Who We Are

ANWO is an anti-imperialist, anti-colonial, revolutionary, African Internationalist, organization for African women who organize around the pressing local, national and international issues that add to the special oppression of African women and femmes.

Our Mission

To be the political home for African women, a specially oppressed segment of the African nation. To empower and advance our issues by effecting change, politically, socially and economically through collective organizing and sisterhood.

Our Vision

To create a world where African women have agency, are valued and protected, and are the makers and shapers of a new society.

What We Believe

Colonialism not Racism

We believe that colonialism, not racism is the primary contradiction that plagues Africa and African people everywhere; and that parasitic capitalism was born out of colonial domination, oppressing and exploiting the peoples of the world.

Resistance is Necessary

We believe that organized resistance to colonialism is necessary to rid ourselves of the exploitation that causes the special oppression of African women.

All African people experience colonialism

We believe that African people living outside of Africa suffer from domestic colonialism while African people living inside of Africa suffer from direct and/or neo-colonialism.

Patriarchy is a symptom of Colonialism

We believe that patriarchy is a symptom of colonialism and therefore can only be eradicated when we destroy colonialism.

Our History

On March 21-22, 2015, the African People’s Socialist Party convened the African Internationalist Conferences on African Women in Washington, DC and March 28-29, 2015 in London, England. These conferences included the participation of African woman from across the diaspora who voted to establish the African National Women’s Organization to represent their issues which were established by conference resolutions.

Principles of Unity

The main points that we use to determine our work and form political relationships.

Class Based Unity

Class-based unity: In the class societies in which we live, we come from and take the side of the African poor and working class and other exploited and oppressed sectors;

All African People Are One People

All African people, no matter where we are located are one people who were forcibly dispersed throughout the world, through the initial European attack on Africa that resulted in false national identities;

African Women Face Special Oppression

Women, women-identified and LGBTQ+ persons from the colonized and oppressed and exploited classes are among the worst affected by the crises of imperialism;

Parasitic Capitalism has to go

Specific oppressions based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion are rooted in the parasitic capitalist system – that “made Europe wealthy and the rest of the world impoverished.

Solidarity with other fighting against Colonialism

We are compelled to link ourselves and our struggles to others fighting against colonialism, which is the antithesis of human development and self-sufficiency

Colonialism is the root of it all

Colonialism reinforces imperialism, feudalism, slavery, and patriarchy therefore it is necessary to destroy the colonial mode of production; and to end imperialist wars of aggression against the oppressed and colonized peoples of the world

Commitment to End Special Oppression

A commitment to end the political and social oppression and economic exploitation of African women

Accept the leadership of African Women

Individuals who join agree to do so under ANWO’s International Executive Committee in order to meet its organizational goals and objectives