Nabya Haidara

Nabya Haidara was a political activist from Guinea, who was a key figure in the armed activity of the African Democratic Rally (RDA).

Biography Haidara's date of birth is unknown, but it is acknowledged that her father was Lebanese and her mother Susu. Little is known about her early life, until she became prominent as one of the most daring of the RDA fighters, who were organised by Mafory Bangoura. To begin with they guarded the neighbourhood of Sandervalia in Conakry where Sékou Touré lived. They ran armed groups in the area from 1954 to 1958.

Haidara had a particularly fierce reputation as she often fought with sabres engraved with her name. Aissatou N'Diaye claimed that she saw Haidara jump in the air and grab the gun of a rival party member, who was about to shoot into the crowd, in order to disarm him.

In her later life, Haidara went on hajj, which had a profound effect on her. She felt she had to atone for the violence in her earlier life, according to an interview in 1991 with N’Diaye. Many women in the RDA challenged gender roles, and it was a key part of their success. It is also clear that during the RDA period, Haidara was seen by most people as adopting a traditionally masculine appearance and character.