At AYA Africa we would like to say Happy Pan African Women’s Day to all the African women in the continent and the diaspora. We appreciate the role that women have played in developing and growing the African continent. We salute especially the female entrepreneurs who have worked hard to start and run their businesses.

Pan African Women’s Day has been celebrated annually on 31 July.It marks the anniversary of the foundation of the Pan-African Women’s Organization in Tanzania in 1962, one year before the Organisation of African Unity, now called the Africa Union. The commemoration is dedicated to gender equality and women empowerment while acknowledging the African women who fought for the liberation and development of the continent. Besides, it’s crucial to remind ourselves of the pivotal role of African women who remain the backbone of the local economies as farmers, entrepreneurs, traders, scientists, and leaders in many other sectors.

National Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 9 August in South Africa. The reason why it is celebrated is because on 9 August 1956, around 20 000 women of all races marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa against the pass laws. This meant that women had to carry a pass book to enter certain areas. We celebrate these brave women who fought for women’s right of movement, employment, education and political participation.