In this episode, we openly talk politics in Namibia and the rise of the youngest minister in Africa. Emma shares about her childhood, the ever changing ICT sector and digital economy, Palestinians right to self determination and she also shares her gratitudes affirmations and haircare routine. She is an orchids lover. 

Emma believes " The political space has written rules and unwritten rules, silent expectations and loud expectations. It is easy to go with the crowd and what others believe its true. But it important that constantly I make decision that I believe in." 

On female leadership she believes "Women show up everyday. Women are good enough to raise Presidents, Kings and Leaders but we’re not good enough to be those leaders ourselves? Make it make sense!" she continues "There aren’t many of us in this country, on the continent or in the world.  We, young women, are also here and we deserve a seat at the table."

She has been helping girls code and reducing cost of data, donating laptops to schools and community centres as well as passing bills in Parliament on reduction and removal of tax on sanitary pads. She also advocated for paid Internships which was adopted by finance ministry. 

On being part of Nalafem Collective she says " Being part of a Pan-African feminist movement on the continent like Nalafem is an energy booster that validates our feelings of the lack of compassionate grief and that we’re not alone, let's get back to work. This makes Nalafem necessary" 

Her dinner table would surly have Former President of Liberia , Ellen Johnson Sirelaf and Former Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia, Libertine Amathila.

Worlds of Wisdom from Emma: 

• Inform yourself
• Understand how systems operate
• Show up! Be seen! Make your voice heard
• Your don’t have to know all the answers but have a spirit of a learner
• Continuously be authentic

Book recommendation:  Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by by John Gray

 _____________________________________________

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: nalafem.org follow IG account @IamNala_podcast  

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

In this episode, we openly talk about the creative industry, manifesting Forbes 30 Under 30,  her travels and adventures, her childhood, co-creation from a place of knowing to social media as a space of entitlement.  You will also learn how to operationalize creatives and navigate the space. 

Jena's mother encouraged an environment where she could simply ‘become’ which opened her to the world of ‘trying’, from studious kid, to tour guide to a boss of a marketing agency, Jena shares her three dimensional self.  

We’re looking at a potential politician. Jena studied Political Science. She identifies as feminist and champion for underrepresented and overlooked people because she says “ I am her, she is me”. She believes her contribution to the liberation of women, black and brown bodies is in "opening doors and access" for her people as well as translating their voices to the stakeholders that matter.

Some of her Words of wisdom; 

• What do you do when no one else is watching
• Create your container and processes
• Do the work when no one watching
• Ask yourself how you show up in the world
• This body is the only airplane we get to fly- take care of it & nurture it
• We have one life to live
• It is our job to build with, to allow to be built through
• figure out what do you care about & what gets me excited
• Extract your creative DNA from your work to show why you add value
• let go
• Be ready to give and ready to receive
• Increase your value
• Allow yourself to feel, if you need to cry, cry
• Hearing ‘No’ is part of life journey, it’s okay
• Enjoy being a kid,  being curious of not knowing
• 3 Ss  1) Start your day with meditation - 2) Strengthen yourself for the next season & 3) Stay in touch with my network

Enjoy this episode and don't miss her poetry at the end. Find out more about her work at  www.jenasekwa.com

 _____________________________________________

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: nalafem.org follow IG account @IamNala_podcast  

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala come from two different political atmospheres, yet have the ability to build common ground on their shared gendered experiences. Gillard and Okonjo-Iweala are former political leaders with years of expertise as women in government spaces.  They share with Nalafem community insights from their book on Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons, and the implications of their findings for the field of global development and health.
 

Today we’re talking with Verlaine-Diane Soobroydoo, a humanist growing up with a Mauritian Indian mother and Congolese father, has taken an unconventional journey of leadership from a career at the United Nations to a published Author. When COVID-19 hit, she felt that the dust settled, realising there is some work she needs to do for healing and her reflections resulted into her first book "Unbound Twitter Thoughts for the Heart and Mind". 

Aya and Verlaine talk about Writing as a healing, Freedom, Womanhood, resetting, the gift of being, and letting go. Verlaine also talked about the people who "hold on to their old leaves, they think they will com back to green, and that it’s still my time". Some of Verlaine's advice : 

• Remove people who would activate your wounds
• Free dive into the cycle of life
• If you’re not whole within yourself, you’re not able to recognise pain within others
• Its not the job that makes you , you make the job
• Go get these leadership positions
• Be free - Freedom of being whole and pursing every level of oneself
• Home is where we need to be
• Womanhood as a trip to wholeness, You have to take a trip to find yourself, find your voice and find courage.

-------------------------------------------------

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: nalafem.org

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

Kenya: With over a decade of experience in public service, Rose Wachuka, is a Policy Advisor and Chief of Staff at Chief Justice of the Judiciary of Kenya. In this episode, Aya and Rose talk about politics from an African worldview including Kenyan politics and Tomas Sankara. Rose reveals some bold views on US politics as well as Palestine-Israel politics. Through two songs of her choice from North Africa, she has taken us on a journey to different writers and books and people who inspired her as she considers “Writing as an act of melancholy”. On culture, Rose shared about her wild 35th birthday with inspiring advice and tips for young women and girls pursuing their ambitions but feeling trapped in cultural norms as she says  “Vulnerability starts where shame ends”, she also openly talked about sexuality, relationships and spirituality. 

Songs 

• Zina by Babylone
• Sidi Mansour by Omar Khorshid

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Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifestoand how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org

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Tunisia : Today we’re talking with Maha Jouini, author and activist. Aya and Maha talk about multiple battlefields including dance, history, cyber space, stigma and democracy. Maha explains how Pan-Arabism failed as a movement, how pre-colonial culture was matriarchal, how indigenous culture was feminist culture, how she overcome Tasfih (the practice of Locker to protect women's virginity) into sexual liberation. She also shares her aspiration for Tunisia’s democratic governance, death of Beji Caid Essebsi, LGBT rights in Tunisia and much more.

Feminists mentioned: Lina Ben Mhanni and Maya Jribi

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Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifestoand how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org

Egypt: Today we’re talking with Fatma Emam (Fatou Sakory), a Nubian Egyptian, 3rd generation of internally displaced ethnicity. Aya and Fatolu talk about African feminism, Female genital mutilation, Nubian culture, blackness, right to return, land rights, Arabization and Izlamization of North Africa, religion and Hijab and broader conversation about identity.   

Feminists mentioned in the interview are Amina Wadud, Fatema Mernissi, Maha Abdelhamid and Saadia Mesbah

---------------------------------------------

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org

Nigeria: Today we’re talking with Emmy nominated investigative reporter, Nkiru "Kiki" Mordi, a Nigerian investigative journalist, filmmaker, writer and entrepreneur. She dropped out of school because she was harassed by a lecturer in her school. This ordeal was what led her to shoot the Sex for Grades film with the BBC Africa Eye. Aya and Kiki talk about storytelling, lessons learnt, failures and advice on security and the power of community. Some of Kiki's golden tips and advice on the show; (1) Ask questions not from a malicious place but from a place of wanting to grow (2) Dont be afraid to be wrong (3) Do your research to get confidence  

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org

Sudan: Today we’re talking with Yassmin Abdel-Magied , a Sudanese-Australian writer, engineer and award-winning social advocate. Aya and Yassmin talk about demand 7 of B+25 manifesto on Education as well as debate around decolonisation, unconscious bias, and Yassmin's books including Talk About A Revolution, You Must Be Layla among others. 

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org/

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto-nala-feminist-collective/

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org

Uganda: Today we’re talking with Rosebell Kagumire , a writer, campaigner, pan-African feminist and multimedia communications strategist. Aya and Rosebell talk about demand 4 of B+25 manifesto on Access to Justice and Protection as well as debating concepts of power, colonialism, sexuality and freedom. 

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org/

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto-nala-feminist-collective/

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org

Morocco/Italy: Today we’re talking to Yasmine Ouirhrane, founder of We Belong and Young European of the Year 2019. She is shaping the discourse of a more hopeful, tolerant Europe. Her numerous projects promote gender equality, better opportunities for refugees and the representation of young people from underprivileged backgrounds.

Aya and Yasmine talk about demand 3 of B+25 manifesto on Ending Gender Discrimination especially in the context of the diaspora. 

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org/

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto-nala-feminist-collective/

Libya:Today we’re talking with Hajer Sharief , Peace & Human Rights defender,  Co-founder of Together We Build It. She focuses particularly on youth peace and security and women peace and security agendas. 

Aya and Hajer talk about demand 9 of B+25 manifesto on Silencing the Guns and how young women can be part of decision making  in peace and security frameworks, peace talks and negotiations. 

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org/

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto-nala-feminist-collective/

Botswana: Today we’re talking with Bogolo Kenewendo, a Botswanan global economist and politician with deep expertise in international trade and development. She focuses particularly on Pan-African development and a passion for accelerating digitization and innovation across the continent.

Aya and Bogolo talk about how young women can get more involved in the economic policies being created, and what the current leadership is doing to foster more equity in this space. Bogolo discusses why it’s essential to know the difference between equality and equity, and what that means for young women in leadership positions.

Highlights:

• Bogolo as an economist and negotiator
• Toughest negotiation Bogolo has been apart of
• Being stereotyped by gender and age in negotiations
• The first step to take for African economic justice
• The intersection between gender and economics
• Difference between equity and equality
• Growing up in Botswana
• Policies in Botswana that are lifting people out of poverty
• The current economic landscape of South Africa
• Feeling empowered as a young person
• How young women can use the opportunities to emerge as leaders
• Bogolo’s daily routine and how to regain positivity
• And much more…

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org/

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto-nala-feminist-collective/

Tanzania: Today we’re talking with Tessy Yue Li, a young climate justice activist, and co-founder of Y-IDEA, Youth Intra-Dialogue on Europe and Africa, and Zuhura Ahmad, CBD women programme lead at Tanzania Biodiversity Organization, co-founder at Tanzanian Youth Biodiversity Network, and a science teacher.

Aya, Tessy and Zuhura talk about how we can integrate more gender diversity into this year’s COP27, as well as what the different global leaders can do. It’s hard to be be a bit disappointed each year when not enough action is being taken, but continuing to fight, and advocate for the change that’s needed is how we get through this.

Highlights:

• Tessy Yue Li’s and Zuhura Ahmad’s story
• The points of contention between Africa and Europe
• Integrating a gender perspective into COP
• What is the priority for Tanzania?
• What’s the national level agenda at COP?
• The change that France needs to implement
• Three tips for finding common agendas at COP 27
• Tessy and Zuhura’s expectations for COP 27
• And so much more…

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org/

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto-nala-feminist-collective/

Learn more about the COP 27 conference: 

https://unfccc.int/cop27

In previous COP conferences, there has been a severe lack of young people attending the negotiations that will affect our planet for generations to come. This is the year it changes!

Why should the youth have their voices heard any less? They are affected by climate change just like everyone else, and some are taking action.

Kenya/South Africa: Today on the show Susan Wairimu & Mthembukazi Bavuma join us to discuss why young people need to attend the COP 27 conference and the change that can be made within the communities, using a bottom-up approach when it comes to implementing policies.

Highlights:

• Susan and Mthembukazi talking about why they are Nala
• Susan getting pregnant as a teenager, and not letting that define her
• Mthembukazi on every generation joining in on the climate change conversation
• Why we need to think of climate change as Afrocentric
• What the priorities should be for the African and European leaders
• Young people have agency in the climate change conversation
• The power of telling our story
• And much more…

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org/

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto-nala-feminist-collective/

Learn more about the COP 27 conference: 

https://unfccc.int/cop27

The impact of climate change is happening to Africa now, and it’s not getting any better. We need our leaders not just to say they are going to create change, but we need action, and plans set into place today because lives are at risk.

Uganda: Vanessa Nakate helps us realize the impact that climate change is having every day on the African continent and the African people. This isn’t something that is going to happen in the future, this is a problem that millions of people are dealing with on a daily basis.

Today we discuss what changes need to be made and how young activists can help facilitate those changes in this year's COP 27 conference.

Highlights:

• How climate change affects Vanessa on a daily basis
• The top priority for Africa regarding climate change
• Positives and negatives from COP 26 to this year
• Challenges for youth participation in COP
• What the European Green Deal means for Africa
• The new gas deals with Italy, and how that’s affecting Africa
• Message to European leaders in regard to renewable energy
• The role of African leaders in creating action around the climate crisis
• Advice for young activists attending COP 27
• Women going to Parliament in Kenya
• Vanessa’s Vash Green Schools project
• And much more…

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org/

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto-nala-feminist-collective/

Learn more about the COP 27 conference: 

https://unfccc.int/cop27

Egypt: Are you feeling overwhelmed about what you can do at COP 27? 

There’s a lot happening at the conference each year, and if you’re new to it, today’s guest will help ease some of that stress and guide you through what you can do to get the most out of COP 27.

Omnia El Omrani is the youth envoy for COP 27 and is helping young people across the African and European Union to make their voices heard and improve the lives of current and future generations. 

Today she shares what you can do to make the most impact if this is your first conference. She also talks about being a young woman in the climate advocacy space today, and why you should attend this year’s conference instead of boycotting.

Highlights:

• What a COP 27 youth envoy does
• How a young climate activist can make the most out of COP 27
• Be part of the negotiations as a young person
• Fostering young women at this year’s COP 27
• How Egypt will be handling visas, accreditation, and funding
• Where funding comes from
• Engaging with Egypt regarding their oil production
• The value you can bring by attending the conference, not boycotting it
• Forming a partnership with the African and European youth
• The call to action for European and African leaders
• Omnia’s words to young advocates in the climate space
• And much more…

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: https://nalafem.org/

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

https://nalafem.org/manifesto-nala-feminist-collective/

Learn more about the COP 27 conference: 

https://unfccc.int/cop27

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: nalafem.org follow IG account @IamNala_podcast  

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

South African actress, producer, entrepreneur, spiritual activist and mother, Mona Monyane has a remarkable journey. 

In this episode, we openly talk about feminism, relationships, divorce, spirituality, self awareness , connecting with the divine and being fully oneself. Mona shares how her ancestors awakened her from grief of the death of her baby 7 days after birth.  She talks of black women as 'queen's and backbone of society which led to her work supports SGBV survivors, the right of choice for women, limited by patriarchy to be labelled and ostracised.  However, Mona explains why she does not identify as feminist, she doesn’t strive to be equal to men or match their energy but owning her power as a woman is what she strives for. 

Mona is an artist and considers "Being in the creative industry as a calling not a career",  she believes Africa's voice needs to be reintroduced as absolutely able to express itself intelligential and put itself on world stage

Her Words of wisdom

• Never stop being who you are
• Never forget -- You are the light
• Be still. Be you. Stillness is being who you are
• Remember me by being everything you are meant to be
• Perfection is an illusion
• Be yourself -- Shine bright like a Dimond
• Stop questioning if you’re getting it right or wrong (an elephant doesn’t doubt if it’s n elephant)
• You have the power to choose you, every single day, all day long
• You are enough, be all of you
• Get pissed off with the version of yourself that doesn’t want the best for you
• It’s comfortable to sit in pain, Time to be uncomfortable, own who we are
• You loose a lot of people because they were not meant to stay, your tribe will find you

 Spiritual practice Tips 

1. Isolate yourself
2. Write things down (aspirations, dreams, feelings..)
3. Go to nature (hub a tree, sit by a river, dance in the rain, lay on the ground…)
4. Get a pet
5. Pray (have a conversation with the great divine)
6. Create an environment (candles..)
7. Rest

Final thought from Mona is " What's difficult about the truth is that - it is simple", so hoping this episode will bring you closer to living your truth and reflect in the Christmas season on who you really are. 

--------------------------------------------- 

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: nalafem.org follow IG account @IamNala_podcast  

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: nalafem.org follow IG account @IamNala_podcast  

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

Aisha Yesufu is an impact-led Nigerian socio-political reformer, civic & community development crusader, who consistently demands for good governance, fight for justice, fairness and equity and lend her voice in support of women safety and financial freedom.  

In this episode she talks about BringBackOurGirls movement , EndSARS movement and her other good trouble. She unpacks how poverty has been weaponised, generational gap and corruption.  "For my parents, putting food on the table, that's their activism", she shares about her family, movements and Nigerian politics. "If you can't mingle with the people why are you going in politics?"

Married at 24, she has installed in her two children; Amir and Aliyyah Yesufu, her words of wisdom 

• Know who you are
• Accept who you are
• Love who you are
• Don't negotiate your values
• Challenge me
• Nothing is off the table
• Keep learning
• Develop 'people sills'
• Develop empathy
• Kill the voice that says "you can't"
• Don't compromise

   Leadership priorities for Africa; 

• Civic Education
• Citizens demands
• Empowering youth to take charge

Also find out if she will run for office? 

Aisha's relationship advice is to look for someone who can add value to you but not diminish you. 

--------------------------------------------- 

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: nalafem.org follow IG account @IamNala_podcast  

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

No one picks up the phone and say “ Hi Serisha how are you doing”? This episode shows an authentic and honest conversation with Serisha Barrat who felt crippled but found light in the darkness in an incredible journey. 

Serisha started her first business at 17 and since then she’s been a successful entrepreneur with multiple companies. She tells the story of how she mimicked her boss and eventually became her own boss girl. "I made it happen for myself. I carried myself well because I'm not gonna look like my problems", she says.  

Serisha is a social entrepreneur with key foundational values; impact is key driver for her businesses as well as financial freedom because she believes " I am not dependent on anyone to create my world and impact". As a problem solver she is always on the quest of - What are the gaps and how we fix it? and continues to build without reinventing the wheel. 

On this episode she talks about corruption , rising in male dominated industry and snippet of her dating life. When there is so much noise around her and on social media she reminds herself "What am I doing is what matters to me".

Her words of wisdom

• Keep on trying everyday
• Be grateful for being safe, for family, for a new day to be who you want to be
• Dont compare yourself to anyone else
• Stay in your lane and focus on what you’re building
• Pray , I got my strength from god/divine
• Free your time from admin tasks and focus on building
• Understand what you need to do what resources you need to streamline your process
• Stop feeling sorry for yourself no one is coming to save you
• It's not a me problem it's many of us problem

Serisha shares her tips, management tools and hacks

• ChatGPT4 plus - many ways to plug in tools like canva and read pdfs, draft emails and send emails.
• Canva - create marketing materials.
• Apollo ai connected to linkedin to help find co-founders and investors.
• Dalle - Image generations.
• Midjourney - image generations.
• Jasper.ai - is an AI-powered writing assistant.
• Otter.ai - Meeting note taker
• Bard - stats and research
• Notion
• Rows ai - Financials projections.

 Book recommendation: Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins

-------------------------------------------------

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: nalafem.org

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

Nadia Ahmed Abdalla, served as Deputy minister (Chief Administrative Secretary) from 2020 to 2022, Ministry of ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs of Kenya 

Coming from Kenya’s coast, she was appointed to Kenya’s government as the youngest in the administration. She is sharing in this episode her learnings from her time in government and the perception of people about being young and female. People doubted her education background and why she is the voice that matters in the country.

“Not many women who look like me make it”

She is inspired firstly by her late mother as well as Kofi Annan, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama and Amina. J. Mohamed

Words of wisdom

• Work on yourself
• Identify your passion
• Be honest with yourself
• Read to keep your brain alive

Books recommendations

• You’re the baddest bitch
• Art of not giving a fuck

 -------------------------------------------------

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: nalafem.org

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

Zulaikha Patel is a South African anti-racism activist. She is Best-Selling author in South Africa for her children’s book My Coily Crowny Hair  which affirms black Afro identity. At at the age of 13, she became a symbol of the fight against Pretoria Girls High School's policy regarding black girls' hair in 2016 that prohibited Afros, dreadlocks and braids.  

Growing up to an Indian father and black African mother, she tells the story of her parents choosing each other, of her experience in white high school and of being rejected by her paternal conservative muslim side because of her blackness among other powerful stories of her activism. She explains how— Racism determines your outcome in life, your healthcare, your education, your job, your transport, your tax bracket, everything is based on your race. 

Learn also about her morning routine and don’t miss the question at the end if she is a heartbreaker or heartbroken. 

Her words of wisdom

• Inform your activism with your country's laws
• Choose you, and be at the steering wheal of your life
• Keep your fire lit
• Associate with people who get you and lift you up
• Pick where you mingle
• Your intuition is your guiding compass: Listen to your intuition
• Do your To-List  in 3

1. what you need to get done
2. what you hope to get done
3. what you have to get done (the later as priority order)

-------------------------------------------------

Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Visit our website to learn how you can help: nalafem.org

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.

nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

• Raissa’s upbringing between France and Morocco and how her Amazigh roots shape her dance and identity.
• The importance of storytelling and tribal meanings in North African traditional dances.
• Challenges of being a female dancer in conservative and often hyper-sexualized perceptions of dance.
• The erasure and revival of indigenous Amazigh culture through her choreography.
• Insights on motherhood, cultural transmission, and raising the next generation with strong values and identity.

_______________________________________

Connect with Raïssa Lei

Instagram raissa_lei

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

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Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact hello@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Curator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer & Audio engineer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

• How Mame Anta's upbringing in Senegal shaped her values, identity, and artistic vision.
• The challenges of navigating cultural stereotypes as a Black African woman in the global fashion industry.
• Mame Anta's bold decision to merge her modeling career with activism, focusing on issues like representation and inclusivity.
• Her insights on blending traditional African aesthetics with modern fashion.
• A candid discussion on the importance of staying grounded and connected to one’s roots while pursuing global success.

Connect with Mama Ante Wade

Instagram @mameanta_wade

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

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Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships 

contact hello@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Curator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer & Audio engineer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

Connect with Mpho

Instagram @mphosebina

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Website nalafem.org 

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Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships  

contact hello@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Curator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer & Audio engineer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho Sebina featuring MiDi KwaKwa

• The story behind My Love Letter to Africa and how collaborating with five female artists across the continent celebrates unity and diversity.
• How Mpho’s unique “Setswana soul” sound blends her cultural heritage with contemporary music.
• The challenges of being an independent artist in Botswana, including the impact of limited monetization opportunities on platforms like YouTube.
• The healing power of her music, with fans sharing how her songs helped them overcome personal struggles.
• Mpho’s advice to aspiring musicians: “Merge your culture with your art, experiment fearlessly, and trust the process.”

_______________________________________

Connect with Mpho

Instagram @mphosebina

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Website nalafem.org 

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Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships  

contact hello@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Curator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer & Audio engineer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho Sebina featuring MiDi KwaKwa

• Her bold decision to quit her corporate job just two weeks ago to pursue music full-time after years of juggling both careers
• The story behind her album "Gikundiro" (meaning "highly favored") and how she's using her voice as an instrument of healing
• Her powerful performance at the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, and the responsibility she feels to use music for peace and healing
• Navigating the challenges of being an independent female artist in Rwanda's evolving creative industry
• How her faith helps her overcome creative blocks, including regular visits to Saint Dominique Chapel for inspiration
• The reality of being a "one-person band" - managing everything from PR to performance as an emerging artist
• Her powerful message to young artists: "Nothing is unattainable. Be patient, but keep believing in your dreams."

___________________________________________

Connect with Christiane: 

Instagram Boukuru

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Website nalafem.org 

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

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Linkedin Nala Feminist Collective

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships

contact hello@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Curator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer & Audio engineer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

• Lisa reveals how she used dance as her "superpower" to avoid bullying in boarding school, eventually becoming an entertainment prefect
• The viral uniform dance video that got her suspended but inadvertently helped change perceptions about dance in Ghana
• Breaking into a male-dominated dance style while staying true to herself and challenging gender norms
• How COVID-19 transformed the dance industry in Ghana and created new opportunities for artists
• Her pride in achieving financial independence through dance at a young age, including buying her own car
• Balancing family expectations (coming from a family of bankers) with her passion for dance
• Her views on marriage, relationships, and focusing on personal growth at her age
• Future aspirations including choreographing for international brands and advancing her education

____________________________________________

Connect with Lisa: 

Instagram Lisa Darko

Tiktok Lisa Quama

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Website nalafem.org 

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

Facebook Nala Feminist Collective

X (Twitter) @Nalafem

YouTube Nala feminist Collective

Linkedin Nala Feminist Collective

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships

contact hello@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Curator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer & Audio engineer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

Key Topics Covered

• Surviving childhood sexual abuse and reclaiming her voice
• How growing up in Kibera shaped her activism and community approach
• Writing Pendo’s Power and the need for early conversations on body safety
• The generational impact of silence—and how parenting can disrupt it
• Building trust, safety, and open dialogue with her daughter
• Working with Freely In Hope to support survivors through education and leadership
• The need for national survivor councils and reimagining prevention in GBV work
• Breaking shame, naming body parts, and giving children the language to speak up
  
  Standout Quotes

“Healing is not linear. But you will get there—and you are not alone.”
“I wanted my daughter to inherit a legacy of courage, not silence.”
“Your voice is your power. And children need to know that early.”
“Pendo’s Power started as a book—but it’s becoming a movement.”

Resources & Mentions

• Pendo’s Power – Lydia Matioli’s children’s book on consent and body autonomy
• Freely In Hope – Survivor-led nonprofit focused on education and leadership
• Companion Guide for Pendo’s Power – For parents, caregivers, and educators
• Osi Kimi and Wangokanja Foundation – Partner orgs doing GBV work in Kenya
• Survivor Council advocacy – Lydia’s call for survivor-centered policy design
  
  Call to Action
  If this episode touched you, let it move you to act.
  *  Share Pendo’s Power in your home, school, or community.
  *  Support survivor-led programs.
  *  Start the conversations we weren’t given.
  *  Listen. Believe. Protect.

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Website nalafem.org 

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

Facebook Nala Feminist Collective

X (Twitter) @Nalafem

YouTube Nala feminist Collective

Linkedin Nala Feminist Collective

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact:  aya@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Creator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

• Growing up across Somalia, Italy, and Saudi Arabia—and experiencing FGM at age 7
• The emotional and physical trauma of FGM, including its long-term impact during childbirth
• Why FGM must be recognized and prosecuted as child abuse, not cultural practice
• The role of language in policy, aid, and advocacy—reframing FGM, child marriage, and labiaplasty
• How patriarchy drives all forms of genital control—across race, class, and region
• Creating survivor-led initiatives and safe spaces for healing
• Reimagining feminist solidarity and cross-cultural resistance
• The power of parenting, art, and love in breaking cycles of harm 

“What happened to us wasn’t culture. It was child abuse—and the body remembers.”

“We don’t practice violence. So let’s stop calling it a practice.”

“Patriarchy is the root of it all. If we want to end violence, we must start there.”

“Women’s bodies have always made money. That’s why they’ve always been controlled.”

“I am Nala because I choose to be present—with love.”

• Power of Language Position Paper – by The Girl Generation
• The Crocodile Documentary – Leyla’s landmark film on FGM in the UK
• The Girl Generation – Support to the Africa-led Movement to End FGM
• World Bank and University of Birmingham data on FGM mortality
• FGM Mortality Study – University of Birmingham, 2023
• CSW events on FGM and survivor-led care

________________________________________
Want to support the Nalafem? 

Website nalafem.org 

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

Facebook Nala Feminist Collective

X (Twitter) @Nalafem

YouTube Nala feminist Collective

Linkedin Nala Feminist Collective

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact:  aya@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Creator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

Key Topics Covered

• Growing up in Khartoum and the women who shaped her voice
• The revolution, grassroots organizing, and youth-led research for change
• The outbreak of war and the immediate humanitarian response
• The gendered violence faced by Sudanese women—on an unimaginable scale
• Evacuating students, building trauma centers, and creating safe spaces
• How U.S. aid suspensions cripple life-saving work
• Redefining peace through survival, service, and solidarity
• Why global solidarity must go beyond hashtags
   

 Standout Quotes

“I wasn’t afraid of dying. I was afraid of being raped.”
“Peace used to mean volunteering. Now it means saving lives with nothing in your hands.”
“Sometimes we must choose: do we feed you, or do we protect you? That is the price of war.”
“Healing for a mother means seeing her child go to school without fear.”

 Resources & Mentions

• Emergency Response Room – Sudanese grassroots initiative led by Hanin
• UNSCR 1325 – Women, Peace, and Security framework referenced
• Nalafem’s CSW68 Solidarity Night – A global platform amplifying Sudanese women
• Volunteer trainings in Sudan & DRC – Highlighting Hanin’s regional feminist work
   

______________________________________________
 

Want to support the Nalafem? 

Website nalafem.org 

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

Facebook Nala Feminist Collective

X (Twitter) @Nalafem

YouTube Nala feminist Collective

Linkedin Nala Feminist Collective

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact:  social@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Creator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer : Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Audio engineer: Joy Wambui

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

• Growing up in Khartoum while carrying the stories of Darfur
• The privilege of education and escaping FGM
• Researching the gender cost of war and women’s evolving roles in peacebuilding
• How grassroots women are preventing violence and negotiating peace—without recognition
• The war’s weaponization of women’s bodies and its racialized strategy
• The global silence and complicity fueling Sudan’s crisis
• The emotional toll of activism and speaking truth during war
• What justice, healing, and real peace must look like for Sudanese women
  “Don’t underestimate what you know. Knowing is action. Knowing can change everything.”
• “Sudan did not choose this war. It was forced upon us—and women are paying the highest price.”
• “I refuse to be a symbol of pity. I’m strong. I am building something greater than fear.”
• “Peace is when women can exist safely—at home, in politics, in the streets, everywhere.”

If this conversation stirred something in you, don’t let it end here.
🎧 Listen, reflect, and act.
📝 Sign the petition: bit.ly/sudanceasefire
💬 Share this episode and speak up for Sudan.
📢 Demand accountability. Fund grassroots peacebuilders. Center Sudanese women’s leadership.

 ____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Website nalafem.org 

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

Facebook Nala Feminist Collective

X (Twitter) @Nalafem

YouTube Nala feminist Collective

Linkedin Nala Feminist Collective

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact: social@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Creator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer : Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Audio engineer: Joy Wambui

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

Key Topics Covered

• Living through genocide and the displacement of her family
   
• The walk for peace across Sudan and what it symbolized
   
• How tribal and cultural identities were deliberately fractured
   
• Weaponizing gender-based violence as a tool of war
   
• Survivor-led resistance and building humanitarian response networks
   
• The dangers of oversimplified narratives about Sudan’s conflict
   
• The revolution, counter-revolution, and what the international community must understand
   
• The role of poetry and storytelling in healing and advocacy
   

Standout Quotes

“They can take our lives, but they cannot take our humanity.”
“Survivors are rarely survivors of just one thing. We carry many wounds—and we still lead.”
“When the land isn’t safe, and your body isn’t safe, where do you go? You go to each other. That’s what we do.”
“I am Nala because my existence is an act of defiance. And so I live.”

 Resources & Mentions

• Sisters’ Entrance – Poetry collection by Emtithal Mahmoud
   
• IDP Humanitarian Network – Grassroots mutual aid led by survivors in Sudan
   
• United for Sudan Petition – Calling for an immediate ceasefire and justice
   
• Dr. Nisreen Al-Ameen – Anthropologist working on land, dispossession, and Sudanese history
   
• Nura Hussein Campaign – Landmark case challenging marital rape laws in Sudan
   
• People Like Us & Daughter – Poems featured in the episode
  
     Call to Action
  If this episode moved you, share it widely. Follow the I AM NALA podcast, leave a review, and amplify survivor voices.
  Join the call to demand a ceasefire in Sudan.
  Support local networks. Center survivors. Stand with our people.

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Website nalafem.org 

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

Facebook Nala Feminist Collective

X (Twitter) @Nalafem

YouTube Nala feminist Collective

Linkedin Nala Feminist Collective

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact:  social@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Creator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer & Audio engineer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

 Key Topics Covered

• Luthando’s experience of sexual violence from childhood through adulthood
• The silence, manipulation, and isolation that often surround survivors of abuse
• Navigating trauma while leading advocacy and survivor-centered work
• The failure of systems and institutions to protect women and survivors
• Colonialism, apartheid, and the unfinished work of national healing in South Africa
• The 2019 “Shutdown” march and reflections on feminist organizing in South Africa
• Why unity, collaboration, and “singing one song” are essential for real change
• The work of the Bold Women Network and grassroots initiatives supporting women and girls

Standout Quotes

“It wasn’t your fault. It’s okay to feel defeated—but don’t live in defeat.”
“Heavy is the head that wears the crown. I understand the crown I am wearing—and I must continue.”
“We are fighting not for protection—but to end the violence itself so that protection is no longer necessary.”

Resources & Mentions

• Million Girls Foundation – Period freedom and dignity for girls
• Disele May Foundation – Working with perpetrators for rehabilitation and accountability
• Young Leaders Connect – Ethical leadership and financial empowerment for young Africans
• Grit App – Tech-based protection tools for girls and women
• Black Women Caucus (South Africa) – Feminist movement against GBV
• Bold Women Network – Empowerment platform co-led by Luthando Modise
   

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Website nalafem.org 

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

Facebook Nala Feminist Collective

X (Twitter) @Nalafem

YouTube Nala feminist Collective

Linkedin Nala Feminist Collective

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact:  social@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Creator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer & Audio engineer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

In this raw and unforgettable episode of I AM NALA, host Aya Chebbi sits down with Somali-British activist and survivor Shamsa Arawil for an unflinching conversation about her experience with female genital mutilation (FGM), her journey of healing, and her mission to transform trauma into activism. Shamsa shares her graphic and deeply personal story of undergoing FGM at age six, the lifelong impact it’s had on her body and mind, and the systemic silence survivors face around the world.

Together, they explore survivor-led solutions, bodily autonomy, the fetishization of women’s bodies, the global nature of FGM, and the role of reconstructive surgery in healing. Shamsa’s voice cuts through statistics and policy with a lived reality that demands attention—and action.

Shamsa takes us through her early life in Somalia and the cultural expectations that normalized FGM, and a vivid recounting of the procedure she underwent at age six and its lasting physical, mental, and emotional impact. She also shares candid discussion about the failures of existing charities, healthcare providers, and policies in addressing FGM effectively. She is advocating for survivor-centered solutions and explains why mainstream approaches often fall short

Shamsa has gone through reconstructive surgery and she shares what it meant for her sense of self. Her story serves as both a warning and an inspiration for survivors worldwide to reclaim ownership of their narratives.

🌍 Key Topics Covered

** Shamsa’s lived experience of FGM and childhood in Somalia

** Her diagnosis with dyslexia and her journey through higher education

** A breakdown of the four types of FGM and their long-term complications

** The trauma, silence, and medical neglect survivors face in diaspora communities

** Her reconstruction surgery and reclaiming bodily autonomy

** Critique of the UN and NGO sector’s response to FGM

** The importance of survivor-led and person-centered healing

“We are not less. We are not damaged. We are survivors—and we deserve healing.”
“If I can heal, I know others can too. We just need the tools and the truth.”

💡 Resources & Mentions

Dr. Dan O'Day – FGM Reconstruction Specialist (Germany)

DoorCast UK – Survivor support charity based in Birmingham

📣 Call to Action Love this episode? Please share with your networks, leave a review, and follow the I AM NALA podcast on all major platforms. Let’s amplify survivor voices and push for systemic change.

🔗 Follow @iamnala and @aya_chebbi on social media for updates.

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Website nalafem.org

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

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X (Twitter) @Nalafem

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Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact aya@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Creator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer & Audio engineer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

Episode Highlights:

• Her early years in Guinea and how cultural pride influenced her work.
• The creation of groundbreaking media projects like Top 10 and their impact on Guinean youth.
• The fight against cultural barriers through bold advocacy campaigns on gender justice.
• The importance of African-led storytelling in changing global narratives about the continent.
• Insights on using media as a tool for empowerment and social change.

_______________________________________

Connect with Diaka Camara

Instagram @diakatop10

____________________________________________
Want to support the Nala Feminist Collective? 

Website nalafem.org

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

Facebook Nala Feminist Collective

X (Twitter) @Nalafem

YouTube Nala feminist Collective

Linkedin Nala Feminist Collective

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact podcast@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Creator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer & Audio engineer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

• Surviving abuse as a child and navigating cultural silence
• Naming what happened—and the fear of being disbelieved
• The moment she decided to write her story down
• Why forgiveness isn’t always the answer for survivors
• Her work creating safe spaces and teaching consent in schools
• How faith, not the church system, helped her heal
• Supporting girls to speak up with confidence and clarity
• Redefining what justice and healing look like

“My abuser was a family friend, not a stranger.”

“I kept quiet for so long because I didn’t know what to call it.”

“When I started writing, that’s when I started healing.”

“I don’t believe in forgiveness as the first step for survivors.”

“I needed to tell the truth before I could begin to feel free.”

• The Grace Project – Survivor-led healing and advocacy by Salvation Grace

____________________________________________

Want to support the Nalafem? 

Website nalafem.org 

Instagram @IamNala_podcast  

Tiktok I AM NALA Podcast

Facebook Nalafem

X (Twitter) @Nalafem

YouTube Nalafem 

Linkedin Nalafem

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact:  aya@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Creator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa

• The emotional toll of childhood abuse and betrayal
• How grooming thrives in silence and cultural taboos
• The moment Amanda decided to name her abuser
• Writing as resistance: transforming memory into voice
• Why survivors don’t owe anyone forgiveness
• The justice system and the cost of speaking out
• Breaking generational silence and reclaiming agency
• What true healing looks like for African girls and women

“I had no language for what happened. But I have language now.”

“He knew what he was doing. And I am allowed to say that.”

“I’ve stopped trying to forgive what I still need justice for.”

“I am not a victim with no voice. I am the voice.”

• Coming Forward: Survivor Testimony and Justice in Africa (referenced by Amanda)
• Local child protection hotlines and counseling centers in East Africa
• Survivor-led writing circles and healing programs (as discussed by Amanda)
• African feminist movements advocating for bodily autonomy and legal reform
  
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Want to support the Nalafem? 

Website nalafem.org 

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X (Twitter) @Nalafem

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Linkedin Nalafem

Learn more about the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations. nalafem.org/manifesto

For collaboration and sponsorships contact:  aya@nalafem.org 

____________________________________________

Creator & Host: Aya Chebbi

Producer: Omom Mbu-Ogar

Graphic Designer.: Kenechukwu Nwachukwu

Music License Agreement signed for the Use of ‘Fire’ by Mpho featuring MiDi KwaKwa