Born: 1936, Niger
Died: 29 October 2018
Country most active: Niger
Also known as: NA
Mariama Keïta was Niger’s first female journalist and a prominent feminist activist.
Armed with a degree in English and proficiency in five languages, including French and Hausa, Keïta commenced her career as a writer and presenter at Voix du Sahel, the state radio. In 1993, she played a pivotal role in disseminating the Nigerien Constitution, facilitating the country’s inaugural democratic elections.
From 2003 to 2006, Keïta served as the President of the Conseil supérieur de la Communication (CSC), the regulatory body for the nation’s media. In her later years, she assumed the role of director at Voix du Sahel, maintaining her trailblazing status as the first female journalist in Niger at a time when the profession was male-dominated.
A feminist advocate and notable figure in civil society, Keïta pioneered women’s rights in Niger. Simultaneously, she coordinated various non-governmental organizations and women’s associations, comprising around fifty collectives. Additionally, she led one of the nation’s earliest NGOs, the Association for Democracy, Freedom, and Development.
Mariama Keïta passed away at the age of 72 on October 29, 2018, in Istanbul, Turkey after a prolonged illness.