By Bamidele Ademola-Olateju
From promising beginnings as a gender activist fighting for the rights of African women in London, to becoming the best fundraiser for women causes in Africa and now the wife of Ekiti State Governor. Erelú Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, is a woman’s woman, a champion and a defender. Last year, I decided to walk the talk with this woman at the community level, working with women. Each day, we sat in the same car, we discussed development, politics, strategy and empowerment. I can’t possibly tell you all I have learnt in the last one year but I will share her philosophy with you.
Working with her, I have seen poverty first hand and how she is using empowerment to bring women into political participation and improving their financial and physical health. My journey with her, made me see my work as a critic, advocate, public intellectual and political analyst in different light.
Erelú Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is blazing the trail like her mentor – Charlotte Bunch, a fearless women’s rights advocate of profound intellect. Her imprints can be found in the Ekiti Gender based Violence Law. Wife beaters, rapists, and all shades of Sexual predators have no refuge in Ekiti. One of the most powerful insight I have gained from this wonderful woman, happened in a flash! On our way to Ìkéré-Èkìtì to empower rural women; our talk veered towards women, power and friendships. I asked why she has such unwavering commitment to women and women issues? Her Excellency Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi answered; As women we must understand that in every social movement, there will be internal contractions. Another mentor of mine from Madagascar – Micheline Ravololonarisoa told me; you don’t have to love women but you must support and promote them and advance their interest wherever you are. I quickly scribbled my recollection of what she said, the reason why I am able to quote her above.
A peep into her philosophy was revealed at Pastor Siju Iluyomade’s Arise Women’s Fellowship, which I attended with her. When she rose to address the women, Erelú Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi said; “I was in Uganda a few years ago for one of the programs we used to run at the African Womens Leadership Institute. One day, there was a report about something that had happened in one of the local markets. One of the women in the market went into labour unexpectedly. It seemed there was no time to get her to a nearby hospital or clinic, so the women around went into action. Some of them ran around to look for basins, hot water, towels, and razors. A few held her hand and encouraged her to push. Majority of the women around took out their wrappers and held them up, creating a protective ring around the woman, shielding her from prying eyes. Every now and then, this scenario plays itself in other markets around the continent, and the response is mostly the same. Women bring out their wrappers to protect one of their own…What do these wrappers signify? To me they mean protection, solidarity, sisterhood, empathy, kindness, compassion, duty, all those things and more that make us human beings. In the market places where the scene I described in Uganda happens, there is an unspoken protocol amongst the women – a responsibility to take care of one of their own who needs them. She is in pain. Afraid. But she has sisters around her, rooting for her and helping her. So, I ask us my dear sisters, where is your wrapper?”
Erelú Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a woman who extends her Wrapper to cover the nakedness of other women. For the men, she makes” Agbada” and hand it to them as gift.
She is deliberate in leadership, spontaneous in giving and compassionate in service. You have enriched me by example. Even on mundane things, you have taught me to consider my comfort because it lends clarity.
Congratulations and happy birthday ma. I wish you many more happy, healthy, long years in the service of humanity. As you launch the Wrapper Network today, to reach and mentor more women, may you have the Grace to replicate your drive, passion and commitment in many young women. May your wrapper get wider and wider to cover more women.