August Women: From Union Buildings to Nigerian Villages ~ A Global Celebration of Women’s Power.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | SaharaWeeklyNG.com

On August 9, 1956, an extraordinary act of courage unfolded in Pretoria, South Africa. Over 20,000 women of all races (Africans, Coloureds, Indians and Whites) marched to the Union Buildings, the seat of the apartheid government. They came not with weapons or violence, but with unyielding determination. Their mission was clear: to demand an end to the dehumanising “pass laws” that restricted the movement of Black South Africans.

Led by fearless women such as Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, the marchers handed over petitions to then-Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom, declaring their resistance to a system that sought to control their very existence. They stood in silence for 30 minutes, a silence that roared louder than any war cry, before breaking into song “Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo!” (“You strike a woman, you strike a rock”).

This was not merely a protest. It was a historic declaration that women would no longer be silent in the face of injustice. It was a reminder to governments and societies worldwide that oppressing women is a war against humanity itself.

From Protest to National Recognition. In 1995, a year after South Africa’s first democratic elections, President Nelson Mandela’s government officially declared August 9th a public holiday (National Women’s Day) to honour the bravery of the 1956 marchers. Since then, August has been celebrated as Women’s Month, not only to remember the past but to reaffirm the fight against gender inequality, gender-based violence and economic exclusion of women.

South African Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, once said: “When we celebrate Women’s Month, we are not merely applauding history; we are committing ourselves to dismantle every barrier that still exists for women today.”

Indeed, the challenges are far from over. While women’s political participation has improved (South Africa boasts one of the highest proportions of women in parliament globally) economic inequality and violence against women remain severe. The South African Police Service reported over 53,000 sexual offences in 2024, most of them against women and children.

The Nigerian Women’s August Meeting: A Parallel Tradition of Power. Interestingly, while South Africa commemorates its historic Women’s March every August, another powerful women’s tradition unfolds in Nigeria. Across many Nigerian communities, August Meeting is a month-long homecoming for women (especially those living in cities and abroad) who return to their home towns to deliberate on development, peace and social progress.

Originating in the 1940s and strengthened in the post-independence era, the August Meeting is not a festival of mere socialising. It is a deliberative assembly where women discuss pressing issues ie; education, healthcare, domestic violence, youth empowerment and community development projects. Funds are raised, schools are renovated, health centres are equipped and scholarships are awarded.

Dr. Uche Azikiwe, wife of Nigeria’s first president, once described the August Meeting as: “A parliament of women by women, for women and for the society. It is a model of grassroots democracy that men would do well to learn from.”

The meetings also serve as conflict resolution platforms, where disputes within families and communities are addressed before they escalate. In a society where patriarchy often sidelines women’s voices, the August Meeting reaffirms women’s agency and leadership in governance; albeit at the community level.

Shared Spirit: From Pretoria to Nigerian Villages. Although separated by geography and context, South Africa’s 1956 Women’s March and Nigeria’s August Meeting share a common spirit: the unshakeable determination of women to shape the destiny of their communities. Both movements are rooted in the understanding that women are not just nurturers of homes but architects of nations.

As the Zulu saying from the 1956 march goes:
“Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo!”
Translated: “You strike a woman, you strike a rock.” This phrase captures the indomitable resilience of women, whether they are facing the apartheid regime in Pretoria or tackling social issues in rural Nigeria.

Why Women’s Struggles Remain Urgent. Globally, the United Nations warns that gender inequality could take up to 300 years to close at the current rate of progress. Women continue to earn less than men for the same work, face higher unemployment rates and bear the disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic labour.

In Africa, the World Bank reports that only 37% of women have access to formal employment, compared to 55% of men. In Nigeria, the National Bureau of Statistics records a 30% wage gap between men and women. Moreover, gender-based violence remains a global crisis. In South Africa, a woman is murdered every three hours, according to 2024 police statistics. In Nigeria, rape conviction rates are below 2%, despite rising reports.

As Nigerian human rights activist Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin has often said: “A society that fails to protect its women has no moral authority to call itself civilised.”

Beyond Celebration: A Call to Action. While August is a month of celebration, it must also be a month of reckoning. Honouring women means more than giving speeches and issuing symbolic awards. It requires concrete action, laws that protect women from violence, policies that promote equal pay and investment in girls’ education.

Countries that have embraced gender equality have reaped massive benefits. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, closing the gender gap in Africa’s labour force could add $316 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2030. Empowering women is not charity. It is an economic necessity.

A Personal Tribute. As a Nigerian living in South Africa, I am struck by the beautiful coincidence that both South Africa and Nigerian women have chosen August to celebrate women’s strength and leadership. I celebrate:

The women of South Africa, whose bravery in 1956 still inspires freedom movements worldwide.

The women of Nigeria, especially those who sustain the tradition of the August Meeting, shaping their communities with wisdom and courage.

The women of the world, who daily resist discrimination, build businesses, raise families, and stand at the frontlines of change.

I echo the words of Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee, who led the women’s peace movement that ended Liberia’s civil war:

“You can never leave footprints that last if you are always walking on tiptoe.”

Parting Thoughts: Rocks Do Not Break Easily. The women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 were rocks. The Nigerian women who gather each August are rocks. The mothers, daughters and sisters who hold communities together are rocks. Rocks may be weathered by time, but they are not broken easily.

As we celebrate Women’s Month and the August Meeting this year, let us remember that the fight for women’s equality is far from over. Let us commit ourselves to dismantling every remaining barrier (legal, economic, and cultural) that stands in the way of full equality.

This is because when you strike a woman, you do not just strike a rock, you strike the very foundation of civilisation.

Happy Women’s Day.

By. George Omagbemi Sylvester