About the legacy series
The legacy series is a long form conversation with senior feminists. These conversations take place over three or four episodes tracing feminist journeys and lessons over time.
About the episode
In the final episode of our Legacy Series with Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, we explore how she extended her feminist work into politics during her tenure as the spouse of the Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Bisi reflects on transforming the symbolic role into a strategic platform for advancing gender justice, influencing public policy, and institutionalising support for women’s rights. Her reflections challenge assumptions about proximity to power and offer vital lessons for navigating political systems.
Content Note: This episode includes brief mentions of male sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised.
Bio
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Feminist Activist, Gender and Development Practitioner, Policy Advocate, Leadership Coach, Philanthropist, Image Management Specialist, and Writer. She has a BA (1984) and MA (1988) in History from the University of Ife, Nigeria (now Obafemi Awolowo University). She also received an MA in Gender and Society (1992) from Middlesex University, UK.
Bisi served as the Director of Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), an international development organisation for African women based in London, UK, with an Africa regional office in Kampala, Uganda, from 1991-2001. While she was the Director of AMwA, she established the African Women's Leadership Institute (AWLI), a training, capacity building and networking forum for young African women which has produced well over 10,000 women leaders across Africa. She co-founded the African Women's Development Fund, (AWDF) and served as the first CEO from 2001-2010. Bisi was one of the founders of the African Feminist Forum and was a member of the AFF Working Group from 2005-2016.
Bisi has served as Trustee, Comic Relief (UK) (1998-2001), Co-Chair, International Network of Women's Funds (PROSPERA) (2004-2006); President, Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) (2003-2005); Board Member, Women’s Funding Network (2009-2012), Board Member and Programs Committee Chair, Global Fund for Women (2012-2016). She is also one of the founders of the African Grantmakers Network which is now African Philanthropy Network in 2009.
As First Lady of Ekiti State, Nigeria (2010-2014 and 2018-2022) she used her platform to influence legal and policy frameworks, for the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls. She is currently a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Africa Leadership Center, King’s College, London, and serves on several boards such as the African Women’s Development Fund, St Ive’s Communications (owners of Women Radio), the Women’s Leadership Board at the Women and Public Policy Program, Harvard Kennedy School, and the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement.
Bisi is the author of ‘Speaking for Myself’: Perspectives on Social, Political and Feminist Activism in Africa (2013), ‘Speaking above a Whisper’, (2013) an autobiography, ‘Loud Whispers’ (2017), ‘Where is your Wrapper?’ (2020), ‘Demand and Supply’ (2023) and ‘A Tray of Locust Beans (2023). She also co-edited ‘Voice, Power and Soul’, with Jessica Horn (2008) a compilation of images and stories of African Feminists.
Credits
Interviewee: Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi
Interviewer: Awino Okech
Produced by: The Feminist Centre for Racial Justice
Sound design, editing, additional scripting, production: Ellan A. Lincoln-Hyde
Music: Broken by AudioWay, freesound.org; Hard Living by John Bartman, freemusicarchive.org