'[E]ven in our fear […] we wanted to do this': feminist organising for abortion in Africa as palimpsestic.

Abstract

Activism for abortion rights and access in Africa is a vibrant and diverse movement that has become more prominent in recent years. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews with members and allies of the MAMA network (an African transnational pro-abortion activist network), this article explores the evolving landscape of feminist abortion rights activism in Africa, examining how activists navigate and reshape this complex terrain influenced by enduring historical, socio-cultural and political legacies. Employing the concept of the palimpsest as a lens, we examine how feminist organising for abortion rights and access unfolds in a context where historic scripts that limit African womens'-and African feminists'-agency have been imperfectly erased. We argue that activists record their experiences, strategies, successes and challenges on the societal landscape, creating a cumulative and evolving record, similar to a palimpsest, in which each contribution builds upon and reinterprets the layers that precede it. By foregrounding the interconnectedness of past and present struggles, the article contributes to deeper understanding of the complexities of feminist abortion activism in Africa, showing how these efforts contribute to broader struggles for gender and reproductive justice across the continent.