The #EndSARS protest and Black cyberfeminism: a study of the Feminist Coalition and the rise of cyber-feminist ideologies in Nigeria

Abstract

This study aims to demonstrate how the Feminist Coalition (FemCo) employed digital media to promote feminist causes in Nigeria. Using the #EndSARS protest as a study, we show how Black women championed virtual feminism and Black feminist ideas, resulting in Black cyberfeminism. By translating and reflecting their physical reality into digital experiences, FemCo’s design of the #EndSARS logo raised awareness of intersectionality and demonstrated levels of ongoing struggle and empowerment. Through the use of hashtags on social media, both private and public instances of misogynist remarks were brought to light in response to the adoption of the logo and in opposition to FemCo’s points of view. Employing a qualitative descriptive method of data collection and analysis, we demonstrate how, in a time and space of gendered discourse and patriarchal culture, Black cyberfeminism has become more common in contemporary Nigeria and arrive at the conclusion that FemCo’s tremendous influence is rarely discussed in the current literature on the #EndSARS protest. We further argue that without the FemCo’s active participation and, more significantly, financial support, the #EndSARS protest would not have had much of an impact on a global scale. This is as a result of the thirteen founding members of the coalition’s diverse initiatives.

Keywords:

• Feminist Coalition
• #EndSARS protest
• cyberfeminism
• Black cyberfeminism
• digital spaces

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Felix Idongesit Oyosoro

Felix Idongesit Oyosoro is a lecturer in the Department of History and International Relations at Veritas University, Abuja, Nigeria and a visiting lecturer at École Nationale Supérieure des Armées (ENSA), Porto Novo, Benin Republic. He received his doctorate in Strategic Studies from the University of Calabar, Nigeria, and did his undergraduate studies at the Catholic University of Central Africa, Cameroon. He is involved in numerous collaborative research projects and is currently a member of the Edinburgh Catalyst Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is also a member of the Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS). His areas of research focus on security studies, peace building and conflict resolution.

Chinaemelum I. Okafor

Chinaemelum I. Okafor is a lecturer in the Department of History and International Relations at Veritas University, Abuja, Nigeria. She holds a Doctorate in International Relations. She has coauthored numerous research papers and articles and is a member of the Historical Society of Nigeria. Her research areas focus on gender studies, Security Studies, Peace Keeping and Feminist Studies.

Ruth Aigbe

Ruth Aigbe is a lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies at the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. She holds a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies from the University of Calabar, Nigeria, and also did her undergraduate studies at the same university. She has coauthored numerous research papers and articles and is currently a member of the Historical Society of Nigeria. Her research areas focus on gender studies, nation building, national development and most recently, environmental history.