Google paid homage to Nigerian activist, politician and teacher Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti on what would have been her 119th birthday on Friday.

Known as “The Lioness of Lisabi” and “The Mother of Africa,” Ransome-Kuti was honored with a special doodle, illustrated by Nigerian-Italian artist Diana Ejaita.

Honors for Ransome-Kuti are well-deserved; as the first woman in Nigeria to drive a car, not only did she shatter barriers for women, but she also birthed the iconic Afrobeats pioneer Fela Kuti.  

“I felt a sense of responsibility and knew I needed to create an image that would make the observer want to learn more about her legacy,” Ejaita told Google. 

“Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was an inspiration to me. It’s rare to read about someone who has achieved so much in a lifetime,” Ejaita said.

The Nigerian trailblazer campaigned fiercely for women’s rights and the liberation of Africa from colonialism.

In 1932, Ransome-Kuti helped establish the Abeokuta Ladies Club (ALC), a civic organization to promote unity and empowerment for women and poor marketers. In 1947, she was the only woman in Nigeria’s delegation to London which set out to create a path for the nation’s progress toward self-government. 

She died in 1978 after sustaining fatal injuries during a raid of her son’s compound. 

Other Nigerian figures who have been honored with Google Doodles include esteemed author Chinua Achebe, football star Stephen Keshi and novelist Flora Nwapa. 

Fela-KutiFunmilayo-Ransome-KutiNigeriaTrailblazerWomen's rights