"Wonders and Miseries of a Woman Who Refuses to Be a Woman": The Transnational Lives of a Pan-African Feminist

This work explores the life of Cameroonian feminist Thérèse Sita-Bella, who was a professional triple-threat: she was Africa's first female filmmaker, journalist, and pilot. I argue that through her professional and personal pursuits, Sita-Bella was a pioneering Pan-African feminist, integrating diverse political ideas to imagine a more egalitarian world. Born in the 1930s in French Cameroons, she studied in France and became a journalist for La Vie Africaine (African Life), a Pan-African magazine promoting African cultures and politics. Through her experiences, Sita-Bella embraced African feminism, advocating for women's unique needs. Defying norms, she championed gender equality and increased political involvement for African women.