Speaking Through My World with Rosie Motene

In this episode we look at Pan-African co-productions in the creative sector, unpacking what cross-border collaboration looks like from the perspective of women working in film and the wider creative industries.The conversation brings together Zippy Nyaruri, Kenyan documentary director and producer, and Dr Inya Lawal, Nigerian social entrepreneur, capacity-building expert and advocate for Africa’s creative economy and women's economic empowerment.The conversation asks some big questions about the way African creative work is financed, produced and supported across borders.What are the models that currently exist?What are the gaps?How do we strengthen the terms and conditions of the Pan-African models we already have?We get into the realities of financing creative work, including a few tongue-in-cheek moments about how readily we seem to understand the structures needed to fund a cassava plantation, while the creative sector is often expected to somehow figure itself out.It is not enough for women to be invited into the industry, we need to be in the rooms where the decisions are made and have a say in how funding structures are designed, how resources are distributed, how partnerships are negotiated and how the value of African creative work is understood.

In this special episode of I pay homage to the three organisations that brought us together: Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), Nawi Afrifem Collective and FEMNET.I reflect on their histories, their work and the powerful synergy that emerges when different feminist strands, experiences and knowledge are woven together.This is a thank-you, to the organisations, the visionaries, the knowledge holders and the feminist ancestors whose work has helped create the spaces we enter, gather and weave within today.The weaving has begun.... and the weaving continues.In Love & Solidarity,Rosie Motene

VISIBILITY IS POLITICALSunshine Fionah Komusana on Making Womxn VisibleWhat happens when the people who shaped our movements, communities and histories are missing from the record? When womxn’s lives, work and knowledge exist in our memories and in the stories passed down through generations, but not in the places where the world goes looking for knowledge?Who gets to be remembered and who gets to decide?At the Weavers Forum 2026, I sat down with Sunshine Fionah Komusana, an Afrikan feminist lawyer, writer, researcher and activist from Uganda, to talk about visibility, knowledge and erasure.Sunshine is Co-Lead of the Decolonising Wikimedia Program at #WhoseKnowledge?, a global campaign working to challenge the systemic gaps and biases in whose knowledge is represented and recognised online. Her work sits at the intersection of technology and knowledge justice.Through #VisibleWikiWomen, she challenges the gender gaps in open knowledge and asks us to confront why those gaps exist in the first place. This year’s theme, “Whose Data Tells Our Stories?”, takes that question further: who collects our data, who controls it, whose stories does it tell, and who gets left out?Invisibility is rarely accidental, as it is produced through systems of colonialism, patriarchy, and racism. When womxn are left out of the archive, their absence can begin to look like proof that they were never there.Sunshine is working to change that.This is a conversation about reclaiming whose knowledge counts, whose stories are preserved, and who gets to be seen.Making womxn visible is not an act of charity, it is an act of feminist resistance.Follow @WhoseKnowledge? on Instagram and learn more about the work to make knowledge more inclusive, representative and accessible.

What happens when a deeply personal experience becomes a call to change the lives of others?Onthatile Wesi is a kidney health advocate, community health leader and a woman whose own experience of kidney failure transformed into a powerful commitment to public health advocacy.In this episode Onthatile takes us beyond the diagnosis. She speaks about living with kidney disease, navigating dialysis and the healthcare system, patient dignity, the realities of access to care, the importance of early detection, and what it means to care for the whole person,  body, mind and spirit.Her journey is about  advocacy, community and the power of lived experience to create change.Through Onthatile, we open a wider conversation about kidney health in South Africa: what we know, what we overlook, who gets access to care, whose voices are heard, and what needs to change.The collaboration will culminate in the Kidney Awareness and Wellness Event in Bloemfontein, where Speaking Through My World will host a Pop-Up Podcast Studio. The studio will bring together patients, healthcare professionals, advocates, community members and participants to capture the voices and experiences emerging from the day.

A Storytelling Partnership for Kidney Awareness & WellnessSpeaking Through My World with Rosie Motene & Feminist Frontlines is proud to collaborate with the Onthatile Wesi Foundation in support of its upcoming Kidney Awareness and Wellness Event.At the heart of this collaboration is Onthatile Wesi, whose lived experience of kidney failure has grown into a powerful journey of public health advocacy. Through a series of podcast conversations, we will share her story and explore the realities of living with kidney disease, the experiences of dialysis patients in South Africa, access to healthcare, patient dignity, early detection and holistic wellness.As part of the event, Speaking Through My World will also host a Pop-Up Podcast Studio, creating space for conversations with healthcare professionals, patients, advocates and community members. These voices and reflections will extend the conversations beyond the event itself, contributing to ongoing storytelling and awareness around kidney health and patient advocacy.The Onthatile Wesi Foundation works to raise awareness around kidney health and amplify the experiences of people living with kidney disease, advocating for greater dignity, care and understanding.

Day 2 of the Weavers Forum invited us to imagine economies and futures rooted not in extraction, but in care, reciprocity, sovereignty and the sustaining of life.We were welcomed and held in the protective care and guidance of Nyamal  Biel Tutdeal, a space grounded in ancestral wisdom, power and remembrance. This grounding set the tone for a day of deep reflection, questioning and collective imagination.We also came together around the Tunisian documentary 'Standing in the Shadows' by Kadija Zammouli, which opened further questions about whose stories are made visible, whose labour is remembered, and whose lives and contributions are pushed into the shadows.From there, the day unfolded through a series of breakaway sessions, each offering a different entry point into feminist economics, care, sovereignty, creativity and power. Together, these conversations asked us to look beyond the economic systems we have inherited and to imagine what becomes possible when we place life, dignity and collective wellbeing at the centre.At the heart of the day was one guiding question:What could our economies look like if they were designed around life rather than extraction?We explored this question through conversations on Holding the Land: Indigenous Women’s Reparative Economies of Care, Memory & Sovereignty, examining the relationships between land, memory, repair and collective care.Other sessions unpacked the economics of erasur to the blueprints for life beyond GDP.The conversations also turned towards feminist culture and creativity, exploring how art, imagination and cultural practice can become tools for building care economies and rethinking social reproduction.Across these different sessions, the threads kept returning to one another: care, land, memory, creativity, sovereignty, power and the possibility of building economies that sustain rather than extract.Day 2 was ultimately an invitation to weave differently, to recognise the economies that already exist within communities, to honour the knowledge carried across generations, and to imagine feminist futures where care is not treated as an afterthought, but as the foundation of how we organise our lives, our communities and our economies.This episode takes us through those conversations, questions and moments of collective imagination from Day 2 of the Weavers Forum.

There are some voices you hear, and there are others you feel.During my time in Windhoek, Namibia, for the 2026 Weavers Forum, I encountered one of those voices: Damn Etu — Frieda EtuholeA Namibian spoken-word poet, writer, editor and performance artist, Damn Etu brings a rawness to her work that refuses to allow words to simply sit on a page. Her poetry carries memory, vulnerability, politics, womanhood, identity and the complicated realities of being seen, heard and silenced.I first experienced her powerful presence at the opening of the Weavers Forum, a Pan-African feminist convening held in Windhoek from 5–8 August 2026 and co-convened by FEMNET, Nawi Afrifem Collective and Akina Mama wa Afrika. The Forum created a space for feminist thinkers, organisers and creatives to imagine economies rooted in care, justice and collective sovereignty and poetry and creative practice were deliberately recognised as part of that political work.As I watched Damn Etu perform, I was reminded of something I deeply believe:Art is not separate from our politics.Sometimes a poem can say what a policy paper cannot. Sometimes a voice on a stage can reach the places that theory struggles to enter. Sometimes storytelling gives us the language to name what we have inherited, what we have survived, and the futures we are still trying to imagine.Damn Etu's creative journey reflects this power. Her work has appeared in Doek! Literary Magazine, and she has built an independent creative practice that brings poetry and performance into living, breathing spaces.In this episode, I sit down with Damn Etu to explore the woman behind the words.We talk about poetry, performance, vulnerability, memory, womanhood, identity and the courage it takes to reclaim your voice. We explore what happens when the things that once silenced us become the very material through which we create, speak and resist.This is a conversation about what it means to take up space through art.To turn pain into language.To turn memory into story.To turn a voice into resistance and to understand that our creative work can be both deeply personal and profoundly political.This conversation stayed with me long after the Weavers Forum ended, because sometimes the first act of resistance is simply refusing to remain silent.When a woman speaks, the world has no choice but to listen.Follow Damn Etu and explore her work:Instagram: @damn_etuWebsite: Damn Etu

Day 1 Part 2In this episode, I reflect on an intergenerational conversation at the Weavers Forum 2026 exploring African feminist memory, political economy and our collective futures. We gathered the threads of wisdom from generations before us while asking what we need to carry forward, what we need to challenge, and what new pathways we can create.The conversation explored feminist memory, agency, inclusion, accountability, the politics of silence, the professionalisation of gender politics and the importance of documenting our movements and histories.We also turned the feminist gaze inward, asking how we sometimes reproduce the very patriarchal behaviours we seek to dismantle.  through silence, exclusion, harmful narratives and the ways we treat one another.At the heart of the conversation was a reminder that the personal is political, but so is how we hold one another's stories, how we critique each other's work and how we build collective knowledge.We also explored economic sovereignty and why it must be central to feminist organising and our vision for the future.This episode is ultimately a reflection on memory, accountability, intergenerational knowledge and the responsibility to weave differently.We inherit the threads.We add our own and then we pass the weaving on.

Philiswa Lila- When Art Becomes Part of the Political Conversation- In Day 1 | Part 1 of my Weavers' Forum 2026 reflections, I explore how art became part of the political conversation through the work of South African multidisciplinary artist, curator and scholar Philiswa Lila.Drawing on her powerful presentation, Behind the Needle, this episode reflects on the politics of making, the value of process over productivity, and how beadwork becomes a language for memory, identity, trauma and collective resistance. It also considers why the metaphor of weaving is central to the Weavers' Forum and what it teaches us about feminist organising, care and transformation.Sometimes the most radical work is not in the finished piece, but in the patient, deliberate act of weaving something new, together.

The Weavers’ Forum 2026 is a space bringing together African feminists, activists, economists, artists, thinkers, movement-builders and practitioners from across the continent and the African diaspora.I’ve created a pop-up studio for Speaking Through My World to document this important feminist space. Through dedicated episodes, I’ll be sharing some of the conversations, reflections and knowledge emerging from the Forum, bringing the voices and ideas from this room beyond these walls.This is the Introduction to The Weavers’ Forum 2026.Let’s weave...

THE FINAL EPISODE IS HEREEpisode 4: Choosing Yourself Without An ApologyWhat happens when you stop apologising for choosing yourself?After four deeply personal conversations, I close this series not with the pain of what happened, but with the possibility of what comes next.I've spoken about leaving.I've spoken about what my body carried.I've spoken about the cost of staying too long.Now, I want to speak about reclaiming yourself.Choosing your peace.Choosing your joy.Choosing your boundaries.Choosing your voice.Choosing rest.Choosing a life that doesn't require you to abandon yourself to belong.This final episode is about clearing space for the next season, forgiving yourself for staying, releasing what no longer serves you, and allowing yourself to dream again. Choosing yourself isn't selfish and you don't need to apologise for protecting your wellbeing.You can take the wisdom without taking the wound.As we close this chapter, I leave you with the question that started it all:Where is your heart today?

In this episode of Speaking Through My World, I examine the detailed findings of the independent investigation commissioned by Kaya FM into allegations against former Managing Director Greg Maloka.Drawing directly from the investigation report, I unpack the testimonies of six women who came forward, the workplace culture they described, and the investigator's conclusions that allegations of sexual harassment involving at least six women, as well as professional discrimination against women who did not reciprocate sexual advances, were substantiated.In the context of this investigation, “substantiated” means that the investigator concluded that the evidence gathered through interviews, witness statements and the investigation supported those allegations.The episode asks a difficult but necessary question:What does accountability look like when an independent investigation substantiates serious allegations, yet the person at the centre of those findings is later given a “homecoming” into the same corporate ecosystem?This conversation is not only about one individual. It is about power, workplace culture, institutional accountability, and what believing women requires of us when the evidence has already been examined.Special Note:This episode examines the findings of an independent investigation commissioned by Kaya FM into allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of power and related workplace misconduct.The discussion is based on the investigation report and publicly available information. It does not disclose confidential information shared with me privately by victims or survivors. Those conversations remain confidential and are not relied upon in this analysis.

Episode 3: The Cost of Staying Too LongWhat has staying cost you?We often celebrate the courage it takes to leave toxic environments, but we rarely talk about the cost of staying.In this deeply personal episode Rosie reflects on the quiet ways prolonged exposure to unhealthy spaces can erode our sense of self. She explores how identity, confidence, creativity, health, financial opportunities, relationships, and even joy can slowly diminish when we remain in environments that no longer honour our humanity.Drawing on her own experiences as a Black feminist activist, Rosie unpacks the pressures many women, particularly Black womxn face to endure rather than establish boundaries. She examines how resilience is often misunderstood as endless sacrifice, and why choosing yourself is not abandoning the cause but reclaiming your agency.This episode is an invitation to pause and ask an important question:What parts of yourself are you sacrificing simply to stay?If you've ever found yourself questioning your instincts, shrinking your voice, or carrying the weight of expectations that no longer serve you, this conversation is for you.True strength isn't measured by how much suffering we can survive.It's measured by how courageously we choose to honour ourselves.Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of workplace toxicity, emotional harm, gaslighting, discrimination, and the long-term impact of remaining in unhealthy environments.

Speaking Through My World with Rosie Motene.For more than 30 years, the microphone has been more than a piece of equipment to me. It has been a witness, a platform, and a form of resistance.I'm excited to share that Speaking Through My World with Rosie Motene has undergone a slight rebrand and is now part of the Feminist Frontlines initiative.At its heart, nothing has changed.This remains the space where I explore the three passions that have shaped my career and my life: Womxn. Africa. The Arts.Through honest conversations, I unpack stories of justice, healing, identity, creativity, culture, and liberation. As feminists have long reminded us, the personal is political, and many of these conversations are drawn from lived experience while others challenge the systems that shape our lives.Feminist Frontlines exists to document, amplify, and celebrate African feminist voices, ensuring that our stories, our struggles, and our victories are preserved for generations to come.Because I believe the microphone is far more than a tool for broadcasting.It gives voice to those who have been silenced.It documents truth.It challenges injustice.It preserves HERstory.That is why I am using the microphone as a tool for justice.Join me as we speak through my world, one conversation at a time.Because every story matters. Every voice matters.

Where Is Your Heart Today? – Conversations with Rosie MoteneEpisode 2: When Your Body Keeps the ScoreYou left the toxic environment.You're finally safe.So why does your body still behave as though the danger remains?In this deeply personal episode, I explore what happens after we leave spaces that have harmed us. Drawing on my own healing journey and reflections inspired by The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, I  unpack how prolonged stress and chronic dysregulation can continue to live in the body long after we've physically walked away.Together, we'll explore the connection between chronic inflammation, fatigue, digestive issues, disrupted sleep, perimenopause, and the nervous system, while recognising that our bodies are not betraying us, they are protecting us.I  also share the daily practices that have supported my healing, including body scans, somatic grounding, breathwork, walking, and learning to rest without guilt.If you've ever wondered why you're still carrying the weight of an experience you've already left behind, this conversation is for you.Because healing isn't about forgetting.It's about teaching your body that today is different from yesterday.

Where Is Your Heart Today? – Conversations with Rosie MoteneEpisode 1: Why Physically Removing Yourself MattersWhere is your heart today?Sometimes breathing and boundaries  are not enough. When an environment continues to dysregulate your body, mind, and spirit, the most powerful act of self-preservation may be to leave.In this deeply personal episode, I reflect on the difficult decision to physically remove myself from a space that no longer aligned with my values, safety, or wellbeing. We explore survival, toxic environments, the wisdom of the body, and the courage it takes to honour your non-negotiables.Your anxiety, exhaustion, and feelings are not weaknesses, they are messages.Sometimes stepping away isn't giving up. It's choosing yourself, protecting your peace, and creating the space to heal.Where is your heart today?

This episode explores how small, consistent practices can support nervous system regulation over time. Rather than focusing on perfection, listeners are invited to notice what helps them feel a little more grounded in daily life. Through simple reflections and accessible rituals, this episode offers ways to build safety, presence, and trust with your body, one moment at a time.

In this episode, we explore how guilt often arises when we begin to set boundaries and change familiar patterns of relating. Through a nervous-system lens, guilt is reframed not as a sign of wrongdoing, but as a response to doing something new. With gentle reflection and grounding practices, this episode supports you in holding boundaries with compassion while helping your nervous system learn that self-protection can coexist with safety and connection.

In this episode, we explore how urgency is often a nervous system response rather than a true need for speed. You are gently invited to notice where quick reactions may be rooted in protection, not choice. Through simple reflection and breathing practices, this episode offers a compassionate way to pause, ground, and respond with greater clarity and ease, reminding the body that safety doesn’t require immediacy.

In this episode, we explore boundaries through a nervous-system lens, not as rules or walls, but as signals of safety and self-respect. You’re invited to consider how clear, compassionate boundaries can reduce overwhelm and support regulation in everyday life. With gentle reflection and grounding practices, this episode offers space to reconnect with your body’s wisdom and redefine boundaries in a way that feels supportive rather than restrictive.

In this episode, we explore how nervous system dysregulation can quietly show up in everyday moments, through overthinking, people-pleasing, shutdown, or a sense of urgency. Rather than labeling these patterns as problems, this episode invites you to see them as protective responses and to meet them with curiosity and compassion. You’ll be gently guided to notice your own signals and begin building awareness without judgment or pressure to change

In this episode, we explore breathing as a gentle way to communicate safety to the nervous system. Through simple explanation and slow, optional practices, you’re invited to notice how the breath, especially the exhale can help settle the body and create a sense of steadiness. There’s no need to breathe deeply or do this perfectly; this episode offers space to listen, pause, and find a rhythm that feels supportive for you.

This series is a gentle invitation to slow down, notice your body, and reconnect with your nervous system. Over ten short episodes, we explore simple, practical tools—breathing, reflection, and boundaries, to help you feel more grounded, safe, and in control of your own experience.There is no right way to do these practices, and nothing here asks you to push beyond what feels safe. Each episode is a space for curiosity, self-compassion, and learning to respond rather than react. Whether you’re new to these ideas or have practiced them before, this series meets you where you are anhonorsurs your pace.You are invited to listen, pause, breathe, and return as often as you need. Your nervous system, your feelings, and your choices are valid.

In this episode, I travel to Namibia to speak with Ndiilokelwa Nthengwe, a fearless activist, author and  tech entrepreneur. Ndiilokelwa’s work spans LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive justice, youth leadership, and social advocacy, and they have been a prominent voice in shaping conversations around identity, justice, and empowerment across Africa.We dive into their journey, from growing up in Namibia and studying entrepreneurship at AFDA in Cape Town, to leading campaigns like #LegalizeAbortionNA, writing The Chronicles of a Non-Binary Black Lesbian Namibian, You Fcked With the Wrong Generation, and Autono Me – A New Era of Work, and now stepping into the world of filmmaking as Executive Producer of Wrong Generation.In this conversation, Ndiilokelwa shares reflections on activism, intersectionality, creative expression, and what it means to imagine radical futures for African communities. We discuss the realities of sexual and reproductive health in Namibia, the power of youth-led movements, and the role of storytelling in driving social change.This episode is a deep, honest, and inspiring look at what it means to live boldly, speak freely, and work tirelessly for justice.Instagram @ndiilo_nwww.wronggenerationproductions.com

In this episode of Speaking Through My World, Rosie Motene turns the spotlight on Sudan,  a country whose ongoing war and humanitarian crisis remain underreported and overshadowed. While the world rightly raises its voice against the genocide in Palestine, it is equally urgent to keep Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in our global conversations on war, displacement, and justice.Rosie is joined by filmmaker Zahra Hayder, director of the powerful documentary Sitahen, produced by Waey Organization. Sitahen (meaning The Lady) amplifies the voices of six Sudanese women who fled their homes, endured dangerous terrains, and now live in the Kiryandongo refugee camp in Uganda. Despite unimaginable hardship, they share stories of survival, faith, and their dream of rebuilding Sudan.Together, Rosie and Zahra unpack the making of the film, the challenges of producing under the weight of war, the absence of psycho-social support for displaced communities, and the resilience of womxn who hold onto hope for a free Sudan.This episode is a call to awareness and solidarity — reminding us that womxn’s voices are not just stories of survival, but blueprints for healing, resistance, and justice.

In this episode of Speaking Through My World, titled “Conversations on the Spirituality of the Land, Women, and Reclaiming What Is Ours,” we journey deep into the soil, into our roots, and into the enduring wisdom the land holds for us as African people.My guest is the remarkable Michelle Festus, a powerful voice in the land justice movement. Michelle has worked extensively on land rights, policy, and advocacy, ensuring that the historical dispossession of African people, particularly women remains at the centre of our struggles for justice. Beyond legal frameworks and activism, Michelle embodies a profound spiritual connection to the land, one that calls us to remember, reclaim, and heal.In our conversation, Michelle shares her journey of learning to listen to the land, reclaiming ancestral rights and heritage, and nurturing connection. She reflects on the inspirations, challenges, and vulnerabilities that have shaped her path, offering listeners insight into the courage and care required to work intimately with the land.This episode is a meditation on ancestral wisdom, reclamation, and the transformative power of the land, and an invitation to engage with the world and our heritage, with awareness, reverence, and responsibility.Connect with Michelle Festus: https://www.instagram.com/michellefestus/Learn more about Aba Te Farm: https://www.instagram.com/aba.te.home/

In this episode, I sit down with Frankie Murrey, the heart and programme coordinator behind the Open Book Festival, a space that, since 2011, has created room for brave, bold, and necessary conversations through literature.We explore the festival’s beginnings, its evolution, and the critical funding crisis it now faces. Frankie speaks with passion and clarity about what’s at stake,  not just for Open Book, but for the future of South African literary culture as a whole.This conversation is both a reflection on what’s been built and a call to action for what must be protected. If you believe in the power of stories, cultural spaces, and collective imaginatio,  this one is for you.This episode is proudly supported by the Open Book Festival. To support the festival’s future, visit https://openbookfestival.co.za

Speaking Through Trouble — Series Introduction Speaking Through My World has joined forces with the powerful TROUBLEMAKERS podcast, a global space that celebrates creative resistance, radical imagination, and unapologetic truth-telling.Together, we’re diving deep into the tools, tactics, and principles of nonviolent activism. From poetic protest to strategic disruption, TROUBLEMAKERS dares to explore what it means to rebel in a world where power is held by too few.Birthed by the brilliant minds at Beautiful Trouble, this transcontinental podcast brings together rebels, healers, artists, and organisers who are transforming the world through bold, intentional action.Episode: JAIL SOLIDARITY with Céline Lebrun-ShaathWhat does solidarity look like when comrades are behind bars?In this episode, we explore jail solidarity through the eyes of Céline Lebrun-Shaath, a committed internationalist and organiser. Céline speaks on the moral and political imperative of standing with those imprisoned, not just advocating for their freedom, but carrying forward the movements they helped build.She shares her own experience of abduction and deportation from Egypt, and the years-long campaign for the release of her husband, Ramy Shaath.This episode also spotlights the ongoing campaign to free Alaa Abdel Fattah, a renowned Egyptian activist who remains unjustly detained. His mother has been on hunger strike for over five months.Follow the Free Alaa campaign for updates and action steps.Céline challenges us to see imprisonment not as an endpoint, but as a call to action. A demand to carry the torch of resistance forward.Listen, Lead, and FollowTroublemakers Podcast: https://linktr.ee/troublemakers.podcastRosie Motene: https://linktr.ee/rosiemoteneHost: Phil WilmotProducer: Rodgers GeorgeGuest: Céline Lebrun-ShaathJingles: Mwaduga Salum & Beautiful Trouble#SpeakingThroughMyWorld #TroublemakersPodcast #JailSolidarity #FreeRamyShaath #FreeAlaa #BeautifulTrouble #PanAfricanFeminist #CreativeResistance #StorytellingAsActivism #PodcastSeries #DecoloniseEverything #NonviolentResistance

Amplifying Activist Voices Through Writing with Amber FrenchIn this episode, we are joined by Amber French, Senior Editorial Advisor at the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC), Managing Editor of the Minds of the Movement blog, and Co-Lead of REACT (Research-in-Action)—a groundbreaking project in partnership with ActionAid Denmark that supports activist-led writing and research on civil resistance. Currently based in Paris, Amber has played a pivotal role in shaping platforms that elevate frontline voices and build bridges between activism and academia.This episode is proudly sponsored by ICNC and ActionAid Denmark, organizations deeply committed to advancing nonviolent action and strengthening the power of people-led movements around the world.Together, we explore:The vision behind the REACT platform and its mission to center activist knowledge.How REACT is structured, who it’s for, and how it supports activists who may not see themselves as traditional writers.The unique editorial process that works closely with contributors to ensure their voices are heard authentically.The early signs of REACT’s impact, from meaningful collaborations to growing global conversations.Specific examples of REACT contributors whose work is driving change and expanding the reach of civil resistance.This episode also reflects on my own experience as a contributor to REACT, where I witnessed firsthand the positive feedback and collaborative opportunities that can emerge from sharing activist writing.If you’re interested in learning more about REACT or the broader work of ICNC, you can visit their website: www.nonviolent-conflict.orgTune in, get inspired, and discover how writing can be a powerful tool for resistance, connection, and change.I also reflect on my personal contribution to the platform. You can read my article:Writing about Activism: A Tactic, a Lesson, a Refuge and a Right!https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/blog_post/writing-about-activism-tactic-lesson-refuge-right/I was also honoured to participate in this global webinar alongside eight REACT Activist Bloggers: REACT Activist Writing: “Open Mic” + Story Pitches https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/react-activist-writing-open-mic-story-pitches-scene-ouverte-ecriture-militante-propositions-darticles/

I am in conversation with Zoey Black, a queer renaissance and culture documentarian based in Cape Town, South Africa. Her work is focused on telling authentic and engaging queer stories through film and photography.Zoey is the founder & director of Gamut 1 Gamut 1 is a trans, queer, black, indigenous, women-led organisation, which produces original, high-quality, queer-focussed, rights-based media that aims to develop inclusive social values and empathy in local and global audiences for the promotion of trans and queer human rights and wellbeing. @[email protected]

Marylize is a Kenyan intersectional feminist and activist, whose focus is on gender inequality, while their feminism is intersectional and directed towards human rights. They are black and a non-binary lesbian and use they/them pronouns.The Queer Republic is a border less nation of queers and allies that advance the rights and lives of the LGBTQ x in Africa and across the globe. They are rebuilding the African queer legacy and reuniting queers across Africa and the globe.The team is made up of Marylize Biubwa and Zawadi Mashego (Co-Executive Director).Kathy Githui- people and culture expertJay Skosana - marketing managerArya Karijo Queer republic [email protected]

Beautiful Trouble- A book, strategy card deck, online toolbox, and creative campaign incubator.An international network of artist-activist-trainers helping grassroots movements become more creative and effective.I am in conversation with the impact amplifier, Ashley Waudo.Ashley is a community organizer and project manager based in Nairobi. She is deeply committed to changing people's lives through service to others. She is passionate about movement building and nonviolent conflict resolution. Ashley has worked with movements to help them realize their power!You can see them here: https://beautifultrouble.org/fuel (https://beautifultrouble.org/fuel)The fantastic new BeautifulTrouble’s Strategy Card Deck https://beautifultrouble.org/strategy-cardsThe toolbox https://beautifultrouble.org/toolboxTrainer’s Modules (BATMo!) https://beautifultrouble.org/training/for-trainersGet Up Rise Up Direct (GURU) action fundhttps://beautifultrouble.org/directaction

I am in conversation with MONICAH KAMANDAU- The Social Movements Learning Specialist with the MOVE team at MS TCDCMS TCDC is a renowned Pan-African training centre situated in Arusha, Tanzania. It is unique in its dedication to high-quality capacity development for social transformation.For more than 50 years, they have delivered high-quality capacity development in areas such as democratic governance, human rights, transformational leadership, gender equality, youth participation, and climate change governance.https://www.mstcdc.or.tz/

I am in conversation with Dr Menzi Mkhize.Dr. AM Mkhize is a medical doctor who qualified at the University of KwaZuluNatal. He has both critical care and rural medicine experience but decided topour his passion into public health.Dr Mkhize has a passion for serving and advocating for the marginalized. He is an LGBTQIA+ affirming provider.He is currently stationed at the Bertha Gxowa care centre, where he provides clinical forensics and medical services in the form of mostly post-gender-based violence care. The centre is LGBTQIA+ friendly.He also has been part of an anti-kidnapping effort tackling the Grindrkidnapping syndicate targeting LGBTQIA+ people through the Grindr app and other applications.The centre is a medicolegal centre where he consults:* Survivors of gender-based violence in the form of domestic violence and Intimate Partner Violence.* Sexual offences: J88 completion and Evidence collection.* Court summons.* Trafficking in persons* Child neglect and abuse: form 22.* Elderly abuse victims* Medical assessments for kids who need placement into the foster health system.* Substance abuse* Psychosocial support services.* Sexual and reproductive health services.#speakingthroughmyworld #lgbt #DrAMMkhize #BerthaGxowacarecentre #LGBTQIA+affirmingprovider

RISHA PATAK-HARIE from I-lead self-defense.As South Africans, we face various forms of violence. Our government has shown its position on combatting GBV, which looks progressive on paper only. As we operate in territories we are familiar with and experts at, we also need to know how to protect ourselves. I am in conversation with Risha Patak-Harie from I-lead self-defense.Following a near kidnapping on the streets of Johannesburg, founder Risha Patak-Harie created i-LEAD to help vulnerable women and children learn to protect themselves. The i-LEAD Self-Defense system is built for women and children and caters to real-life dangers and threat scenarioshttps://i-lead.org.za/https://www.instagram.com/ileadselfdefense/https://www.facebook.com/ILeadSelfDefense/

MNET has a new series called School Ties, debuting 16 May 2024 at 21:00. School Ties is a ground-breaking and harrowing four-part documentary seriesabout the grooming and sexual abuse of learners at some of South Africa’smost prominent, prestigious boys’ schools.Produced by Idea Candy, the docuseries series uncovers the truth behindgrooming and abuse in schools across the country, the aftermath, and whatgovernment, schools, and society are doing this to stop abuse in its tracks. I am in conversation with the series director Richard Finn Gregory and LukeLamprecht, who has three decades of experience working in the nonprofit and child protection sector, he is a thought leader on child protection and development.#SchoolTies#Ideacandy#Mnet101#Speakingthroughmyworld

TRIGGER WARNING Confirmation of Sa'ar Shaked expelled from The South African Association Of Progressive Rabbis.Expelled Rabbis:Sa’ar Shaked had been charged with violating Ethics Code Section V (Sexual Boundaries).  He was temporarily suspended pending an Ethics Enquiry during which time he resigned from the SAAPR. The Ethics Panel concluded its process and recommended his expulsion which was ratified by the SAAPR members in February 2024. He is no longer a member of the SAAPR.https://saupj.org.za/the-sa-association-of-progressive-rabbis/The synagogue allegedly tried to silence those who spoke out.  Why was he protected by so many in power?

Feminists in Kenya is a Black feminist movement organizing and amplifying feminist discourse and practice and building solidarity across other feminist movements.In 2018, SA feminists, activists, advocates, and the public rallied together for the first-ever Total Shutdown march. Loyiso Saliso is the initiator and strategic mobilizer for the #TheTotalShutdown Womxn's Movement. As soon as plans were in action our neighboring countries joined forces and soon it became evident that SGBVF is not just a South African problem. In 2019, alarmed by the increasing cases of femicide and Intimate Partner Violence in Kenya, soon activists and feminists rallied together in the #TotalShutdownKe march to protest and demand accountability. Sadly, femicide persists today, exacerbated by an increasingly misogynistic online environment. In this episode, I am chatting with Vivian Ouya, the co-founder of Feminists in Kenya.  

Their mission is “Redefining feminism in African Womxn’s views through the Celebration of African feminists in spaces that are inclusive, inter-sectional and Afrocentric.”Kisumu Feminist Society was legally registered in 2018 by a group of young women from Kisumu who saw the need to have an intersectional and inclusive feminist movement in the region.Kisumu is the third-largest city in Kenya after the capital, Nairobi, and Mombasa.In conversation with Afrika, the coordinator. Twitter:Kisumu Feminists' Society@RadFemskisumuInstagram@radfemskisumuhttps://linktr.ee/kisumufeministssociety

Nadine Dirks is a writer, public speaker, activist, and communications expert.Her work, interests, and expertise lie in intersectional feminism, gender, and sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health and rights.Her passions come from her lived experiences.Nadine is the author of Hot Water.The book investigates how endometriosis affects the way young women function and navigate the world, and how this becomes especially complicated for those who are underprivileged and reliant on the public sector’s healthcare system. In Hot Water, Nadine Dirks reveals the unique issues of racism, sexism, classism, fatphobia, and slut-shaming that African women experience within the context of healthcare facilities, and how especially jarring it is when the stigma comes from medical staff whom one expects to have the patient’s care as their primary concern. All of this has enraged Dirks and catapulted her into becoming a sexual reproductive health and rights advocate.Hot Water tells the story of how people with chronic illness are treated daily, at school, university, and socially for being differently abled; how people are regarded as lazy, aggressive, disappointing, and lacking, among multiple other things for being unwell in comparison to their healthy counterparts.One cannot look at seeking adequate healthcare as a young, black, underprivileged woman on the Cape Flats without experiencing racism in the most blatant of ways. Even with guidelines in place, the book shows that it is next to impossible to invoke those rights even if you are aware of them for fear of being victimised and excluded from the system.

Social media detox and dopamine fasting.Come with me as I share the journey of my 21-day social media detox and dopamine fast. I abstained from X, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for 21 days. A dopamine fast is the practice of denying yourself gratification (music, sugar, sex, social media, or whatever your poisons are) for a set time, I completed 24 hours. It is based on the idea that abstaining from external stimuli will 'reset' your happiness baseline, allowing you to 'feel more' when the fast is finished.The process was worth it and also helped me set my intentions for the year. Stepping into the 5th floor with clarity and even more purpose and agency. #speakingthroughmyworld #socialmediadetox #dopaminefasting #steppingontothe5thfloor.

Dshamilja Roshani is a Berlin-born poet, writer, and performer of German-Iranian descent based in South Africa. Formally trained in Political Science and Creative Writing, their work explores themes such as queerness, identity, home, and belonging.With poetry at the core of their creative expression.Dshamilja is constantly looking for ways to expand and reinvent the scope of the art form. In this quest, they have developed diverse skill sets in many mediums, from writing to music, theatre, multimedia video formats, and live performances.Dshamilja was featured on international platforms across South Africa, the US, and Germany such as Poetry Africa, The Joburg Theatre, The Mail & Guardian, Decolonoize Festival, The African Women Writers Network, and The Poetry Meets Series. They won The Future of Gender 2022 competition, received the Button Poetry Video Contest 2021 Honorable Mention, and ranked third in the WordNSound 2021 Digital Slam Finale.Dshamilja’s debut album The Pride of Water was released in March 2023 and critically acclaimed as a “sonically astute and lyrically satisfying” body of work.Contact DetailsEmail: [email protected] Media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokStreaming Platforms: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTubeWebsite: www.dshamiljaroshani.com | http://linkfro.de/dshamilja

The Law vs GBV/IPVSociety and communities are quick to say that victims/survivors of GBV/IPV should open cases and let the law take its course. The reality is that the course has many loopholes and challenges which can be exacerbated by those in power or who have certain privileges.In this podcast, I speak on two specific cases.* Monique Muller received a positive outcome from The Legal Practice Council. Monique made a formal complaint against  Mrs E J Louis (Thomson Wilks Inc.) .The Disciplinary Committee considered the matter on 19 September 2023 and found that Mrs Louis contravened two charges and was found guilty. For both charges, the Committee IMPOSED a FINE of R20 000 half of which is suspended for 5 years on condition that Ms Louis is not found guilty of the same or similar offence within the said period. * The other case I refer to is a positive judgement passed down by the Johannesburg High Court, that overturned a protection order against an alleged perpetrator. The legal team that took on the case pro bono for the victim/survivor is Melvin Neale Inc. The judgement -https://www.linkedin.com/posts/melvin-neale-8ba0402b_lw-v-kca-judgment-13102023-activity-7122153361474269185-XiXQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop 

The One in Nine Campaign is a South African organisation motivated by feminist principles and the desire to live in a society where womxn are the agents of their own lives.It was created in 2006 to support Fezeka Kuzwayo, known as Khwezi to the media, who brought a rape charge against then vice-president Jacob Zuma. After she spoke out against her ordeal, she was execrated, shamed and victimised by a society that is used to perpetuating rape culture. This added abuse emerged from spaces that were meant to give her support, yet they joined in the public humiliation of victim-blaming accusations and intimidation.The campaign supported her to highlight the failures of the criminal justice system in dealing with and responding adequately to survivors of sexual violence in South Africa. The campaign was set out to address the secondary victimisation that survivors face when they speak out against and seek justice from state officials whose job and duty is to protect and serve them.The campaign primarily works in five areas.Solidarity in Action and building feminist activismFeminist knowledge production and ResearchMedia advocacyJustice and legal transformationDirect action.THE ONE IN NINE CAMPAIGN WILL ALWAYS BE GUIDED BY THESE PRINCIPLES:• We always believe survivors and this informs all the steps we take in handling our cases.• Our interventions on individual cases are survivor-led and informed by our legal frameworks to give support that will not bring harm to the survivor.• Survivors are part of all decisions and are kept informed of all steps that we take as the Campaign on dealing with their cases.• We will not nor will we ever disclose information into the media that reveals the identities of survivors or details about the case that could be prejudicial to the case and result in harm to the survivor.• With One in Nine being an advocacy Campaign, we also make sure that the survivor has access to counseling services, legal advice, and medical examinations from our referral networks.In conversation with Boitumelo Tefo, Zama Sibiya, and Stoan Ngwenya.For more information on how you can support.Organisation information- NPC 2012/165441/08email: [email protected]@1in9.org.zahttps://www.patreon.com/rosiemotene

Zade de Kock, a Nguvu-Collective Change Leader,  is a 20-year-old, transgender non-binary person from the Eastern Cape. They're a multi-dimensional person who has currently been working on a campaign that advocates for the rights of LGBTQ+ people and specifically trans-and-non-binary people. The campaign demands for the President of South Africa to pass the National Identification and Registration Bill. This Bill will help discrimination against trans-and-non-binary people be lessened as it helps these people have the authority to decide their identities on official documentation. The petition.https://www.change.org/p/homeaffairssa-minister-aaron-motsoaledi-presidencyza-this-pride-month-pass-the-national-identification-and-registration-bill-passnirbill-prideofafricaSocial Media handles.Instagram: @zayc0reTiktok: @zayc0re YouTube: zade de kock

I am conversing with Tumi Tlhabi, a black Queer woman who is a farmer, art gallery director, and entrepreneur. Tumi represents The North West province and shares her challenges, passions, and successes. 

Uhuru (Norma) Mbele is the founder of Tosunga Baninga.'Tosunga Baninga' is a phrase in the Lingala language of Central Africa, meaning 'helping you to help others.Uhuru shares why she founded the grassroots organisation in Evaton, South Africa. What do they do?Support victims/survivors/striver of GBVTosunga Baninga has an overnight shelter that is inclusive of lesbian and bisexual womxnGive support to families of the deceased.Provide mediation between NPA and the families.This court support, their impact statements and advocacy. The intentional narratives and meaning behind their fashion designs, jewellery, and activations. The discussion exposes many realities-The truth behind the pandemic in our country is SGBVF- (sexual gender-based violence femicide).We do not have any safe spaces. Uhuru gives lived experiences of how big organisations have exploited their work and utilised their IP for their gain. The disappointment of the recent GBV summit and why she will no longer participate in THE GBV Summit moving forward.The fear of trying to survive as an activist.How can add value to the grassroots communities?081 321 [email protected]#tosungabaninga #'helpingyoutohelpothers #speakingthroughmyworld #engb #wedonthave safespaces #intersectionalfeminsim 

THE REALITY OF CANCEL CULTURE.Cancel culture, deliberate erasure, and the silencing of womxn and queer bodies have occurred for decades. Those who have spoken out have been ostracised, often losing their careers or facing public banishment. Media, society, and governments continue to ignore that erasure and consciously protect and support the abusers and their enablers. There is an intentional approach to focus on the cancel culture of abusers and undermining the victims. - Rosie Motene

Plus-LGBTQI is a non-profit organization that aims to build a dynamic, thriving, and visible South African lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex business community.I am in conversation with the business manager about what they do, their reach, and their plans.Contact [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/lgbtqiplus_/Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/lgbtiplusTwitter- https://twitter.com/lgbtqiplus_

In conversation with Donald Molosi again. Donald has launched his production company Cattlepost Films, and the first project to produce is the Botswana short film, Partly Cloudy and Hot. The film unpacks and challenges the narrative around male infertility in Botswana. We also delve into the deliberate attempt to cancel artists, activists, and truth seekers. ' Sad that just for us to be heard in our house, we have to scream at the neighbours' yard first'.*In reference to the conversation about Justice Unity Dow., Donald meant to say "expelled" instead of "forced out".Previous podcasts posts: https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/1366387/7823548-waka-conversations-with-donald-molosi-part-2.mp3?download=trueTedTalkhttps://youtu.be/ffzF2F37akY