Anita Kay Holland is The Cofounder of Sistah Sistah Foundation and the future United Nations Secretary General. An overachiever who is always hungry for more knowledge. A feminist, writer and historian. She is the ultimate patriarch rebel.
1. Is there a definitive moment in your life that made you who you are today?
Yes, I can’t say I have always been a feminist. I was always a patriarchy princess whose main aim in life was to get married and live a comfortable life. But things didn’t go in the in the direction I wanted (thank feminist Jesus) and it depressed me for a very long time. But then one day I watched Malala’s documentary on the National Geographic channel and her story both amazed and shamed me. Here was this young girl, younger than me, living in a dangerous country where women had no rights and yet she was standing up for herself and every girl in Afghanistan. She was fighting for her right to be educated and almost got killed for it. After watching that and reading her book I asked myself what I was doing? Why I wasn’t fighting too. I tried to tell myself it was because Zambian women had their rights and didn’t need feminism but I was terribly mistaken. We need feminism now more than ever, there are so many women, men and children who need people to fight for them. Reading about Malala, discovering feminism taught me that if the women before me hadn’t fought for my rights, our rights I would be an illiterate woman, with too many kids and a husband thrice her age and I wouldn’t have a say in it. And so as a form of gratitude to those fighters, those women, it is my duty to fight for those in bondage and to make the world better for those yet to come. I don’t need to be affected to fight, I just need to fight for a better world. Because if they can come for my sisters’ rights in Afghanistan what makes me think they can’t come for my rights? Being a feminist to me has been the most beautiful thing I could ever be. It is taught me to do more and to be more. It is also given me my freedom.
2. What inspired or drives your ambition?
The women in my family have inspired me to be more, to do more and to fight hard for the things I want. I come from a long line of strong bold women who have shown me there is no beauty in being meek. You can’t bully the women in my family, it’s the one thing they refuse to let anyone do to them. They are independent and loud overachievers. I like to think daughters are the reflection of their mothers and I am the complete reflection of my grandmother and mother. Beyoncé inspires me too, her music, strength and need for perfection makes me want to be the best. I am also inspired by the women I call my friends, the feminist council, they educate me and inspire me to do better.
3. What challenges did you face on your journey?
There has been so much failure in my life that I almost died from it. So many let downs. From sexual assault, to depression, to almost dying and being denied opportunities because I was young and a woman. There is a huge part of me that’s not ready to talk about what I have been through, all I will say is that every bad thing that could happen to a person has happened to me and it’s a miracle I am still alive.
4. Any advice for the ladies out there?
To women I would say learn to be selfish, especially black women. We are taught to put the world before us, to never consider ourselves but to be the sacrificial lamb. To put babies, husbands and families before our own careers and happiness. So I say, be selfish. Learn to do what the world never taught you and that’s to put yourself first. Go for that job, date that person, travel the world, secure the bag and just do you. Think of your happiness, chase beautiful things and fight for your peace. Don’t beg for love, especially mediocre love. Go for the finer things in life and believe that you are deserving of them. Also understand that it’s okay to be angry and anyone who labels you another Angry (Black) women is simply telling you they prefer your oppression to your liberation.
AUTHOR:
Sikopo Elizabeth Halubili is an auditor at PwC Zambia. She is passionate aboutfeminism, entrepreneurship and all things agriculture.
