing the boundaries of what we take on with respect to sexuality. And it, in creative, humorous and powerful ways, gave strong and useful critique of our movements. For example, use of a mock trial, debates and talk show formats.

The 2nd AFF also saw critical conversations on how we mobilize and organize as a movement collectively on the continent as well, as in-country, cross country and inert-continental movements.

AWID: The 2006 Forum was the first ever African Feminist Forum that allowed feminists from the continent to come together, reflect on and redefine their activism within the African continent and globally. What key lessons have been learned since then in regards to movement building in Africa - and how have feminist movements moved forward?

SW: There were several lessons.

We need to constantly revisit/expand our understanding of the geo-political environment and how that impacts on women in all their diversity. With this analysis we need to a first of all define our role as African feminist movements in how we want to address this and set our agendas proactively. Issues of climate change, militarism, food security are all issues that are impacting on us in huge ways, and we need to be at the forefront of ensuring that our transformative agendas are taken on within a broad network of progressive organisations and movements. However that being said, we need to be clear what our roles are within these networks and when we wish to step outside of them. This was actually the subject of a huge debate we had which confirmed the fact that we need to be clear about our role within the broad network of progressive organizations/movements and while we would at moments collaborate and ally with particular constituencies, groups or movements, it is still important to craft our own space as feminists and navigating between spaces without dampening our politics, agency and focus.

The second one was to understand and embrace the diversity of stands we have as African feminists around key issues that keep cropping up time and again. In understanding this diversity though we realise that it is important to give voice to them, but also then to figure out where are the non-negotiables within that as well as the common point from which we would jointly mobilise and organise around.

Finally, we created space for some honest and self-critical reflection on our work in the last two decades or so. How far we had come and where we had regressed. This reflection not only included strategy, but the embodying of feminism as it exists within the lived experience of communities and societies; working with other social movements and the role of men in the feminist movement. The issue of leadership (in all its forms) were not far behind in these discussions as we looked at the organisations and movements that exist and what happens within them and related to that issues of accountability in challenging one another, in challenging ourselves and challenging our organisations and movements.

AWID: Some of the issues discussed at the first forum were: the need to document the her-stories of the African feminist movements; and how to mobilise women at all levels of society - not just those who speak the language of feminism. What progress has been made since 2006?

SW: Since the 2006 Forum, we were so inspired that we planned to do way too many things. The lessons we have learnt in terms of movement building is that it is a process – a process that will need time, energy and resources. So since the 2006 Forum, we have had National Forums in Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria. The National Forums created a space at the national level for feminists to reflect and really define how they want to strengthen feminist organising at the national level. The sense from the National Feminist Forums were that there was a need to be more engaged with what is happening nationally especially given that the space for feminist autonomous organising and expression seem to be contracting rather than expanding. In terms of expanding our movements - we are working towards that as the National Feminist Forums also has to think about what actions concretely they will be taking on between Forums. So, following this particular AFF, the National Feminist Forums will be continuing the work at their country level with the possibility of calling on the solidarity across borders. Also, many other countries have said that in 2009, they will also hold National Forums. This therefore ensures the expansion and growth in a more systematic and focused way.

A number of new ideas were born at the 2006 forum around popularising feminist analysis and increasing the numbers of women engaged in the movement. Some of these ideas are already gaining momentum, including the production of a coffee table book profiling the personal histories of contemporary African feminists, a project documenting our African feminist ancestors, and the development of a collective of African feminist artists committed to sharing their art as a tool for activism. All of these initiatives are focused on bringing African feminism to a broader audience.

AWID: Were there any new and burning issues that were raised at the Uganda forum?

SW:

• Clearer analysis of African feminist imperatives in the context of Africa’s democratic and human rights challenges at this phase of our so-called 2nd liberation. Deeper commitment to working on sexuality in a manner that foregrounds African lesbians.

• Internal reflections on our agency, space, the way we organise as individual feminists, our organisations and movements. How to monitor and evaluate ourselves, accountability as well as using the Charter in real terms in monitoring and evaluating.

AWID: What's next?

SW: Through the African Women’s Development Fund who currently hosts the AFF secretariat, the AFF will be engaged in the following amongst other things:

• Implementation of various ideas that came out of the 2008 AFF caucuses, i.e a proposed 2009 meeting on African women, violence and militarization as well as more focused work on socio-economic rights, working directly with marginalised poor and rural women.

• We are committed to reach out to more African Feminists and making the AFF more inclusive in terms of geography, age, expressions, orientation and other criteria. We hope to include in our efforts more opportunities for multi-generational organising.

• We will also continue with ongoing national feminist meetings in various countries that will impact on African women’s organisations (their politics, strategies) at home and hopefully lead to more African women identified and organising as African feminists!

• The launch of an African Feminist Ancestors Project, which will highlight the contributions of African women over the years to struggles for women’s freedom and autonomy. The project will feature a slide show, exhibition and publications, all of which will be made available across African and internationally.

• The production of a coffee table book called ‘Images of African Feminists’.

• Preparations for the 2010 African Feminist Forum

Interest and participation in the forum and spin-off activities continues to grow. The AFF website has been re-designed and will be a resource for information and documentation on the Forum’s themselves and related initiatives.

The AFF Working Group includes women from diverse identities, nationalities, locations, professions, expertise and generations. The Working Group consists of Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi (Ghana/Nigeria/UK), Codou Bop (Senegal), Hope Chigudu (Zimbabwe/Uganda), Jessica Horn (Uganda/UK), Ayesha Imam (Nigeria/Senegal), Demere Kitunga (Tanzania), Bene Madunagu (Nigeria), Sarah Mukasa (Uganda), Solome Nakaweesi-Kimbugwe (Uganda), Sylvia Tamale (Uganda), Mary Wandia (Kenya), Muthoni Wanyeki (Kenya), Everjoice Win (Zimbabwe/South Africa) and Shamillah Wilson (South Africa).

For more information please visit http://www.africanfeministforum.org

Shamillah Wilson responded to the interview questions on behalf of the AFF Working Group. Shamillah is a South African feminist who is consulting independently for various movement building initiatives globally and in Africa.