As part of the 2025 International Women’s Rights Day, themed “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment,” the Alliance Française of Port Harcourt presented the exhibition Badass – 10 Modern Heroines, held from March 8 to March 15, 2025.
This initiative reflected the Alliance’s commitment to promoting gender equality, empowering women, and encouraging young audiences to challenge stereotypes and rethink the representation of women in popular culture.
The title “Badass” celebrates women who follow their own paths.
These are free-spirited, bold, and determined characters who are not afraid to take risks, to fail, or to ask for help. They embody courage, independence, and resilience—qualities that inspire women and girls to take charge of their destinies.
Inspired by the Héro(ïne)s project of the Lyon BD Festival and presented in partnership with the Institut Français de Paris, the exhibition paid tribute to ten iconic female comic book characters.
Each heroine, whether an adventurer, warrior, or intellectual, defies traditional stereotypes and represents a modern vision of femininity—one defined by strength, freedom, and individuality.
The exhibition aimed to:
Throughout the week, 83 children from six schools—Hopespring Foundation School, Cornerstone International School, Avidminds International School, Virgo Praedicanda International School, Pleroma International School, and Vine International School—participated in guided tours led by Alliance Française teachers.
The visits combined art appreciation, language learning, and social reflection.
Students discovered how comic books can address serious issues like equality and identity while expanding their French vocabulary with adjectives such as courageuse (courageous), ambitieuse (ambitious), empathique (empathetic), curieuse (curious), intelligente (intelligent), and déterminée (determined).
At the end of each visit, students were invited to create their own superheroine and describe her in French using one of these words.
Their drawings were displayed on a collaborative panel, extending the exhibition’s message of creativity and empowerment.
The Tide News – “International Women’s Rights Day: Alliance Française Port Harcourt Celebrates the ‘Badass’ Heroines” https://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2025/03/12/international-womens-rights-day-alliance-francaise-port-harcourt-celebrates-the-badass-heroines/
(March 12, 2025)
Punch Nigeria – “Institute Counsels 83 Rivers Pupils on Gender Equality, Others”
(March 15, 2025) https://punchng.com/institute-counsels-83-rivers-pupils-on-gender-equality-others/
On March 8, 2025, the Cameroonian Women’s Association of Port Harcourt gathered at the Alliance Française for an inspiring event centered on women’s empowerment and personal development.
Over a hundred participants—mostly women—came together to share experiences, exchange ideas, and attend talks on women’s rights, legal advice, and gender equality.
By opening its doors to this initiative, the Alliance Française of Port Harcourt reaffirmed its role as a space for dialogue, reflection, and solidarity, supporting the Francophone community and local associations in their educational and cultural missions.
