Musings and Amusings

In my last Womenomics blog I wrote about women in Zimbabwe protesting. As a cosseted woman in the Western world I can only watch the women who take action against seemingly insurmountable odds with admiration and amazement. A documentary called ‘Pray the Devil Back to Hell’ recounts the story of a woman in Liberia who was inspired to organise the women of her church to pray for peace during the regime of Charles Taylor; the rebels opposing him created a country where violence, death, and rape were the norm.

Leymah Gbowee’s passion for peace through faith and prayer spread to other Christian churches and then to Muslim woman. Like the women of Zimbabwe and their improbable protest the Liberians organised a demonstration for peace at the open air fish market in the capital Monrovia. These women had no resources but sang, danced, prayed and agitated for peace.

After Taylor’s exile and peace negotiation which nearly broke down the world witnessed their thrilling triumph. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was sworn in as the president of Liberia on January the 16th 2006 – the first woman ever elected president of an African country.

Faith may not have moved mountains but what an amazing achievement for women in a country where violence is endemic.