Women in African History – Wangari Maathai

A short history of the life of one of the incredible women highlighted in UNESCO’s Women in African History series. Wangari Maathai was founder of the pioneering Green Belt Movement in Kenya.Wangari Maathai, born in rural Kenya, was a scholar and environmental activist who founded the pioneering Green Belt Movement in 1977. The Movement encourages people, particularly women, to plant trees to combat environmental degradation. Wangari Maathai’s holistic approach led her to link environmental responsibility to political struggles of governance, human rights and peace. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.Wangari Maathai’s story is told through comic strip illustrations by Eric "Zoe" Muthoga a self-taught Kenyan artist, illustrator, and author of comic strips.