International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.

IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people.

We asked some of the inspirational women of southern Africa to share their insights into what this day means to them, who their female role models are, and what message they have for young girls and women in southern Africa.

We are honoured to be able to share their voices.

Portia Mushambi

Portia, writing under the pen name SP K-Mushambi, is a finance professional turned first-time author. Inspired by her experience of growing up in Zimbabwe and raising children in the UK, she enjoys sharing the rich and vibrant culture of Zimbabwe with her daughters, especially as they do not have the opportunity to encounter it daily, as she did.

Follow her on Instagram and Facebook @NanisoCreate

Moagisi and Mpuleng

Moagisi and Mpuleng are two Batswana travel bloggers who founded the blog, Travel Dolls. They love “go” moments and discovering the world.

Follow them on Instagram @traveldollies

Fungai Marima

Fungai is a Zimbabwean born artist and educator who is based in London. Her practice is primarily based on the body as archive, the materiality of the body and its relationship to archiving. Often self-reflective, her work investigates themes of displacement, memory, trauma and the female body, highlight her Zimbabwean heritage and personal childhood and adult experiences.

Follow her on Instagram @fungaimarima and Facebook @fungaimarimaart and visit her website to learn more about her work www.fungaimarima.co.uk

Emelda

Emelda is an Eswatini native who grew up between there, Botswana and England. She attended London College of Communication (University of the Arts London) where she studied Textiles and Screen printing. She is based in London where she is an artist and designer of handmade jewellery and crafts. Her main passion outside of creating art is teaching it to children through craft and printing workshops. She currently runs zoom art workshops for children aged 5-10.

Visit @emeldamade on Instagram for more of her artwork and @paint_create_make for her workshops.

Dr Boikanyo Trust Phenyo

Dr Boikanyo Phenyo has spent her life raising the profile of African Women. She is a lifestyle specialist, pageant coach, life coach and author. She inspires others to follow in her footsteps to achieve their potential.

Michelle Phetlhe

Michelle is one of Botswana’s leading Experiential Events specialists, placing client and attendee experience as a top priority in everything she does. On a consistent upward trajectory in her profession, Michelle is fast becoming a household and International name within and beyond the Events Industry. Michelle is an exceptional speaker who delivers essential insights from her personal journey to audiences of all ages and at all stages, in doing so, helping them realise their own potential in whatever circumstance they may find themselves.

Follow her on Facebook and Instagram @michellephetlhe or @esteresagency

Ms Abbey

Ms Abbey is a singer songwriter born in Zimbabwe and living in Botswana. She is best known for her 2019 hit song ‘Vacation’, which earned her a YAMA nomination for Best RnB single.

Follow her on Instagram and Facebook @Ms.Abbey

Xolie

Girl In Skies is a podcast by Nat & Xolie discussing life, hot topics, being Africans away from home and more.

Follow them on Twitter & Instagram @girlinskies and keep the conversation going on.

Nat

Girl In Skies is a podcast by Nat & Xolie discussing life, hot topics, being Africans away from home and more.

Follow them on Twitter & Instagram @girlinskies and keep the conversation going on.

Memory Zikhali

Memory is a professional dancer who trained and performed with the performing arts company IYASA in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. She is a dance teacher and choreographer and is now based in Germany.

Follow her on Instagram @zikhalimemory and on Facebook and YouTube @SimplyMe

Ketiwe Anjorin

Ketiwe’s background is in the charity sector, primarily working on social mobility and community engagement programmes with young people. She is committed to improving educational outcomes for young people through innovative project design and delivery. She is also the founder of a platform called Inclusive Generation which aims to empower inclusive parenting.

Follow her on Instagram @inclusive_generation

Sheilla Mandeya

Born and raised in the small mining town of Kwekwe in Zimbabwe, Sheilla is a qualified Garment Technologist and founder of Afrocentric805 - a unique homeware and fashion brand created for anyone passionate about everything African, ethnic and tradition inspired. It is a house, a home filled with warmth and positivity, joy and happiness with products hand crafted to stand out and be adored.

Follow Sheilla on Instagram and Facebook @afrocentric805 and visit her online store at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Afrocentric805

Vuyelwa Mabena

Vuyelwa is the founder of VM - a clothing brand that specialises in bespoke tailoring and production. The brand has a background in millinery and accessory making.

Follow Vuyelwa on Instagram @vuyelwaofficial

Beryl Diane

Beryl is a Motswana DJ, music connoisseur and beauty farmer. She is based in Norway and is the co-founder of Jozi Nights, representing Afro House music in Norway.

Follow Beryl on Instagram @bediane

Vimbai Mango

Vimbai Mango is a UK based singer/songwriter and musician.

Follow her on Instagram @vimbaimango

Morejoy Saineti

Morejoy is dementia consultant specialist nurse holding 34 years of experience as an RGN and RMN, both in the UK and abroad. She has extensive experience in managing tuberculosis, HIV counselling, community psychiatric nursing, crisis intervention and dementia care. Morejoy pioneered a community dementia palliative care service in Westminster, and developed training materials for both health professionals and the public. The service saved the NHS approximately £250,000 a year (in its first years of inception) and was able to be rolled out to other parts of England.

Danielle Swagger

Danielle Swagger is a rapper from Botswana. She started doing music professionally in 2012 whilst working with Dawg Instinct Records. Her career entered the limelight after appearing on local television with artist JT Specialboy in 2011, and has since risen from strength to strength, recording and working with different artists. She is based in La Réunion.