In the heart of Niaguis, a small town in Casamance, a quiet revolution is unfolding. For over three decades, Mariama Sonko has been championing the economic independence of rural women through sustainable agriculture and agroecology. Born to a farming family, she now leads Nous sommes la solution, a pan-African movement uniting more than 800 associations across eight West African nations.
From childhood roots to lifelong activism
Mariama’s journey began with an injustice she witnessed firsthand. Growing up in a family of farmers, she was struck by the systemic barriers preventing women from owning land—despite legal rights granting them access. « The pressure on women was unbearable, and it ignited a fire in me, » she recalls. Her grandmother’s struggles to feed her family after losing her husband further cemented her resolve. At just 19, Mariama defied societal expectations, refusing an arranged marriage and fighting instead for her right to cultivate land alongside other women.
A farm that changed everything
Her persistence bore fruit when she secured a 3-hectare experimental farm near Ziguinchor—free from pesticides and reliant solely on local seeds. Today, thirty women work the land, and over a hundred have opened personal bank accounts, saving and investing in secondary income-generating activities. « Seeing them build financial security is my greatest pride, » Mariama shares. Nous sommes la solution now spans ten countries, empowering 200,000 women, most of them illiterate, to reclaim their agricultural heritage.
The fight for seed sovereignty
« True food sovereignty starts with women’s autonomy, » Mariama asserts. She warns against dependency on foreign seed corporations, emphasizing the need to preserve Africa’s indigenous seed capital. « If we don’t organize ourselves, we risk losing our land—even in our own countries. » Her movement’s core mission is to train women in agroecological techniques, ensuring they control their resources and futures.
The movement’s reach extends far beyond Niaguis. With 800 member associations in West Africa, Mariama’s work is a testament to grassroots change. « Together, we are rewriting the narrative for African women. No longer will they be confined to the margins—we are the solution, » she declares with conviction.