Abaijah, Josephine (1942–)

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Abaijah, Josephine (1942–)

Papua New Guinea health educator, political leader, and entrepreneur. Name variations: Josephine Abayah; Dame Josephine Abaijah. Born in Wamira Village, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, 1942; one of 1st women to be educated in New Guinea.

With Dr. Eric Wright, founded Papua Besena ("Hands off Papua") movement to gain independence from Australian governance (1972); became a health-education administrator and was 1st female member of House of Parliament, the 100-seat House of Assembly of Papua New Guinea (1972–82); an entrepreneur with several retail businesses, returned to politics to serve as chair of Interim Commission (governing body) of National Capital District; co-wrote with Eric Wright, A Thousand Coloured Dreams, based on her life, the 1st novel ever published by a woman of Papua New Guinea (Dellasta Pacific, 1991). One of Papua's leading feminists and a leader of the Papua Besena Party, created Dame of the British Empire (1991).

See also Women in World History.