Happy Birthday Efe Plange!

Today I celebrate one of my dearest friends and sisters, Efe Plange! She is one of two women who woke me up and introduced me properly to feminism and philosophy geared at fostering social justice, in early 2017.

The past eight years of my life have been directly influenced by sisters like Efe and I’m eternally grateful that we met when we did. It was a critical moment in my life, a few months after losing my mom to breast cancer, when I felt lost and unsure of how to navigate an existence without my primary guiding light.

The restraint and patience Efe and my other feminist sister (we will be celebrating her next month) had for me to usher me into feminism and help nurture my growth, always touches me. They had every right to drag me (on Facebook) that fateful day after I’d been baited by a former church member to support a line of patriarchal thinking that seemed reasonable to me at the time. I will never forget it. SN: we ended up advocating together for about 2 years through a well known group called Pepper Dem Ministries (PDM).

In the past 8 years, Efe has inspired me with her kindness, compassion, determination, and all round zeal for life. I watched her pursue a PhD in the US soon after her Masters degree, when others tried to encourage her to end her academic journey prematurely. She surmounted all obstacles and made it happen. Any time I’m tempted to give up on furthering my education, I look to sisters like Efe and course correct. She has an optimism for pursuing her dreams that is positively infectious.

Another thing I absolutely love about Efe is her love for life and living it on her own terms and in authenticity. I’ve watched how being unapologetically herself, has helped free the many women who follow her on social media, from performing a version of themselves that is palatable to society. She’s also one of the best influencers you’ll find on TikTok (@efplange_gh) sharing content on feminism, dancing, and just life experiences living in Ghana and abroad.

Long story short, I’m grateful sisters like Efe were sent to this earth because they are a tremendous blessing to everyone.

Efe, happiest birthday to you! On this added year, I wish you nothing but love, peace, joy, prosperity beyond your wildest imagination, and tremendous successes in all you do! May this be a transformative year full of uncountable blessings. Love you loads!

AG