Strange Tales Of Legendary Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti + Pictures

There are few people called to make a change when the norm becomes uncomfortable, have had them in different ears of time, like Nelson Mandela during the apartheid in South Africa, Mother Theresa for orphans and the helpless, and many more. in Nigeria we have been blessed with so many activists at different times, they came up to summon change at due time, and one of them is the Legendary Madam Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.

Madam Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was one of the powerful women Nigeria had from the Mid ninth century to the early twentieth century, majorly during the country's colonial era. Although there were rumours that she had diabolical powers because of the feats she was able to accomplish, yet, the major and evident thing that made her powerful was the love she had for fellow Nigerians, most especially women.

Let's go down memory lane with Madam Funmilayo. Back on the 25th day, of the month of October in the year 1900, Funmilayo Frances Abigail Thomas was born, just like her life will later become, she was born into a unique family, as a grandfather was a slave who luckily returned from Serria leone to find his roots in Egbaland.

Funmilayo's family was averagely well-to-do, with a Christian religious background, while she grew; she worked in the Christian faith as respected of her.

Attaining education was a privilege for Funmilayo, this is because during the early 90s the female child was not considered for education, it's not clear what made the Thomas family different, probably because of the grandfather who was once a slave, but no matter the cause of the difference, education became Funmilayo's tool to some social settings and shake some political seats. 

Madam Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti made some epic moves in her lifetime, starting from her being the first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School, you can only imagine how strange it would seem back in the day to have a female student in school when most of her mates were learning a trade. 

She attended the school for a period of three (3) years, (1914-1917) after which she got enrolled in the Wincham Hall School for Girls Cheshire in England. At Wincham, Funmilayo studied French, Music, and Domestic Sciences Education. After the completion of her education, and gaining her teaching permission, Funmilayo came back to Nigeria with the purpose to make a change any way she could.

Thomas did not come back to Nigeria the way she left, asides being a qualified teacher now, she had discarded both of her Christian names, Abigail and Frances, rumors have it that it is probably because of some racist activities she experienced.

Madam Fumilayo's journey might seem smooth and privileged, yet there has been evidence that she didn't take it for granted, She used the power of formal education she got, to create a massive impact in her community, here are a few of them. 

1) She began the first adult education in Nigeria the target was mostly for market women, she would hold the class in the evenings.

2) She also founded the first Nursery school during the 1930s.

3) She founded Africa's largest women's club in Africa with a membership of twenty thousand women (20,000) the club was called the Abeokuta Ladies Club.

4) In partnership with her sister-in-law, Eniola Soyinka, and the ALC, Madam Funmi organize a massive protest at the palace of the then Alake of Egbaland, over unfair taxation, the protest was to have unseated the king for a while, thereby giving the women what they want on the long-run.

5) During the protest over unfair taxation, rumours have it that Madam Funmi single-handedly beat up a deity which women are not meant to see, called "ORO" this has always been impossible, for her to do such a thing, many believed her to have supernatural powers.

6) In the year 1953, she was made the World Vice President, this was because of her works and activism especially towards the Alake and the British colonial administrators, which drew international attention. 

Funmilayo Ransome Kuti went on to do so many amazing things like being the first woman to drive a car in Nigeria, which definitely changed the dynamic and orientation of her community and nation at large.

The stage tales of Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, need to be studied and adopted, she endeavoured to be more than just a woman, she became a wife, mother to children who are also notable in the community, an educationist, activist, and social reformer. 

 

Writer: Idowu Elizabeth
Editor (s): Idowu Elizabeth & Awe Olufunso
Publisher: Awe Olufunso