First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, and President Obama speak on International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. Discover what the US government is doing to empower women and curb domestic violence in this inspiring video.
On January 12, 2010, a 7 magnitude earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti, wrecking havoc on its presidential palace, UN HQ and other buildings. At least 150,000 people were killed and a large number rendered destitute. These are the life lessons I have drawn from this event.
So who are the defiant women we have left out? What women have you known to defy the odds – economically, emotionally and socially? What struggles have you overcome in your own life? Gentlemen, please don’t be left out! Tell us about the women who pleasantly surprise, support and inspire you.
Generous, albeit concise, comments and interesting photo submissions are most welcome. The top contributors will be selected on December 3rd 2009 and will win autographed ‘collector’s edition’ copies of the inspirational novel, Egg-Larva-Pupa-Woman.
Egg-Larva-Pupa-Woman is an intimate portrait of a woman who defies all odds economically, emotionally and socially… a woman who is sculpted, by the unpleasant circumstances of life, into a breathing work of art. What are the odds in your own life? What die-hard battles have you fought? What issues are you grappling with – still?
“Historically, Nigeria is famous for great literature however, many Nigerian novels have mainly got a tribal agenda. Egg-Larva-Pupa-Woman is unique because it speaks to the collective yearning of the Nigerian people, in essence the African people, yet tackles universal themes like love, forgiveness, domestic violence, entrepreneurship and woman empowerment.
There has been a lack of strong women characters in African literary fiction of late, so I was inspired to create a character who’s not only beautiful but also a woman of substance – defying all odds economically, emotionally and socially.”
Listen to Ọgọ Ogbata discuss her inspiring debut novel, Egg-Larva-Pupa-Woman, in the BBC World Service ‘Network Africa’ studio in London! You can also read an interesting Q&A article feature of the author plus comments from readers around the world.
An inspirational albeit heart wrenching novel chronicling Nigeria’s turbulent history and Independence from British rule is due for release on October 1st 2009 – Nigeria’s 49th Independence Day Anniversary!
