Brigitte Johnson Adjamagbo “It is up to the Togolese woman, in particular and African in general, to lead the fight for the respect of her rights and for her emancipation.”

Portrait directed by Mawu Kouevi Folli-Gah from Lomé

As a true political activist, Kafui Brigitte Adjamagbo Johnson is a Togolese politician who admires the African women involved every day in the fight for the respect of human rights across the continent. Today, 59 years old, the one who is called « Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Togo » has not hesitated to climb all levels of political life in her country since the advent of democracy in the early 1990s. Chairperson of the Democratic Convention of the African Peoples (CDPA), a party member of the opposition coalition that has showed severe opposition to President Faure Gnassingbe’s party since August 2017, she is convinced that African women can also use their skills not only at home, but also elsewhere. « The African woman is not just a housewife because she gives life and takes care of children. So, she also has skills to promote and benefit her society, which gives her the opportunity to promote them in the public or political sphere, in addition to her key role to ensure sustainable families, » she said. As such, the one who works hard for the respect of women rights believes that the channel of activism remains the only way to « demystify » politics with the African women

First woman candidate in a presidential election in 2010

As she claims to be a women’s rights activist at heart before becoming a political activist, the lawyer by profession was the first woman candidate in a presidential election in 2010. With conviction, the development of the continent will undoubtedly require the emergence of a new women … and education as the only way for the political fight of the African woman. « The fight I have been engaged in for decades is not for me alone but for a whole generation. To defend my rights, I had to have a good education. Here, we are in the arena where men want to remain the only masters for life to monopolize all powers. But the women can also play their part and for that, we will have to be well educated.” Thus, for the former law lecturer at the University of Lomé between 1986 and 1997, the struggle for the emancipation of African women must already start at schools where the girl should no longer hesitate to be involved in human rights issues because, she believes, « the African woman must arm herself to defend her rights when they are flouted ».

Today, after an international career punctuated by several high positions at the Board of Directors of the Montreal International Forum, from 1999 to 2001; member of the Advisory Committee of African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) since 2001; Co-Founder and Chair of the 2004-2006 West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), after serving as General Rapporteur of the Provisional Office of the Sovereign National Conference before becoming Minister of Welfare, Human Rights and National Solidarity in 1991, she now leads the front for democratic change in her country. Convinced that the Togolese woman, as much as the man, has a role to play: « because she is also the victim the poor governance that hits Togo! So, it is up to the Togolese woman, in particular and African in general, to lead the fight for the respect of her rights and for her emancipation. »

Portrait directed by Mawu Kouevi Folli-Gah from Lomé