This essay could not have been written without honoring the countless women who’ve shared their stories with me. I appreciate and thank you for sharing these stories in the hopes we can all learn from their experiences.
Every International Women’s Day, we see the same headlines: “Invest in women,” “Support women-led businesses,” “Close the gender gap.” And while these messages are important, they barely scratch the surface of what African women entrepreneurs are actually up against.
As a man who has spent years in business across the continent, I want to say something that often goes unsaid on days like this: The biggest obstacle many African women face in business isn’t just a lack of investment — it’s men. Men like me. Men in boardrooms, in funding meetings, on the other side of the negotiation table. Men who hold power and know it — and sometimes abuse it.
If we’re going to be honest this International Women’s Day, we need to talk about how the deeper power dynamics and gender culture in Africa make it almost impossible for women to do business without navigating moral and personal dangers — dangers that go far beyond the usual “empowerment” slogans.
The Reality Beyond the Hashtags
We love to talk about African women as the backbone of our economies — and that’s true. Across agriculture, trade, tech, and creative industries, women are building, innovating, and leading. But what doesn’t get enough attention is what happens when these women enter male-dominated business spaces.
Many women I know — women I’ve worked with, mentored, and watched grow — have had to face a hidden set of rules that men in business don’t talk about but know are there.
They walk into a room prepared to discuss a contract or pitch for funding, only to realize the conversation has terms and conditions that are never spoken out loud — until much later.
“We should talk over dinner.”
“You know, I can make this happen, but…”
“You’re very beautiful. Let’s do business — and more.”
For many women, getting a seat at the table often comes with an unspoken price — a price men never have to pay.
Why “Access to Investment” Isn’t the Full Story
So yes, women need access to funding. But what we don’t talk about is what women have to endure to access that funding in the first place.
- How many women have walked away from deals because they refused to “play the game”?
- How many women have compromised themselves because they had no other option?
- How many brilliant businesses have died before they could grow because a woman chose her dignity over a contract?
These are the questions we aren’t asking on International Women’s Day — but we should be.
It’s not enough to say “invest in women” if we’re not also fixing the corrupt, exploitative systems that make women vulnerable to begin with.
How African Culture Fuels the Problem
This isn’t just about individual bad actors — it’s about a system.
In many African cultures, women are still expected to be “submissive,” to “know their place,” and to defer to men. When a woman is confident, assertive, and driven, she is seen as “too much.” And when she says “no” to inappropriate advances, she is labeled “difficult” or “ungrateful.”
So, even when women get into the room, they are forced to navigate deeply entrenched gender biases that see them as sexual objects before they are seen as entrepreneurs.
And as men, we are often the enforcers of this system, whether we realize it or not.
Why Men Need to Take Responsibility — Especially Now
So on a day like International Women’s Day, it’s not enough for men to post quotes about women’s strength or to say, “we celebrate women today.”
We have to ask ourselves hard questions:
- How do we treat women when they walk into a business meeting?
- What do we say when other men make inappropriate comments or demands?
- Do we make it easier or harder for women to succeed based on merit?
- Are we offering opportunities with no strings attached — or are we gatekeeping access to power?
If we want to celebrate women’s economic power, we need to confront the ways we, as men, use our power to limit theirs.
What a Real Commitment to Women in Business Looks Like
A real commitment to women entrepreneurs in Africa means:
- Creating safe business spaces where women can operate based on merit, not on navigating sexual politics.
- Calling out men who abuse their positions — not just privately, but publicly when necessary.
- Funding and supporting women-led ventures without attaching expectations beyond professionalism.
- Challenging cultural narratives that limit women to secondary roles and demanding that business spaces reflect equality.
Why This Matters for Africa’s Future
If we want to talk about building “Africa’s future” — the one where we are competitive globally, where innovation drives growth, where businesses create real impact — we cannot do that while excluding or exploiting half of our population.
African women are already building the future. The question is whether we, as men, will get out of their way — or continue to be the reason they cannot succeed.
So this International Women’s Day, let’s move beyond empty words.
Let’s ask: What are we doing — as men — to make business safe, fair, and accessible to women?
Because if we can’t answer that question honestly, then all our talk about empowering women is just that — talk.