Mariama Bâ

Senegalese feminist writer who transformed African literature through postcolonial feminism

Mariama Bâ (1929-1981) gave voice to African women's struggles through her groundbreaking novel ‘Une Si Longue Lettre’ (1979). Written as intimate diary entries, it exposed polygamy's psychological impacts through protagonist Ramatoulaye - a literary first in Franco-African writing.

Despite being visually impaired, Bâ co-founded Femme Africa Solidarité advocating for women's inheritance rights in Islamic societies. Her unfinished second novel ‘La Fonction politique des littératures africaines écrites’ argued for literature as decolonization tool.

The Mariama Bâ School for Girls in Dakar continues her legacy, providing STEM education challenging gender norms. UNESCO's Prize for Girls' and Women's Education cites Bâ as primary inspiration.