Boycotts, protests, towns burned to the ground. Hundreds of deaths, and hundreds of thousands displaced. Separatists, militia, and journalists impinged by an authoritarian presidency. The struggle for power in Cameroon is one of majority and minority, French-speaking and English. President Biya’s 38th year in office is marked by another year of infighting prompted by the marginalization of the English-speaking population …
Power of the Powerless
Power is not always embodied or rather disembodied as ‘the man’, an institution or the government. It feels slippery, you know it exists but you can’t hold it in your hands. It is impossible to define, so much so that approaching an essay on the topic feels daunting. What could I possibly contribute to the conversation around such an unwieldy …
Keeping My Last Name
What does it mean when a woman keeps her last name in marriage? Is this a protest against patriarchy? A radical act of self love and self preservation? Is it normal?
The Tale of Timbuktu:
The prolific power of Timbuktu’s libraries and scholarship
The city of Timbuktu became the centre of knowledge in the region, its prolific libraries contained literary works that focused on the study of medicine, mathematics, astrology, grammar and geography, not to mention the most expansive accounts of African history, in a mixture of Arabic and African languages.
I will marry myself, first:
Marriage and Misogyny
As an Igbo woman living in Canada, I have experienced a fusion of cultures. This means that while I do understand the values held within Igbo marriages, I have also come to see what marriages in this part of the world look like. This piece will contrast Igbo and Candian marriages to explore how power works within them.
Leading by Example:
The Unique Leadership of Muslim African Women
Muslim African women, lead by example. They rally the troops, cultivate awareness and inspire generations. They do not need to declare their presence and showcase their battle scars to command authority. In fact, most often, their sole objective isn’t to become warriors of a cause or the face of a movement.
When The Monuments Fall
The act of removing the monument universally stands for the refusal to accept that colonial forces shall continue to define our present and future. The perpetuation of racism and oppression is no longer an option. By keeping these monuments in public parks or in front of government buildings, they validate and normalize the atrocities these generals, emperors and governors inflicted on human lives.
The Queens of Commerce:
Ghana’s Market Women Deserve their Due
All women on the hustle are worthy of praise and recognition, and Ghana’s market women are no exception. Let’s admire them for the way they have empowered themselves, and endeavor to appreciate the importance of the traditional structures they have maintained.
