In Niaguis, a small town in Casamance, Mariama Sonko has spent over three decades championing women’s financial independence through agriculture and agroecology. Born into a farming family, she now leads the pan-African movement Nous sommes la solution, which unites more than 800 associations across eight West African nations.
Mariama Sonko’s advocacy hinges on a critical truth: achieving food sovereignty in Africa requires empowering rural women and their time-honored agricultural knowledge. Her message is urgent: « If we fail to organize ourselves and take action, we risk becoming strangers in our own nations. The work we do is about rebuilding seed capital—a vital foundation for African life and sovereignty. »
With a broad-brimmed hat and flowing pants, the 59-year-old activist embodies her cause. For nearly 30 years, she has turned words into action, driven by a childhood injustice she witnessed firsthand: despite legal rights, women were systematically denied land ownership. « Growing up, I saw the heavy burdens placed on women, and it ignited a fire in me, » she recalls.
From struggle to leadership
The challenges deepened when she lost her father. Her mother, left to care for ten children alone, faced immense hardship. « That moment forced me to make a choice. At 19, I quit school to resist an arranged marriage that would have confined me to domestic life. » Far from breaking her spirit, this adversity fueled her determination.
With sheer persistence, Mariama secured a plot of land alongside other women—but they were soon driven off by powerful figures. Undeterred, she set her sights on ownership. After a decade of relentless effort, she achieved her goal: a 3-hectare experimental farm near Ziguinchor. The land thrives without pesticides, relying solely on indigenous seeds and the labor of 30 women. « Today, over 100 women have individual bank accounts and are saving money. They’re diversifying their income with secondary ventures—a source of immense pride for me, » she shares.
Mariama’s influence now stretches across West Africa. The Nous sommes la solution movement, which she leads, promotes agroecology and the preservation of local seeds in ten countries, boasting 200,000 members—most of them illiterate women. « When I stand among these women, I am filled with pride. The progress they make is incredible, » she says with a warm smile.