Stay ConnectedWelcome to – I AM NALA Podcast – your leading source to African Lionesses. Through documenting the stories of women leaders, survivors and disruptors, we Inform, Inspire & Impact.
This podcast is curated and hosted by Aya Chebbi, Founder of Nalafem and former African Union Youth Envoy, who brings you fascinating conversations with some of the most fierce and brave African women of our time, who will shake you to take action today.
Copyright: © 2022 I AM NALA Podcast
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:
Book recommendation: Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by by John Gray
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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.
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;
Enjoy this episode and don't miss her poetry at the end. Find out more about her work at www.jenasekwa.com
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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.
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.
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
Spiritual practice Tips
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.
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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.
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.
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
Leadership priorities for Africa;
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.
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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.
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
Serisha shares her tips, management tools and hacks
Book recommendation: Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins
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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.
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
Books recommendations
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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.
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
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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.
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 :
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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.
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
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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.
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.
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
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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 Manifesto and how you can help the young women of Africa create a better life for future generations.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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