colonial legacy · Ozikoro

Madam Rosa C. Asuquo-Brown and the Fight for Women’s Right to Government Contracts in Post-War Enugu and Nigeria as a Whole

In post-civil war Nigeria, public contracting became one of the most competitive spaces in the rebuilding of infrastructure and public services. Yet, despite women’s long-standing contributions to trade, local commerce, and community development, they faced structural exclusion from this male-dominated sector. Among the pioneers who challenged this inequality was Madam Rosa C. Asuquo-Brown, a widow,…

The Truth About ‘African’ Wax Prints (Hollandais): A Dutch Story, Not Ours

African textiles are like colorful books full of stories, history, and culture. Fabrics like Kente from Ghana or Ukara from Nigeria carry deep meanings, passed down from our ancestors. But in markets across Africa and beyond, another fabric often gets all the attention: the so-called “African wax print,” also called Ankara or Hollandais. Many people…