Meeting of Minds

On 25th October 2021, Nigeria became the first African nation to launch a digital currency- the eNaira. At the official unveiling in Abuja, President Buhari said the eNaira could boost Nigeria’s gross domestic product by up to $29 billion over the next decade. The central bank will issue the digital currency directly to users, hoping to promote financial inclusion, facilitate diaspora remittances, foster cross border trade, among other advantages.  The launch comes nine months after the central bank banned cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, which were used to finance the #EndSARS protests, on the grounds that they posed a threat to the financial system and could fund terrorism. Despite its alleged benefits, many Nigerians remain skeptical about the currency because of widespread distrust of the government. And bareley 72 hours after it went live, the eNaira speed wallet disappeared from google play store following bad reviews and low ratings. However, it’s up again.  So, what is the eNaira? What do Nigerians think about it? Will it solve the country’s monetary issues, and what are some of its potential risks? To answer these questions, Edith Magak speaks to Seun durojaiye, a Nigerian journalist, and Theophilus Oladipo, a FinTech attorney and consultant at Regcompass. Written and produced by Edith Knight Magak – a writing fellow at African Liberty and literary journalist at Africa in Dialogue. She lives in Nairobi, Kenya. Follower her on Twitter

The Zambian Air Force is the air operations division of the Zambian Defence Forces. It was founded in 1968, four years after Zambia's political independence from Britain. In its fifty-three years of existence, it has had 11 commanders-in-chief, all of whom have been men. But Zambia is trying to change this by encouraging more Zambian women to join different areas of the Defence Forces. In 2017, these efforts materialised when it was announced that the Air Force had appointed its first female fighter pilot. Her name is Captain Thokozile Muwamba. Captain Muwamba joined the Air Force in 2012 when she was in her first year of university at the Copperbelt University, in Copperbelt Province, Zambia. Fiske Niyirongo talked to Captain Muwamba to find out more about her trailblazing achievement, how she got to where she is, what advice she has for young women with regards to careers and what she does to unwind and care for herself outside of work.

Hairvolution is an ode to Black Hair and heritage, launched on World Afro Day, 15 September 2021 by the authors Saskia Calliste and Zainab Raghdo.    Our Business editor maxine Harrison had the pleasure of both reading the book and sitting down with Saskia and Zainab, to find out what inspired them to write it, and their new journey as Black female published authors in this time when the fight for social justice and the promotion of Black culture is resurging. You can read the article and transcript of the interview here

Religious Women have played an important role in advancing the struggle for gender parity, economic equity and defying stereotypes over the years. However, as much as the world seems to be evolving with #girlpower and #womenempowerment recognisable hashtags, the restrictive beliefs and structures constructed by religion have hindered the advancement of feminists movements. A review of the first sin committed by Eve and the punishment meted out to her in the Bible justifies the “rationalisation” and punishment assigned to Women. These gender disparities and stereotypes are pervasive in many societies as scholars, religious and political leaders use this reference as justification for the limitations on and status of Women around the world. It is imperative to note that many of the political forces that seek to control Women and perpetuate sexism are based in religious ideologies which have been considered normal in our everyday lives. Therefore, there is a pressing need to extensively address Christianity and how it impacts Black Women, especially in the application of biblical doctrine. Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo advised his members against joining the feminist movement because “it leads to frustration and devastation.” His wife, Faith Oyedepo defended her husband’s view on feminism as she believes “feminism is inspired by demons”. Christianity and feminism are at parallels because; where feminism sees a problem, Christianity does not see one. Mothers push this belief of subservience down their little girl’s throats. At the end of the day, patriarchy is not only advanced by men, but also by indoctrinated religious Women. Read the full article written by Deborah Dzifa Makafui here.

Being Black and British in white majority spaces in the working world entails a myriad of challenges. While the world endeavours to become more inclusive, and businesses strive to eradicate discrimination in the workplace, there are still societal stereotypes that can hinder the progression of Black professionals. Twice As Hard is an exploration of Black identity in the workplace as well as a blueprint for success, written by entrepreneurial husband and wife team Raphael and Opeyemi Sofoluke - featuring contributions from industry leaders including Mathew Knowles, Trevor Nelson MBE, Bianca Miller-Cole, Charlene White and Munya Chawawa. Their debut book exposes the obstacles that limit opportunity for Black professional progress, how to challenge racial stereotypes, be productive, find purpose and ultimately design a successful career. Podcast produced by Maxine Harrison 

For Africa in Focus, we speak with Dr Sam Opio to assess the political, economic and social implications behind the term ‘developed’ in an African context. What does it mean to be developed? Why are Western countries seen as developed, and how are countries in Africa ‘less developed’? We also discuss what ‘aid’ does for recipient countries, along with the conditions placed on billion pound ‘aid’ agreements, judging to what extent social progress and economic growth are helped or hampered. Produced By: Sabine Franklin – born and bred New Yorker, she earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Westminster in 2020. Her expertise is in international development, global health governance, and political economy. She tweets @SabineFranklin

For #RealReads, we speak with Chantelle Lunt, founder of Merseyside BLM Alliance, on the potential impact of the election of Liverpool's - and the UK's - first Black female mayor. Placing this historic victory in the context of the city's slave-trading past and multi-ethnic present, we contend with the 'snowy peak' phenomenon within Liverpool's top institutions. We also evaluate how colourism and proximity to whiteness inform political success and assess the likelihood of longstanding structural change following George Floyd's murder in May 2020. Podcast produced by Laurentine Insonere

 It’s amazing to see Black Women and girls overtly enjoying a range of pop culture forms such as K-Pop, K-Drama and Anime. Though, there’s some controversy surrounding these forms of entertainment, in particular, K-Pop, (including minstrelsy, cultural appropriation, racism and misogyny), it’s okay to criticise the media we consume - especially when you’re an avid enthusiast like Bashirat and her friends, Anthonia and Debbie. Podcast Produced By: Bashirat Oladele, with guest speakers Anthonia and Debbie.

It appears that whenever Black Women and girls are interested in things ‘beyond the norm’, there’s always some form of backlash or unwarranted comments about our interests. Or that ‘we’re not Black enough’ for liking different things - whatever that means. Being a K-pop fan or being invested in the Korean drama industrial complex doesn’t take away from being Black. For instance, we realised that there’s a lot of similarities between our respective Nigerian (Yoruba and Igbo) and Korean cultures from academic success, family values, religion and more. What’s even funnier is the assumption that we had particular racial preferences when it comes to relationships just because of our interests in East Asian pop culture. And of course, moreover, Black Women and girls have been interested in various forms of East Asian pop culture, like anime, we still get ridiculed. Considering that anime is unfortunately often associated with men, it doesn’t get as much counterblast, but when Black Women, even Megan Thee Stallion, enjoy it - we still get bashed. But, of course, this is due to misogyny and male gatekeeping. Nevertheless, it’s amazing to see Black Women and girls overtly enjoying these forms of pop culture. Though, there’s some controversy surrounding these forms of entertainment, in particular, K-Pop, (such as minstrelsy, cultural appropriation and of course, racism and misogyny), it’s okay to criticise the media we consume - especially when you’re an avid enthusiast like Bashirat and her friends, Anthonia and Debbie. Podcast Produced By: Bashirat Oladele, with guest speakers Anthonia and Debbie.

In September 2020, the Zambian public became aware of the plan by the government to introduce a Comprehensive Sexuality Education curriculum from grade 5 to 12 in all Zambian schools. As soon as the news became known, there was a widespread call, led by the church and traditional leaders to do away with the subject. The plan by the government came after an alarming news story that estimated that over 1,700 school-going girls in the Eastern part of Zambia became pregnant between January and September 2020. Our staff writer Fiske Niyirongo talked to community health professor Joseph Mumba Zulu, as well as Violet Mwaba and Magomero Chisenga two teachers who have engaged with the subject. National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) Executive Director, Aaron Chansa, also gave a brief statement.

Moneopura is a Black owned brand that sells natural skin care products, which includes a collection of luxurious skin and hair care lines. Many of their products include natural Shea Butter, sourced from West Africa. Black women should adopt self care practices into their lives as a form of radical self love. Finding time to pamper and de-stress is crucial to our overall sense of wellbeing.  Our Business Editor Maxine Harrison has used their products for over a year, and in this episode, shares her experience and results, plus sits down with the founder Monica, to discuss the inspiration behind the brand.

Dionne Smith is a mentor, educator, and award-winning celebrity hairstylist. She has spent the last 20 years perfecting her craft, nurturing life-long relationships with amazing brands, and even launching her own signature line of hairstyling products and tools. Dionne has had the honour of working with incredible people like Venus Williams,  Regina King, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and many more. Her work has been featured in magazines like Glamour and Harpers Bazaar, and she has  collaborated with world-renowned brands like Dyson and Cantu.  Our Business Editor Maxine Harrison sits down to find out how Dionne started her career and what keeps her motivated. 

In the wake of Nikki Grahame’s recent passing, we assess how a culture of anti-fatness influences eating disorders among Women and how race and culture inform their manifestations. Co-Host Maxine Harrison argues that skinny shaming exists as a legitimate medium of discrimination, while Co-Host Hannah Uguru discerns between personal injury and structural oppression to claim that it does not exist on an institutional level. For more information click here: https://meetingofmindsuk.uk/realreads/skinny-shaming-fact-or-fiction/  Podcast produced by: Hannah Uguru, with guest speaker Maxine Harrison. Hannah is our Commissioning Editor. She is an award-winning writer who is passionate about discussions centring black women and the nuances within this identity. Connect with her on Instagram and on her blog. Maxine is our Business Editor. She is also a freelance writer and founder of the Remi Reports blog – a blog helping freelance creatives build their business and lifestyle.

For Africa in Focus, we contextualise sexual terrorism against Women in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The state is currently undergoing armed conflict, which was announced at midnight on the 4th of November 2020. Official numbers of rape cases stand at 500 between December 2020 and the 26th March 2021, but those on the ground argue these stats are much higher. Accounts of sexual slavery have also emerged. We spoke with a Tigrayan gender-based violence specialist, who now resides in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa, to gain more insight. Podcast produced by: Edith Knight Magak – a writing fellow at African Liberty and literary journalist at Africa in Dialogue. She lives in Nairobi, Kenya. Follower her on Twitter and Instagram For more articles from our Africa in Focus publication, click here: https://meetingofmindsuk.uk/africa-in-focus/

Funmi Ljadu spoke to Remi Ray about her imperfect yet inspiring journey towards thriving while neurodiverse.  Remi was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 19. In the early years of her professional career, she was bullied by senior management staff. As a result, she initially carried a high level of shame that many with a learning disability in corporate environments do. Professionally, she eventually turned to entrepreneurship feeling she had no other choice. Today, Remi is recognised as one of the top 50 most influential neurodivergent women in the UK. DShe is also a neurodiversity coach specialising in leadership and performance. She prides herself on supporting her clients to reach their highest potential by helping them rediscover their value, learn how to lead with their strengths by breaking down barriers caused by common stigmas associated with being neurodiverse. Remi’s coaching practice and work at the Diverse Creative CIC is legacy work centred on empowerment and healing. For more information click here: https://meetingofmindsuk.uk/grad-zine/thriving-while-neurodiverse-an-interview-with-remi-ray/ Written and produced by: Funmi Ljadu – a Nigerian-based collage artist and writer. In her work, she enjoys exploring her identity as well as wider socio-political issues she observes in the spaces she’s in. Visit her blog and follower her on Instagram

Amatte is a new premium coffee brand that embodies Africa’s rich cultures and history of storytelling. It sustainably sources the finest Arabica beans from female farmers across the continent to create delicious single origin coffee and blends in the UK. Amani Kiflemariam founded Amatte Coffee in 2019 and is doing ground-breaking things in sourcing organic coffee. Amani sat with our Business Editor Maxine Harrison to share her entrepreneurial journey. To read the full interview click here: https://meetingofmindsuk.uk/realreads/amani-kiflemariam-of-amatte-coffee-is-breaking-ground-in-the-hospitality-industry/ Written and produced by: Maxine Harrison our Business Editor. She is also a freelance writer and founder of the Remi Reports blog – a blog helping freelance creatives build their business and lifestyle.

Marcia Degia is an established publisher and editor, who has worked for publications such as The Voice and Home and Gardens. She sat down with us to share her story to launching her online and print Magazine, The KOL SOCIAL. To read the full interview click here: https://meetingofmindsuk.uk/realreads/in-conversation-with-editor-and-founder-of-the-kol-social-marcia-degia/ Written and produced by: Maxine Harrison our Business Editor. She is also a freelance writer and founder of the Remi Reports blog – a blog helping freelance creatives build their business and lifestyle.

Is it possible to care personally and challenge directly at the same time? In conversation with @thetechbabe_, we establish healthy and positive ways of delivering and receiving critique, contrasting viable methods of self-improvement against combative and destructive behaviours. For more information click here: https://meetingofmindsuk.uk/realreads/radical-candor-understanding-radical-honesty-and-candid-compassion/ Written and Produced By: our Commissioning Editor Hannah Uguru – who is an award-winning writer who is passionate about discussions centring Black Women and the nuances within this identity. Connect with her on Instagram and on her blog.

Whenever the terms “African diaspora” or “Black diaspora” are mentioned on social media, they almost always exclude the voices of Black people in non-Anglophone regions of the world, specifically the Global South. Countries such as Brazil and Colombia have a rich history of Black female intellectuals but because of the lack of exchange between the Global North and Global South, largely due to language barriers, it appears as if movements or icons do not exist. It is patronising and a huge disservice to the movements led by Black people in Latin America. However, Delali from the Akoma Institute is rectifying this narrative with the work of the Akoma Institute.  To read the full article click here: https://meetingofmindsuk.uk/grad-zine/meet-the-akoma-institute-cultivating-a-global-learning-community-for-black-and-afro-indigenous-girls/ Written and produced by: Bashirat Oladele – a freelance writer in London who enjoys writing about pop culture, entertainment and politics. Her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, Stylist, Cosmopolitan and other publications.

Facing The Facade is a 1994 documentary by Jerald Harkness, about the educational and personal experiences of black students on Indiana University's predominantly white campus. Abigail Yartey caught up with three women who were in the documentary, professor Dr Kimberley King Jupiter, life coach Dara Randolph and teacher Tia Cavannaugh Goggins as we discuss issues of sexism, the idea of separatism and multiculturalism in America and the adultification of young girls. To read the full article click here: https://meetingofmindsuk.uk/realreads/black-higher-education-matters-facing-the-facade/ Written By: Abigail Cleo Yartey – a writer and activist, who currently works for the British Film Institute. Follower her on Instagram and Twitter @ValleydelaDolls