In Niaguis, a small town in Senegal’s Casamance region, Mariama Sonko has spent over three decades championing financial independence for rural women through agriculture and agroecology. Born into a farming family, she now leads Nous sommes la solution, a pan-African movement uniting more than 800 associations across eight West African nations.
For Sonko, true food sovereignty begins with supporting women’s access to quality seeds—free from corporate dependency. « If we don’t organize ourselves, if we don’t commit, we’ll become strangers in our own lands tomorrow,» she insists. « Our work revolves around rebuilding this seed capital, which is vital for African life and sovereignty. »
roots of resilience
Raised by a peasant grandmother, Sonko witnessed firsthand the struggles women faced in securing land rights, despite legal provisions. « Growing up, I saw how society oppressed women, and it infuriated me,» she recalls. At 19, after her father’s death left her mother to feed ten children alone, family pressure forced her into marriage—an attempt to confine her to domestic life. « They thought a woman’s place was in the home,» she says. « But that only fueled my determination to fight back. »
Despite the setbacks, Sonko fought for—and won—the right to cultivate land with other women. When they were later expelled, she refused to surrender. A decade ago, her perseverance paid off: she acquired three hectares near Ziguinchor, where she established an organic farm run entirely by women. No pesticides, no imported seeds—just locally adapted crops nurtured by 30 dedicated female farmers. Today, over 100 women have their own bank accounts, savings, and secondary income streams. « Seeing them thrive fills me with pride,» Sonko beams.
a movement of change
Now, Sonko travels across West Africa, spreading her vision. Her movement, Nous sommes la solution, spans ten countries with 800 member associations and empowers nearly 200,000 women—most of them illiterate. « When I’m with these women, I see progress everywhere,» she reflects with pride. « They’re reclaiming their dignity, their land, and their futures. »
