I remember the impact that the role of the wife, Asaji, in Kurosawa’s adaptation of Shakepeare’s Macbeth “Throne of Blood” had on me during my teen years. Asaji played the role of a saboteur who tried to manipulate political and social situations to meet her own selfish plans and desires. Like Lady Macbeth, she plays the role of an overly ambitious wife who tried to ‘help’ her husband achieve visions of greatness foretold by a spirit through manipulation and deceit. In her bid to orchestrate the future, she ends up losing her sense of self and direction. As a young woman, that movie impressed upon me the importance of remaining true to myself regardless of whatever circumstance I find myself. The type of woman that is not afraid to explore the many possibilities life has to offer but will only pursue her goals through hard work, determination and perseverance.
I find that woman in Maya Angelou’s poem ‘Phenomenal Woman.’ The phenomenal woman embraces her identity and allows her 
inherent characteristics and virtues to reveal/present her to the stage of the world. In her journey, she develops healthy attitudes and perspectives that would sustain her credibility and relevance. She is upright in her dealings yet mysterious. She is beautiful and confident yet wise. Though she may stumble at times, her virtues would always display her worth. With a determined mindset, she masters the art of balance in life, love, and career.
We hope to use this women’s platform to showcase and celebrate such women. Come along with Afrika Market’s women’s column as we endeavor to gain insights from accomplished women from all walks of life, through their life struggles and experiences. Our aim is to introduce a younger generation of leading ladies to women that have paved the way, and at the same time, remind the current generation of up and coming women the power of perseverance and persistence.
We shall present phenomenal women that have walked the walk and talked the talk of the woman described by poet and author, Maya Angelou in her poem, ‘Phenomenal Woman’ in our women’s column, on a monthly basis. Women that understand and accept themselves for who they are, and have done extraordinary things, phenomenally. Pioneers in their own right…
For our first phenomenal woman, we present Elder Graca Machel Mandela. She will go down in history as the wife of two great presidents.
Ms. Machel was born on October 17, 1945 in Mozambique. She was the last born of a Methodist preacher who died a few weeks after she was born. However, he left instructions to her siblings to ensure her education was not tampered with. Thanks to her father’s foresight and a church scholarship, she was able to attend Lisbon University in Portugal to study languages in 1968. However, her fierce opposition of the Portuguese control at the time threatened her freedom which forced her to abandon her education and flee to Switzerland.
Ms. Machel had been a political activist from a young age, so while living in Europe she joined FRELIMO, also known as the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique – an organized resistance group that was against the oppression and colonialism from the Portuguese. A true daughter of the African soil, she went back to neighboring Tanzania where she trained in their military camp as a freedom fighter. She underwent rigorous training that prepared her physically and mentally for the fight against colonialism. Her intense desire to see the liberation of her country propelled her to embark on such a courageous endeavor. Thereafter, she met her first husband Samora Machel whose wife had died of Leukemia. True to herself, she assumed the role of step-mother to the six children already sired by her husband. Eventually, she and her husband had two children of their own. To get married into a ready-made family can present various challenges to a new marriage, so it is safe to assume that she must have gone through a new type of training in her marriage from its onset. As a Yoruba adage says, ‘marriage is a great teacher.’
When I think about her life, I think of the role preparation and determination plays regarding one’s destiny. She understood the signs of the time and her willingness to bring change presented her with a huge window of opportunity that landed her in a role of a lifetime; the wife of a radical President who was bent on bringing positive changes to his country. With a man who shared the same dreams and visions, Ms. Machel began her new journey. Her courage and determination to see Mozambique free from oppression presented her with an opportunity that she fully embraced. As the wife of Samora Machel and a member of the resistance movement, FRELIMO, she was appointed Deputy Director of the Frelimo Secondary School at Bagamoyo, Tanzania, in 1974. This appointment started her on a new path that allowed her to make great impact in the lives of young people.
In 1975, Mozambique achieved its independence and with the help of FRELIMO a new government was formed where her husband, Samora Machel became the president. Under the new leadership, Elder Machel became the Minister of Education and Culture. In her new role, she worked hard to implement universal education for all Mozambicans. Her tireless effort reduced the rate of illiteracy in the country by 72%. After the controversial death of her husband in a plane crash -which Ms. Machel herself believes the apartheid government of South African had a hand in- she went on to become the President of the Foundation of Community Development where she made great strides to increase accessibility to technology in the country.
A passionate humanitarian, Ms. Machel became the Chairperson of the National Organization of Children of Mozambique. Through this organization she was able to help rehabilitate orphans that had experienced tragic losses as a result of war by placing them in village homes. This project gave the children a new lease on life by reinstating them into family life, an attempt to facilitate their healing process. Elder Machel hands on approach gave her the opportunity to work closely with the families involved in the rehabilitation of these children. Ms. Machel is a great woman and her efforts are recognized and applauded by even great organizations like the United Nations:
“Ms. Machel was a delegate to the 1998 UNICEF conference in Zimbabwe, is president of the National Commission of UNESCO, and served on the international steering committee of the 1990 World Conference on Education for All. She was appointed by the secretary-general of the United Nations to chair the Study on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children. Ms. Machel was the recipient of InterAction’s humanitarian award for 1997, and received a major award from CARE as a result of her long-standing work on behalf of children.
As history would have it, or as fate would, Ms. Machel became close friends with President Mandela after the controversial death of her first husband. Even though she initially resisted Madiba, no one could have chosen a better third wife for President Mandela. In 1998, the Indian Express reported 60 cattle were paid as part of the dowry price. They were married until his death in 2013 at the age of 95.
Ms. Machel’s exemplary life made way for her to become the premier black First Lady of South Africa, and the only lady to ever marry two great presidents. When one’s character and life pursuits speaks well of one, it goes ahead to align one’s destiny with favor and opportunities. Elder Machel’s life story is indicative of Proverbs 18:16 which declares, “A man’s gift will make room for him and bring him before great men.”
Ms. Machel has shown us through her life story that it is possible to balance family, life, love and career. Therefore, we dedicate this African Proverb to her, our phenomenal woman of the month – ‘She is beautiful; she has love, understands; she respects herself and others; everyone likes, loves and honors her; she is a goddess.
By Veronica Olayinka Adesina
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