An overview of Alice Walker's achievements

Alice Walker is an activist and author, who is most famed for having penned 'The Colour Purple', a novel which won her the Pulitzer Prize, and the National Book Award. Born in 1944, Walker grew up in Georgia. She did well academically, becoming the valedictorian of her high school graduation class, and going on to receive scholarships from both Sarah Lawrence College and Spelman College. Whilst her studies took up much of her time, Walker was also a passionate activist, and at the age of 18, she received an invitation to Martin Luther King Junior's home, in recognition of her participation in the Youth World Peace Festival.

Walker wrote her first collection of poems during her final year at Sarah Lawrence. She continued to compose poems and short-stories after graduating; however, it was her novels - of which there are now six in total - that brought her into the limelight. As a literature buff, Tunde Folawiyo might know that her books focus primarily on the lives of African Americans, and their experiences and relationships with people of other races.

Soon after her 26th birthday, Walker's first novel, which she entitled 'The Third Life of Grange Copeland' was published. Six years later, 'Meridian', her second novel, was released; this work explored the lives of activists working in the southern states of the USA during the civil rights movement, and was loosely based on the experiences Walker herself had several years before.

Book lovers such as Tunde Folawiyo may recall that her most famous novel, 'The Colour Purple' was published in 1982. This told the story of a young African American woman, who struggled to overcome the racial and patriarchal oppression which she endured throughout her life. The novel was enormously successful; in addition to earning Walker the above-mentioned awards, it was also adapted for film in 1985, and turned into a Broadway musical in 2005.

Although she is best known as an author, Walker has served as a university lecturer too, working at several institutes, including the University of California, Brandeis, Yale, the University of Massachusetts and Wellesley. She has also been a strong proponent of feminism throughout her life, and is now considered to be an important advocate for women's rights now only in the USA, but in countries all over the world.

As an entrepreneur, Folawiyo always enjoys learning about the lives of inspirational figures like Walker. Those who wish to obtain further information about this businessman and his work can follow Tunde Folawiyo projects online.

Great Athletes of Africa: Haile Gebrselassie

World-renowned long-distance runner Haile Gebrselassie remains one of Africa’s greatest athletes, accomplishing many tremendous fetes throughout his career. With a pair of Olympic gold wins and four World Championships titles, the Ethiopian runner’s achievements continue to inspire athletes and sports fans across the globe. Tunde Folawiyo and other citizens of Africa may regard the outstanding talents of Haile Gebrselassie amongst the most notable in the history of African sports.

Born on 18 April of 1973, Haile was one amongst ten children in the Oromia Region’s city of Asella. As a young child, Haile was known to run more than ten kilometres each day to and from school. With this, he formed a distinct running posture which mimics holding school books. After much practice, Haile burst onto the international scene during 1992 upon winning the 5,000 and 10,000 metre races during the Junior World Championship in Seoul. He also earned the silver medal at the Cross Country Championship, further demonstrating his amazing speed and technique.

Haile accomplished outstanding success throughout his career, winning the esteemed Berlin Marathon a total of four times and the popular Dubai Marathon three times. Furthermore, he acquired four world indoor titles and was named 2001’s World Half Marathon Champion. During the Athens Olympics of 2004, the runner attempted to become history’s first man to acquire three Olympic 10,000 metre gold medals straight. Whilst he was unable to fulfill this endeavour, he finished in fifth place.

During his career, Haile triumphed over major competitions boasting distances from 1500 metres to marathons. These races included indoor and outdoor, cross country and later road running during the late portion of his thrilling career. Further demonstrating the vast scope of his talents, Haile broke 61 national records for Ethiopia, ranging from the 800 metre face to marathon length. He also set a total of 27 world-wide records and remains widely considered to be among the best distance runners throughout the history of the sport. During September of 2008, the runner’s triumph at Berlin Marathon was solidified by a world-wide record of 2:03:59, a time that broke his previously set record by a significant 27 seconds. The record remained for a period of three years, though it still remains a Masters Age world record as it was achieved past age 35. Widely regarded as one of the African continent’s most famous athletes, Haile remains a great source of inspiration for African citizens like Tunde Folawiyo and millions of other sports fans around the globe.

African Activists: Funmilayo Ransome Kuti

Through her work as a teacher, activist and political campaigner, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti forged a great impact upon the continent of Africa, inspiring millions with her leadership through adversity. She garnered much admiration for her bravery throughout her lifetime, becoming a well-known fixture amongst the political world of Africa. Tunde Folawiyo and other citizens of Africa may regard her contributions as some of the most significant in the history of the continent and throughout the world.

Born on 25 October during 1900 in Abeokuta Kuti attended a Abeokuta grammar school to acquire a proper secondary education before travelling to England to pursue further studies. Later, she made a return to Nigeria, becoming a teacher. Years later, she became a founder of two unions – for both teachers and students – in Nigeria, a true testament to her commitment to fair education. During 1965, Ransome-Kuti was bestowed a national honour, becoming a member in the famed Order of Nigeria. She was also the recipient of an honourary doctorate in law during 1968. These achievements further demonstrate her myriad contributions to the field of education, as well as her humanitarian efforts throughout her long career.

Ransome-Kuti's was renowned within Africa for her activist efforts, becoming well known as a leader in female rights throughout Nigeria. Early in her career, she proved a powerful force in advocating for Nigerian women’s rights to vote. She later led Egba’s women in a campaign to combat arbitrary taxation. This struggle brought upon an abdication of Oba Ademola, Egba’s high king during 1949.

Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to raising awareness about civil injustices plaguing women, Ransome-Kuti joined with Elizabeth Adekogbe to form a dynamic leadership of women's rights during the 1950’s. She also founded a thriving women’s organization in Abeokuta, boasting a membership of over twenty thousand women.

In addition to her outstanding work as a political and Ransome-Kuti was amongst the group of women elected for the House of Chiefs, where she served as the Yoruba people’s Oloye. She also served as a ranking member for Nigeria’s National Council. In addition to these, she was both President and treasurer of the Western Women’s Association and a leader of the Commoner People’s Party. Her contributions remain a great source of inspiration for activists of varied causes throughout the world. Tunde Folawiyo and others with a great appreciation for the cultural icons of Africa may regard Ransome-Kuti amongst the most beloved to ever live.

The accomplishments of Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee

Leymah Gbowee is someone that most people, including Tunde Folawiyo, will be familiar with. Gbowee is an advocate for women's rights and a peace activist, who is perhaps best known for founding and serving as the president of an organisation called the Gbowee Peace Foundation.

Whilst she has achieved many things throughout her life, her greatest accomplishment to date has been the establishment of a non-violent movement, which saw Muslim and Christian women assembling around Liberia to help end the civil war which had ravaged the country for more than 14 years. In 2002, Gbowee's work in this area led to her being named as the leader and spokesperson for the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace. The women that she asked to participate in this movement held daily sit-ins and demonstrations, in order to protest against the injustices being carried out by the president Charles Taylor.

Today, in addition to running the aforementioned Peace Foundation, Gbowee also serves as the WIPSEN-Africa's executive director. Her role in this organisation is to offer guidance and support to a network of female peace-builders who are currently working in counties around Liberia. Gbowee has been a panellist at many important international and regional conferences, including the Arria Formula Meeting, held by the UN's Security Council, and the DDRR Process, arranged by UNIFEM.

In 2008, she served as the central character and narrator for 'Pray the Devil Back to Hell', a documentary which shares audio and film clips from the Liberian war. This work has since been used as an advocacy tool in both post-conflict and conflict zones around the world, including Sudan, Rwanda, South Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia. At the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, it was named as the 'Best Documentary Feature'.

Her activism work has won Gbowee numerous awards over the years; Tunde Folawiyo may recall that in 2007, the Harvard University Women's Leadership Board gave her the Blue Ribbon Peace Prize for her contributions to peace-building. Then in 2008, she received the Leaders of the 21st Century Award, and the following year, she won the Profile in Courage Award. In 2010, she was given the John Jay Medal for Justice, and in 2011, she was award the Nobel Peace Prize.

The life of Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai was an environmental and political activist, who is perhaps best known for being the first woman from Africa to win the Nobel Peace Prize, a feat which she accomplished in 2004. She received the award for her outstanding contributions to sustainable peace, democracy and development.

Tunde Folawiyo, and others who are familiar with her career, may know that Maathai was also the first woman in all of Central and East Africa to complete a doctorate, and was the first female professor to work in a Kenyan university. In addition to her academic achievements, Maathai wrote four books, entitled 'Replenishing the Earth', 'The Challenge for Africa', 'Unbowed: A Memoir', and 'The Green Belt Movement'.

Born in 1940, in Nyeri Kenya, Maathai completed her undergraduate studies at Atchison's Mount St. Scholastica College, after which she moved to the USA, in order to attend the University of Pittsburgh. In 1966, after being awarded a Master of Science degree from this institute, Maathai returned home, where she obtained a PhD at the University of Nairobi.

Shortly after this, during the early 1970s, she decided to establish a non-governmental environmental organisation called the Green Belt Movement, which focused on women's rights, conservation and the planting of trees. The GBM began to spread to other countries around the continent, eventually resulting in 30 million trees being planted. More than three decades after it was first launched, the GBM, and Maathai became the subject of a documentary made by Marlboro productions, entitled 'Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai'.

Tunde Folawiyo, and others who have heard of Maathai, may recall that her work won her the Right Livelihood Award in 1986 and, as mentioned above, the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 . In regards to the latter, the Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Maathai for her bravery in choosing to protest against the oppressive regime in Kenya, and noted that her work had led to a greater awareness of political oppression, not only in her native country, but in other nations around the world. The committee described her as an 'inspiration'.

Twelve years after receiving the latter, she became the founder of the Nobel Women's Initiative, which she ran with other female laureates, including Mairead Corrigan, Betty Williams, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Shirin Ebadi and Jody Williams. She also worked on the AWEPA (Association of European Parliaments with Africa) Advisory Board up until 2011, when she passed away.

Tunde Folawiyo | Winnie Mandela: An Activist Icon

Whilst millions around the globe may continue to be inspired by the legacy of Nelson Mandela, his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has made many contributions to African culture, as well. The activist from South Africa has over the years held several esteemed government positions, as well as played active roles in organizations such as Africa’s National Congress Women’s League and the National Executive Committee of the ANC. Tunde Folawiyo and many other citizens of Africa may regard the achievements of Winnie Mandela as great strides in the fight for social justice throughout the country of South Africa and beyond.

Born 26 September in the African village, eMbongweni Bizana in Pondoland – now the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa – Winnie went on to acquire a college degree in social work in Johannesburg during a time when blacks faced educational restrictions due to apartheid. She later acquired a Bachelor’s of internal relations at a Witwatersrand university. As the former wife of Nelson Mandela for nearly four decades, Winnie continued to support her husband during the entirety of his 27-year imprisonment. She served as the face of the anti-apartheid movement during this time, proving popular amongst South African citizens and others. Whilst she and Mandela divorced in 1996, she frequently visited him during his prolonged illness. Their kinship was the source of much media speculation as she remained a close confident up until his passing.

Mandela faced many struggles during times of apartheid. After being tortured and subject to house arrest, she was then held within solitary confinement for one year before being banished to another town. After news of these injustices spread, Mandela garnered worldwide popularity. From organising local clinics to actively campaigning for equal rights, Winnie’s efforts to forge an impact on social change created a major stir, drawing worldwide attention to the conditions faced by blacks in South Africa. During 1985, she was awarded a Human Rights Award alongside fellow activists for their work throughout South Africa. Their culminated efforts continue to inspire millions throughout the globe currently experiencing a range of social injustices. As the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela remains ever present in the lives of many around the world, Tunde Folawiyo and others may recognize the significant impact of Winnie Mandela as well. Whilst her civil rights efforts were sometimes riddled with controversy, the positive influence forged by Winnie Mandela, an African icon, may withstand time.

Tunde Folawiyo | Mama Africa: The Impact of Miriam Makeba

Dubbed “Mama Africa” for her renowned contributions to the people and cultures of a continent, Miriam Makeba remains a highly influential figure even years after her passing. The South African civil rights advocate and singer paved the way for a new generation of African musicians, becoming the first African artist to popularize the African music genre around the globe in the 1960s. Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others throughout the continent may regard Miriam Makeba for her unwavering spirit and immense talent.

Born in March 1932 in Johannesburg, Makeba’s mother was a healer-herbalist called a Swazi sangoma while her father was a Xhosa. She spent her first six months in jail as her mother was imprisoned for selling a homemade African beer. Later, as a young girl, Makeba began singing in a choir for a primary school in the city of Pretoria. She attended the school for nearly eight years.

Makeba’s professional singing career got its start during the 1950s. She became featured in a South African group called Manhattan Brothers. She left the group to record alongside an all-woman musical group called The Skylarks. The unique blend of traditional South African melodies and jazz became highly popular. Her single “Pata Pata”, recorded during 1957 and later released in the U.S. a decade later made her well known throughout the country of South Africa and beyond. This skyrocketed her career in which she would later record and tour with a variety of popular artists including Harry Belafonte, Hugh Masekela and Paul Simon.

Makeba’s activism further propelled her international fame. Her appearance in the anti-apartheid film titled Come Back, Africa created a great impression on viewers. The film was awarded the acclaimed Critics’ Award at Venice’s annual Film Festival, where Makeba was granted a visa to attend the film’s premiere. Later that year, the singer was given the leading female role for the Broadway-inspired musical King Kong in South Africa. As a popular advocate against South Africa’s era of apartheid, Makeba’s South African passport was revoked. During this time, a number of countries reached out to aid.

Belgium, Guinea and Ghana all issued international passports, welcoming her into their countries. Throughout her life, Makeba was an honorary citizen of ten countries, holding nine passports. Tunde Folawiyo and others throughout Africa may remember Makeba for her spirit, generosity and talent. For these, she will forever be cemented in the continent’s history as “Mama Africa”.