Graça Machel

A minister before the first lady of Mozambique.

She is more than the first lady of Mozambique and South Africa.  

She is a champion for education. A global politician for dignity and human rights. A humanitarian who speaks multiple languages. 

Born on October 17 1945, in rural Mozambique as the youngest of six children, Graça Simbine Machel grew up determined to defy the limitations imposed on African women of her generation. After attending Methodist mission schools, she earned a scholarship to the University of Lisbon, where she studied Germanic languages. Today, she is fluent in six languages: French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, English, and her mother tongue, Xitsonga.

Her education did not serve as a ladder for personal ascent alone. It became the blueprint for her lifelong mission: to ensure others could rise too.

After returning to pre-independence Mozambique, Machel joined FRELIMO (Mozambique Liberation Front) — a movement primarily led by Mozambicans studying abroad, committed to ending colonial rule. She wasn't merely a participant; she became a powerful representation of women in a male-dominated liberation political leadership. And even more so when she stepped into the cabinet of ministers. 

When Mozambique finally claimed its freedom on June 25, 1975, Machel was appointed the country's first Minister of Education and Culture. Her appointment alone shattered barriers and changed her nation.

Centuries of Portuguese rule had left a legacy of widespread illiteracy in Mozambique. Machel recognised that knowledge is the seed needed for the empowerment of her people. She launched literacy campaigns, transformed oppressive colonial curricula, and deployed teachers into rural communities that had long been ignored. Her efforts led to a significant increase in school enrolment, particularly among girls, and a noticeable improvement in the literacy rate.

The results were transformative: Primary and secondary school enrolment surged. From roughly 40% across both genders to 90% for boys and 75% for girls (Learning for Justice, 2017).  But her ministry's progress unfolded amid a devastating civil war that ravaged the country for almost 15 years. The war directly targeted the work her government had painstakingly built over the past couple of years—schools and primary health clinics were burned to ashes, and the future of citizens was at stake. The education budget was slashed, and funds were diverted towards the military. 

In 1986, she stepped down as minister. 

Some might have assumed that her tenure of influence had run its course. She hadn't. Instead, she redirected her strength beyond politics to the world stage. She continued her advocacy for education and human rights, working with various international organizations and using her influence to bring attention to the plight of women and children in conflict zones. 

At the end of the war in 1992, Garça worked to reintegrate over 1.5 million refugees who returned to Mozambique (Learning for Justice, 2017). With each passing year, her impact and influence grew. She became one of the leading international advocates for women's and children's rights, working with UNICEF and serving as chair of the National Organisation of Children of Mozambique. Her voice carried hope into war-torn regions and developing economies alike.

Over the years, her leadership roles continued to grow. From 1999 to 2019, she was Chancellor of the University of Cape Town. During her time as Chancellor, she became a member of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (2009) and was appointed as president of SOAS from 2012 to 2020. Her influence extended beyond her hometown.

So did her recognition. Graça Machel was recognised in 1992 with the African Prize for her outstanding contribution to peace and development. Queen Elizabeth II made her an Honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her humanitarian achievements, and she was awarded the  North-South prize in 1998 for promoting human rights and global solidarity. And these are only a fraction of her accolades. 

Her life teaches us that leadership is not a title; it is a responsibility to uplift others.

Though history often tries to confine women to footnotes, Machel's story demands bold headlines.

She changed her country. She shaped her continent. And her influence extends far beyond, impacting the world at large.

A few words to ponder on…

All these outstanding and courageous women we have written about were voices for their own countries in their specific fields. Garça Machel championed education and literacy, her work standing as a significant pillar in the trajectory of African progress. Hannah Kudjoe used her local influence as an artisan to contribute to her nation's destiny. Wangari Maathai used her love for the environment and academic experience to mobilise the women in Kenya. Doria Shafik's dogged activism contributed significantly to the Egyptian women's liberation. These are just 4 of the significant African women who have shaped the continent's trajectory since before the independence of their respective countries. 

They existed at the same time. The contributions of one lady do not, and will not, diminish the contributions of the other. It was a co-existence of greatness. They focused on their goal and mission and made it happen.

You can make an impact happen. No matter how small your sphere of influence is - whether you're at university, in a society, or even among your friends - stay focused and determined. 

~Nwadinma Amucheazi, Chief Editor 25/26 Committee

Sources:

1. Learning for Justice. (2017). Graça Machel. [online] Available at: https://www.learningforjustice.org/classroom-resources/texts/graca-machel [Accessed 27th October, 2025].

2. Image credits: Super User (2015). Mrs Graça Machel. [online] Endviolenceinafrica.org. Available at: https://endviolenceinafrica.org/site/index.php/mrs-graca-machel [Accessed 29th October, 2025].

   
   

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