Women
The index · 197 women

A to Z

A27 women

Portrait of Abike Dabiri-Erewa
Abike Dabiri-Erewa Nigeria · 1962–present
A
Abla Pokou Côte d'Ivoire · 1700–1760
Portrait of Adelaide Casely-Hayford
Adelaide Casely-Hayford Sierra Leone · 1868–1960
A
Adelaide Tambo South Africa · 1929–2007
Portrait of Adenike Oladosu
Adenike Oladosu Nigeria · 1994–present
Portrait of Adenike Osofisan
Adenike Osofisan Nigeria · 1950–present
Portrait of Agathe Uwilingiyimana
Agathe Uwilingiyimana Rwanda · 1953–1994
Portrait of Agbani Darego
Agbani Darego Nigeria · 1982–present
Portrait of Aisha Buhari
Aisha Buhari Nigeria · 1971–present
Portrait of Aisha Yesufu
Aisha Yesufu Nigeria · 1973–present
Portrait of Albertina Sisulu
Albertina Sisulu South Africa · 1918–2011
Portrait of Aline Sitoé Diatta
Aline Sitoé Diatta Senegal · 1920–1944
Portrait of Ama Ata Aidoo
Ama Ata Aidoo Ghana · 1942–2023
Portrait of Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim Mauritius · 1959–present
A
Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Nigeria · 1956–2014
Portrait of Amina J. Mohammed
Amina J. Mohammed Nigeria · 1961–present
Portrait of Amina of Zazzau
Amina of Zazzau Nigeria · 1533–1610
Portrait of Aminatou Haidar
Aminatou Haidar Western Sahara · 1966–present
Portrait of Andrée Blouin
Andrée Blouin Central African Republic · 1921–1986
Portrait of Angélique Kidjo
Angélique Kidjo Benin · 1960–present
Portrait of Annie Jiagge
Annie Jiagge Ghana · 1918–1996
Portrait of Aoua Keita
Aoua Keita Mali · 1912–1980
Portrait of Asha-Rose Migiro
Asha-Rose Migiro Tanzania · 1956–present
Portrait of Asmaa Mahfouz
Asmaa Mahfouz Egypt · 1985–present
Portrait of Assia Djebar
Assia Djebar Algeria · 1936–2015
Portrait of Ayo Obe
Ayo Obe Nigeria · 1955–present
Portrait of Ayoka Olufunmilayo Adebambo
Ayoka Olufunmilayo Adebambo Nigeria · 1948–present

B9 women

Portrait of Baleka Mbete
Baleka Mbete South Africa · 1949–present
Portrait of Bessie Head
Bessie Head Botswana · 1937–1986
Portrait of Bi Kidude
Bi Kidude Tanzania · 1910–2013
Portrait of Bibi Titi Mohammed
Bibi Titi Mohammed Tanzania · 1926–2000
Portrait of Bilkisu Yusuf
Bilkisu Yusuf Nigeria · 1952–2015
Portrait of Blessing Okagbare
Blessing Okagbare Nigeria · 1988–present
Portrait of Bolanle Awe
Bolanle Awe Nigeria · 1933–present
B
Brenda Fassie South Africa · 1964–2004
Portrait of Buchi Emecheta
Buchi Emecheta Nigeria · 1944–2017

C7 women

Portrait of Carmen Pereira
Carmen Pereira Guinea-Bissau · 1936–2016
Portrait of Caster Semenya
Caster Semenya South Africa · 1991–present
Portrait of Cesária Évora
Cesária Évora Cape Verde · 1941–2011
Portrait of Charlotte Maxeke
Charlotte Maxeke South Africa · 1871–1939
Portrait of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Nigeria · 1977–present
C
Chioma Ajunwa-Opara Nigeria · 1970–present
Portrait of Constance Cummings-John
Constance Cummings-John Sierra Leone · 1918–2000

D10 women

Portrait of Deborah Enilo Ajakaiye
Deborah Enilo Ajakaiye Nigeria · 1940–present
Portrait of Deolinda Rodrigues
Deolinda Rodrigues Angola · 1939–1968
Portrait of Derartu Tulu
Derartu Tulu Ethiopia · 1972–present
Portrait of Destiny Ayo Vaughan
Destiny Ayo Vaughan Nigeria · 1999–present
Portrait of Dihya
Dihya Algeria · 650–703
Portrait of Djamila Bouhired
Djamila Bouhired Algeria · 1935–present
Portrait of Dora Akunyili
Dora Akunyili Nigeria · 1954–2014
Portrait of Doria Shafik
Doria Shafik Egypt · 1908–1975
Portrait of Dulcie September
Dulcie September South Africa · 1935–1988
Portrait of Dupe Ademola-Popoola
Dupe Ademola-Popoola Nigeria · 1960–present

E9 women

Portrait of Edna Adan Ismail
Edna Adan Ismail Somaliland · 1937–present
E
Efua Sutherland Ghana · 1924–1996
Portrait of Elisabeth Domitien
Elisabeth Domitien Central African Republic · 1925–2005
Portrait of Elizabeth of Toro
Elizabeth of Toro Uganda · 1936–present
Portrait of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Liberia · 1938–present
Portrait of Ellen Kuzwayo
Ellen Kuzwayo South Africa · 1914–2006
Portrait of Empress Zewditu
Empress Zewditu Ethiopia · 1876–1930
Portrait of Esther Afua Ocloo
Esther Afua Ocloo Ghana · 1919–2002
Portrait of Esther Mahlangu
Esther Mahlangu South Africa · 1935–present

F11 women

Portrait of Fatima Jibrell
Fatima Jibrell Somalia · 1947–present
F
Fatima Meer South Africa · 1928–2010
Portrait of Fatima al-Fihri
Fatima al-Fihri Morocco · 800–880
Portrait of Fatou Bensouda
Fatou Bensouda Gambia · 1961–present
Portrait of Felicia Adetoun Ogunsheye
Felicia Adetoun Ogunsheye Nigeria · 1926–2016
Portrait of Flora Nwapa
Flora Nwapa Nigeria · 1931–1993
Portrait of Folake Solanke
Folake Solanke Nigeria · 1932–present
Portrait of Folorunṣo Alakija
Folorunṣo Alakija Nigeria · 1951–present
Portrait of Francisca Nneka Okeke
Francisca Nneka Okeke Nigeria · 1956–present
Portrait of Funke Akindele
Funke Akindele Nigeria · 1977–present
Portrait of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti Nigeria · 1900–1978

G7 women

Portrait of Gambo Sawaba
Gambo Sawaba Nigeria · 1933–2001
Portrait of Genevieve Nnaji
Genevieve Nnaji Nigeria · 1979–present
Portrait of Gertrude Mongella
Gertrude Mongella Tanzania · 1945–present
Portrait of Gisèle Rabesahala
Gisèle Rabesahala Madagascar · 1929–2011
Portrait of Grace Alele-Williams
Grace Alele-Williams Nigeria · 1932–2019
Portrait of Grace Mary Mugasa
Grace Mary Mugasa Uganda · 1968–present
Portrait of Graça Machel
Graça Machel Mozambique · 1945–present

H7 women

Portrait of Hadiza Bala Usman
Hadiza Bala Usman Nigeria · 1976–present
Portrait of Hafsat Abiola
Hafsat Abiola Nigeria · 1974–present
Portrait of Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut Egypt · 1507–1458
Portrait of Hauwa Ibrahim
Hauwa Ibrahim Nigeria · 1967–present
Portrait of Hawa Abdi
Hawa Abdi Somalia · 1947–2020
Portrait of Helen Suzman
Helen Suzman South Africa · 1917–2009
Portrait of Huda Shaarawi
Huda Shaarawi Egypt · 1879–1947

I2 women

Portrait of Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika
Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika Zambia · 1943–present
Portrait of Isatou Ceesay
Isatou Ceesay The Gambia · 1972–present

J7 women

Portrait of Jadesola Olayinka Akande
Jadesola Olayinka Akande Nigeria · 1940–2008
Portrait of Jeanne Martin Cissé
Jeanne Martin Cissé Guinea · 1926–2017
Portrait of Joke Silva
Joke Silva Nigeria · 1961–present
Portrait of Josephine Bakhita
Josephine Bakhita Sudan · 1869–1947
Portrait of Josina Machel
Josina Machel Mozambique · 1945–1971
Portrait of Joyce Banda
Joyce Banda Malawi · 1950–present
Portrait of Julienne Lusenge
Julienne Lusenge Democratic Republic of the Congo · 1961–present

K4 women

Portrait of Kandake Amanirenas
Kandake Amanirenas Sudan · 60 BC–10 BC
Portrait of Kemi Adeosun
Kemi Adeosun Nigeria · 1967–present
Portrait of Kimpa Vita
Kimpa Vita Democratic Republic of the Congo · 1684–1706
Portrait of Kudirat Abiola
Kudirat Abiola Nigeria · 1951–1996

L8 women

Portrait of Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli
Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli Eswatini · 1858–1925
Portrait of Ladi Kwali
Ladi Kwali Nigeria · 1925–1984
Portrait of Lalla Fatma N'Soumer
Lalla Fatma N'Soumer Algeria · 1830–1863
Portrait of Leymah Gbowee
Leymah Gbowee Liberia · 1972–present
Portrait of Lilian Ngoyi
Lilian Ngoyi South Africa · 1911–1980
Portrait of Lola Shoneyin
Lola Shoneyin Nigeria · 1974–present
Portrait of Luisa Diogo
Luisa Diogo Mozambique · 1958–present
Portrait of Lupita Nyong'o
Lupita Nyong'o Kenya · 1983–present

M18 women

Portrait of Mabel Dove Danquah
Mabel Dove Danquah Ghana · 1905–1984
Portrait of Madam Yoko
Madam Yoko Sierra Leone · 1849–1906
Portrait of Maimuna Waziri
Maimuna Waziri Nigeria · 1966–present
Portrait of Mame Madior Boye
Mame Madior Boye Senegal · 1940–present
Portrait of Mamphela Ramphele
Mamphela Ramphele South Africa · 1947–present
M
Manthatisi Lesotho · 1781–1836
Portrait of Margaret Ekpo
Margaret Ekpo Nigeria · 1914–2006
Portrait of Mariama Bâ
Mariama Bâ Senegal · 1929–1981
Portrait of Maryam Babangida
Maryam Babangida Nigeria · 1948–2009
M
Maryam Uwais Nigeria · 1959–present
Portrait of Meaza Ashenafi
Meaza Ashenafi Ethiopia · 1964–present
Portrait of Mekatilili wa Menza
Mekatilili wa Menza Kenya · 1840–1924
Portrait of Mercy Johnson
Mercy Johnson Nigeria · 1984–present
Portrait of Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba South Africa · 1932–2008
Portrait of Miriam Tlali
Miriam Tlali South Africa · 1933–2017
Portrait of Moremi Ajasoro
Moremi Ajasoro Nigeria · 1100–present
M
Muthoni Kirima Kenya · 1930–2023
Portrait of Muthoni Likimani
Muthoni Likimani Kenya · 1926–2023

N13 women

Portrait of Nadine Gordimer
Nadine Gordimer South Africa · 1923–2014
Portrait of Nana Asma'u
Nana Asma'u Nigeria · 1793–1864
Portrait of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings
Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings Ghana · 1948–present
Portrait of Nawal El Moutawakel
Nawal El Moutawakel Morocco · 1962–present
Portrait of Nawal El Saadawi
Nawal El Saadawi Egypt · 1931–2021
Portrait of Ndaté Yalla Mbodj
Ndaté Yalla Mbodj Senegal · 1810–1860
Portrait of Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana
Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana Zimbabwe · 1840–1898
Portrait of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Namibia · 1952–present
Portrait of Ngozi Nwosu
Ngozi Nwosu Nigeria · 1963–present
Portrait of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Nigeria · 1954–present
Portrait of Nike Davies-Okundaye
Nike Davies-Okundaye Nigeria · 1951–present
Portrait of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma South Africa · 1949–present
Portrait of Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba
Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba Angola · 1583–1663

O6 women

Portrait of Obiageli Ezekwesili
Obiageli Ezekwesili Nigeria · 1963–present
Portrait of Olive Schreiner
Olive Schreiner South Africa · 1855–1920
Portrait of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Nigeria · 1978–present
Portrait of Omu Okwei
Omu Okwei Nigeria · 1872–1943
Portrait of Onyeka Onwenu
Onyeka Onwenu Nigeria · 1952–2024
Portrait of Oumou Sangaré
Oumou Sangaré Mali · 1968–present

P2 women

Portrait of Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka South Africa · 1955–present
Portrait of Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela
Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela South Africa · 1955–present

Q1 woman

Portrait of Queen Idia of Benin
Queen Idia of Benin Nigeria · 1460–1520

R6 women

Portrait of Rebecca Lolosoli
Rebecca Lolosoli Kenya · 1962–present
Portrait of Rita Dominic
Rita Dominic Nigeria · 1975–present
Portrait of Rose Chibambo
Rose Chibambo Malawi · 1928–2016
R
Rose Lokissim Chad · 1953–1986
Portrait of Ruth First
Ruth First South Africa · 1925–1982
Portrait of Ruth Sando Perry
Ruth Sando Perry Liberia · 1939–2017

S16 women

Portrait of Sade Adu
Sade Adu Nigeria · 1959–present
Portrait of Sahle-Work Zewde
Sahle-Work Zewde Ethiopia · 1950–present
Portrait of Sally Mugabe
Sally Mugabe Zimbabwe · 1931–1992
Portrait of Samia Suluhu Hassan
Samia Suluhu Hassan Tanzania · 1960–present
Portrait of Sara Forbes Bonetta
Sara Forbes Bonetta Nigeria · 1843–1880
S
Sarraounia Mangou Niger · 1850–present
Portrait of Scholastique Mukasonga
Scholastique Mukasonga Rwanda · 1956–present
Portrait of Segenet Kelemu
Segenet Kelemu Ethiopia · 1956–present
Portrait of Sola Sobowale
Sola Sobowale Nigeria · 1965–present
Portrait of Sophie Kanza
Sophie Kanza Democratic Republic of the Congo · 1940–1999
Portrait of Specioza Wandira-Kazibwe
Specioza Wandira-Kazibwe Uganda · 1955–present
Portrait of Stella Chiweshe
Stella Chiweshe Zimbabwe · 1946–2023
S
Stella Okoli Nigeria · 1944–present
Portrait of Susan Kigula
Susan Kigula Uganda · 1977–present
Portrait of Sylvia Tamale
Sylvia Tamale Uganda · 1962–present
Portrait of Sylvie Kinigi
Sylvie Kinigi Burundi · 1953–present

T9 women

Portrait of Tawhida Ben Cheikh
Tawhida Ben Cheikh Tunisia · 1909–2010
Portrait of Taytu Betul
Taytu Betul Ethiopia · 1851–1918
Portrait of Tebello Nyokong
Tebello Nyokong South Africa · 1951–present
Portrait of Tegla Loroupe
Tegla Loroupe Kenya · 1973–present
Portrait of Theresa Kachindamoto
Theresa Kachindamoto Malawi · 1958–present
Portrait of Tin Hinan
Tin Hinan Algeria · Unknown
Portrait of Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage Nigeria · 1980–present
Portrait of Tomilayo Adekanye
Tomilayo Adekanye Nigeria · 1942–present
Portrait of Tsitsi Dangarembga
Tsitsi Dangarembga Zimbabwe · 1959–present

U2 women

Portrait of Umm Kulthum
Umm Kulthum Egypt · 1898–1975
Portrait of Unity Dow
Unity Dow Botswana · 1959–present

V3 women

Portrait of Vanessa Nakate
Vanessa Nakate Uganda · 1996–present
Portrait of Vera Chirwa
Vera Chirwa Malawi · 1932–present
V
Victoria Mxenge South Africa · 1942–1985

W6 women

W
Wambui Otieno Kenya · 1936–2011
Portrait of Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai Kenya · 1940–2011
Portrait of Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg
Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg Kenya · 1976–present
Portrait of Waris Dirie
Waris Dirie Somalia · 1965–present
Portrait of Winnie Byanyima
Winnie Byanyima Uganda · 1959–present
Portrait of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela South Africa · 1936–2018

Y4 women

Portrait of Yaa Asantewaa
Yaa Asantewaa Ghana · 1840–1921
Portrait of Yemisi Ransome-Kuti
Yemisi Ransome-Kuti Nigeria · 1948–present
Portrait of Yennenga
Yennenga Burkina Faso · 1100–present
Portrait of Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Yvonne Chaka Chaka South Africa · 1965–present

Z3 women

Portrait of Zainab Ahmed
Zainab Ahmed Nigeria · 1960–present
Portrait of Zainab Bangura
Zainab Bangura Sierra Leone · 1959–present
Portrait of Zanele Muholi
Zanele Muholi South Africa · 1972–present