I’ve been researching female agency in anticolonial resistance and it’s an extremely interesting subject… I’ll be publishing on this in due course but can’t help sharing some pics here… (ongoing thread)
#anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #empire

Firstly, Josina Muthemba Machel (1945-71), an important figure in the anticolonial struggle against the Portuguese in #Mozambique. #anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #empire #machel #josinamachel

In 1964, at 18 yrs old, Josina Machel fled the country with the aim of joining the FRELIMO resistance movement in Tanzania, but was arrested and returned to Mozambique. She was imprisoned for five months.
#anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #empire

She was released just as she turned 19 yrs old, and kept under police watch. A few months later, she managed to escape Mozambique again and after an arduous journey joined FRELIMO in Tanzania.
#anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #empire

Josina worked for Janet Mondlane, one of the founders of FRELIMO, at the Mozambique Institute. She then turned down an opportunity to study in Switzerland, in order to join the new FRELIMO Women’s Branch, where she underwent three months of military training. #femaleagency

By 1968 she was deployed to operations in Mozambique, where the Women’s Branch guarded supplies and logistics in liberated areas. It also developed into a social services provider, supplying health care and education. #anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #empire

In 1968, Josina was appointed a delegate to the Second FRELIMO Congress, where she argued strongly for the full participation of women in all aspects of the liberation struggle. #anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #empire

In 1969, Josina married Samora Machel (later the first president of independent Mozambique) and was appointed as head of the FRELIMO Department of Social Affairs. She was just 24 yrs old. #anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #empire

In 1970, Josina began suffering from stomach pains, and liver cancer was diagnosed. Declining to rest, she continued her part in the resistance struggle until too ill to carry on. She died in Tanzania in April 1971 at just 25 yrs old. #anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency

The day of her death, April 7th, was declared to be National Women’s Day in Mozambique and she is still celebrated for her contribution to the liberation of the country. #anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #empire

Also from #Mozambique, some female FRELIMO fighters (1972) as seen in the Göran Olsson film “Concerning Violence” (2014) #femaleagency #fanon #anticolonial #resistance

From what is now Zimbabwe, a pic of Mbuya Nehanda (left), a leader of the 1896 Shona rebellion against British settlement of Mashonaland. #femaleagency #anticolonial #resistance #britishempire #zimbabwe #feminism #otd

Pictured here in captivity, she was hanged by the British on April 27th, 1898, having refused to convert to Christianity. #femaleagency #anticolonial #resistance #britishempire #zimbabwe #feminism #otd

Resistance to the patriarchy is seen in the formidable, inspiring women of the YPJ, or Women’s Protection Units, the all-female force fighting against ISIS in Northern Syria alongside the YPG. #resistance #patriarchy #feminism #YPJ @defenseunitsYPJ @azadirojava

Shown here is Viyan Derazor, an Arab woman liberated by the YPJ who then joined the mainly Kurdish force. In her own words: “Like I was liberated, I will rescue oppressed women so they can have their rights.” #resistance #patriarchy #YPJ #feminism @defenseunitsYPJ @azadirojava

Asia Ramazan Antar, who fought under the nom de guerre Viyan Antar, joined the YPJ in 2014 at 16 yrs old, having escaped an arranged marriage. She set out to free the region from patriarchal oppression. #resistance #patriarchy #YPJ #viyanantar @defenseunitsYPJ @azadirojava

Viyan Antar was killed in August 2016 after fighting in the liberation of Manbij, in an attack by an ISIS suicide bomber. She was just 19 yrs old. #resistance #patriarchy #YPJ #feminism #viyanantar @defenseunitsYPJ @azadirojava

The YPJ is mainly composed of Kurdish women but has members from all Syrian groups, & some international volunteers. #resistance #patriarchy #YPJ #feminism @defenseunitsYPJ @azadirojava

Anna Campbell was a British feminist & anarchist who fought for the YPJ and was killed in Afrin in March 2018. #resistance #patriarchy #YPJ #feminism #anarchism @defenseunitsYPJ @azadirojava

Kathleen Cleaver, a leading figure in the Black Panther Party, pictured in 1968. #anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #feminism #blackpanther #blackpanthers #kathleencleaver

In 1966, Cleaver left Barnard College to work for the SNCC but after meeting Eldridge Cleaver, she moved to San Francisco in Nov 1967 to join the Black Panthers. #anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #feminism #blackpanther #blackpanthers #kathleencleaver

She became Communications Secretary, and was the first female member of the party’s cabinet. She married Eldridge Cleaver in December 1967. #anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #feminism #blackpanther #blackpanthers #kathleencleaver

Fabulous pic of Black Panther leader Kathleen Cleaver at home, 2777 Pine Street in San Francisco, 1968. #anticolonial #resistance #femaleagency #feminism #blackpanther #blackpanthers #kathleencleaver

The shotgun is a reminder that the Black Panther Party was originally established to patrol the streets of Oakland, armed with the weapons that the law allowed, on the lookout for racist violence and police brutality. #blackpanther #blackpanthers

Significantly, when black men armed with guns became a regular sight, California changed its gun laws... #blackpanther #blackpanthers #racism

By the early 1970s, well over half of the members of the Black Panther Party were women, although Elaine Brown (the first female chair of the organisation) quit in 1977 in protest at what she called its sexism and patriarchy. #blackpanther #resistance #feminism #femaleagency

Kathleen Cleaver is now a law professor, currently at Emory University School of Law. #kathleencleaver #blackpanther #blackpanthers #anticolonial #resistance #feminism #femaleagency @EmoryUniversity @EmoryLaw

Captain Lakshmi, leader of the Rhani of Jhansi Regiment. The all-female unit of the Indian National Army fought against the British in Burma during WWII, numbering up to 500 soldiers at its height. #britishempire #empire #india #anticolonial #resistance #feminism #femaleagency

Originally trained as a doctor, Lakshmi Sahgal proposed the formation of a women’s regiment to Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore in 1943. #britishempire #empire #india #anticolonial #resistance #feminism #femaleagency

She led the regiment through its campaign in Burma until she was captured by British forces in May 1945. #britishempire #empire #india #anticolonial #resistance #feminism #femaleagency

After the war, she returned to medical practice in India, served in parliament, and was an active social campaigner. Known throughout her life as Captain Lakshmi, she died in 2012 at the age of 97. #empire #india #anticolonial #resistance #feminism #femaleagency #captainlakshmi

This is the astounding Constance Markiewicz, Irish freedom fighter. Born into an Anglo-Irish aristocratic family, she married a Polish count but spurned life as a socialite and fought for the independence of Ireland. #britishempire #anticolonial #resistance #ireland #markiewicz

Becoming active in Irish nationalist politics in 1908, she joined the Irish Citizen Army and fought in the Easter Rising of 1916. She was one of the last fighters to hold out in the Royal College of Surgeons, until the final surrender. Pic shows her under arrest. #1916 #ireland

Markiewicz had designed the Irish Citizen Army uniform. When asked in 1915 what fashion advice she would give to young women, she replied “Dress suitably… and buy a revolver.”
#fashion #anticolonial #resistance #markiewicz #empoweringwomen

She was also a founder of Cumann na mBan, the Irishwomen’s Council, which played an active role in the independence struggle from 1914. Picture courtesy of @NLIreland #markiewicz #anticolonial #resistance #ireland

Cumann na mBan members also fought in the Easter Rising, though their part in the fighting was not properly recognised in later years. This pic shows Linda Kearns, Eithne Coyle and Mae Burke. #anticolonial #resistance #ireland #1916

Cumann na mBan has remained active - this amazing pic from Colman Doyle shows an unnamed Cumann na mBan fighter in action against British soldiers in Belfast, 1972. It is currently a Proscribed Organisation in the UK under the Terrorism Act 2000. #ireland #belfast

In Bengal during the 1930s there were numerous remarkable women who took up arms against the British Raj in India. #anticolonial #resistance #britishempire #india

Pritilata Waddedar was a revolutionary nationalist born in 1911 near Chittagong in what is now Bangladesh. A first-rate student, at school she was inspired by stories of Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, a leader of the great rebellion of 1857. #pritilata #lakshmibai

After finising her studies in Calcutta, Pritilata worked as a teacher in Chittagong and joined the armed revolutionary movement of Surya Sen. In April 1930, she took part in the famous Chittagong armoury raid. #pritilata #chittagong #anticolonial #resistance

In 1932, Pritilata led the attack on the Pahartali European Club in Chittagong (which had the notorious sign “Dogs and Indians not allowed”). With her seven revolutionaries, Pritilata attacked the club late on the night of Sept 23rd. #pritilata #anticolonial #resistance

In the fighting, Pritilata was shot, and eventually surrounded by police. Although her injury was not serious, she swallowed cyanide to avoid capture. She was only 21 yrs old. Her heroism and sacrifice is celebrated in India and Bangladesh to this day. #pritilata

Pritilata also happens to be the great-great-aunt of Ash Sarkar… @ayocaesar https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/05/relatives-terrorist-past-women-politic-british-bengal?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

This is the only known photo of Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi and a leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857... She was killed during the fighting, on June 18th, 1858. #OTD #anticolonial #resistance #india #britishempire

She was married to the Maharaja of Jhansi in 1842. When he died in 1853, she briefly ruled the principality until the British annexed her territory in 1854. #raniofjhansi #india #britishempire

When the 1857 rebellion broke out, Lakshmibai was initially intending to remain loyal (in order to reclaim her throne), and ruled Jhansi for several months until early 1858. At the time, she viewed this as holding the city on behalf of the British. #britishempire #raniofjhansi

When British forces finally reached Jhansi in March 1858, however, they treated Lakshmibai as a rebel, demanding the surrender of the city. She decided to fight, and declared independence. #laksmhibai #britishempire #feminism

The British bombarded the city and laid siege. After several days of attacks, the Rani decided that escape was necessary - according to legend, she leapt from the walls of the fort on horseback... #raniofjhansi #india #britishempire

Weeks later, Lakshmibai was killed in action outside Gwalior. She attacked a trooper of the 8th Hussars with her pistol, and he shot her dead. The British commander, General Rose, described her as “the most dangerous of all Indian leaders”.... #india #britishempire

Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, is now celebrated as an icon of the Indian independence struggle and has inspired many freedom fighters, not least the Rani of Jhansi Regiment. #india #anticolonial #resistance

This is Vilma Espín, Cuban revolutionary fighter and veteran of the Sierra Maestra campaign during the war against the Batista regime in the 1950s.
#cuba #revolution #anticolonial #resistance #empire

Trained as a chemical engineer (including a year of graduate study at MIT in 1955), Espín passed up an easy life as a wealthy socialite to commit to the overthrow of the dictator. Pic by Enrique Meneses. #cuba #revolution #anticolonial #resistance #empire #MIT @MIT

She helped organise an armed uprising in late 1956 to coincide with the landing in Cuba of Fidel Castro and his rebel band. #cuba #revolution #anticolonial #resistance #empire

In 1957, in a meeting with General Kirkpatrick she managed to persuade the CIA that Castro had no ties to communism… Kirkpatrick thus returned to the USA as a (temporary) supporter of the Castro forces… #cuba #revolution #anticolonial #resistance #empire

She was a leader of the Sierra Maestra campaign during 1957-58. These pics show her conducting an orders group. #cuba #revolution #anticolonial #resistance #empire

It was during this time that she met Raul Castro, and they married in 1959. Picture shows their entry into Havana when the city fell to the Communists at the beginning of 1959. #cuba #revolution #anticolonial #resistance #empire

Following the revolution, she became a leader of Cuban women through the Federación de Mujeres Cubanas, and served in several government appointments. She died in 2007 at the age of 77. #cuba #revolution #anticolonial #resistance #empire

The astounding Freddie Oversteegen died one year ago today at the age of 92. During WWII she joined the Dutch resistance and killed Nazis at the age of just 14… #resist #anticolonial #resistance #WWII

Working with her sister Truus (on right in pic) and the famous resistance fighter Hannie Schaft, Freddie dynamited bridges and railways to sabotage the German war effort, and smuggled Jewish children to safety. #resist #WWII

Most amazingly, the Oversteegen sisters would assassinate Nazi soldiers after luring them into the woods on a romantic promise, or shooting them during bicycle drive-bys. Pic shows Hannie Schaft. #resist #anticolonial #resistance #WWII

Despite this staggering bravery and commitment to the resistance, it was not until many years after the war that Freddie & Truus were properly recognised as resistance heroines and decorated by the Prime Minister. Freddie died on Sept 5th 2018, one day before her 93rd birthday.