Born: 1936, Niger
Died: 29 October 2018
Country most active: Niger
Also known as: NA
Activist Mariama Keïta is remembered as Niger’s first woman journalist. She started as an intern with Radio Niger at age 18, and went on to become an editor of a newspaper and presenter on the public radio station La Voix du Sahel. She was a well-known advocate for women’s rights, human rights and democracy in Niger and co-founded Coordination Des Ong Et Association Feminines Nigeriennes (Coordination of Niger Women’s NGOs and Associations, CONGAFEN) in 1995. This coalition worked with leaders across different communities to promote women’s rights related to topics like marriage and divorce. Keïta herself was an educator, mediator and consultant in addition to writing articles and papers and speaking at events like conferences. She also led the Association for Democracy, Freedom and Development and served as president of the media regulator Conseil supérieur de la communication (2003-06).