Funmi, originally named Frances Abigail Olufunmilayo Thomas, was born in October 1900 to Chief Daniel Olumeyuwa Thomas, a descendant of a returned slave from Sierra Leone. She made history as the first female student admitted to Abeokuta Grammar School in 1914, paving the way for five other girls to join her that same year. After continuing her studies in London, she adopted the shortened form of her Yoruba name, FUNMILAYO.
Returning to Nigeria, she became a teacher, married Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, a co-founder of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Nigerian Union of Students. With his support, Funmilayo initiated literacy classes for women, established a nursery school, and founded the Abeokuta Ladies’ Club (ALC) in 1942. She also formed the Social Welfare for Market Women Club, the first adult education program for women in Nigeria.
An influential figure in Nigeria’s independence, Funmilayo organized market women protests against excessive taxation. In 1953, she founded the Federation of Nigerian Women Societies and advocated for women’s voting rights. As the president of the Western National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) Women’s Association, she played a crucial role in politics.
Funmilayo co-founded the Egba or Abeokuta Women’s Union, which grew to include over 20,000 women. She was also the mother of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Ransome-Kuti. Tragically, she met her untimely death on April 13, 1978, after being thrown from a window in Fela’s Kalakuta Republic during a military raid.
Described as “The Lioness of Lisabi” by The West African Pilot Newspaper, Funmi’s impact extended beyond activism. In 1932, she founded the Abeokuta Ladies Club, evolving into the Abeokuta Women Union (AWU). This political force protested against the Alake of Abeokuta, leading to the abolishment of a burdensome tax.
Funmilayo’s advocacy reached international platforms. In 1949, she was the sole woman in the NCNC delegation to London, highlighting the plight of Nigerian women. She later served as the treasurer of the NCNC and formed the Nigerian Commoners’ Party.
Honored with the Membership in the Order of the Niger (MON) in 1965 and the Lenin Peace Prize in 1970, Funmilayo’s legacy endures. Her resilience inspired her son Fela Kuti’s activism. Despite facing personal tragedies, including her husband’s death, Funmilayo remained steadfast in her commitment to justice and equality until her unfortunate demise.
Her son Fela, in his song ‘Unknown Soldiers,’ recounted the incident leading to her death. On the first anniversary of her passing, he symbolically carried a coffin to the gates of Dodan Barracks to protest military oppression.
In August 2012, the Central Bank of Nigeria proposed featuring Funmilayo on the Five Thousand Naira Note. However, her grandson, Seun Kuti, criticized the gesture, citing the government’s failure to apologize for the injustices faced by Funmilayo and their family.
Things students and historians may find useful.
Funmilayo, born Frances Abigail Olufunmilayo Thomas in 1900, was a pioneering Nigerian teacher, activist, and politician. She made history as the first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School, later studying in London and adopting the name FUNMILAYO. Married to Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, she championed women’s education, founded organizations like Abeokuta Ladies’ Club, and played a key role in protests against taxation.
Active in politics, Funmilayo was the president of the Western NCNC Women’s Association and co-founded the Egba Women’s Union. Internationally recognized, she addressed the plight of Nigerian women in London. Despite personal tragedies, including her husband’s death, Funmilayo’s advocacy continued, influencing her son, Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti.
Her tragic death in 1978, thrown from a window during a military raid, marked the end of a remarkable life. Funmilayo’s legacy endures through her activism, resilience, and contributions to Nigerian history.
