Spectra Speaks
One of my favorite African women artists, Shishani, has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to crowdfund her debut album, featuring her most popular singles, “Minority” and “Raining Words”. I rarely post about media that isn’t in the form of a review, but I’ve heard many of the tracks on the album after seeing her perform live in Namibia last year, I strongly recommend you give her music a listen.
I’ve been mulling over the gay zulu wedding fiasco over the past few weeks. I was excited to see it, but something left me unsettled. Here are my thoughts, inspired by a TEDTalk by one of my favorite writers, Chimamanda Adichie, “The Danger of a Single Story.”
When I woke up to International Women’s Day celebrations today, the first thing on my mind wasn’t politics, but the personal connections I didn’t know I would forfeit the minute I stopped wearing skirts, traded in my long hair for a frohawk, and fell in love with a woman. In light of international women’s day, I can’t help but note how often my masculinity is used to exclude me from accessing the same sisterhood that nurtured my unwavery dedication to every woman’s empowerment.
Award-winning Namibian indie soul artist, Shishani, has just released the music video for her latest single, “Minority”, a catchy, upbeat, acoustic track that calls for freedom and equality for all people despite perceived differences. She recently sat down with me to chat about her rise to stardom, her thoughts on music in movements, and why she’s putting everything on the line now.
As a group that is routinely judged, shunned, and fighting for acceptance, we as LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex) people are often pigeon-holed into playing the role of educator to the people that inflict the most pain on us, our friends and family. But it doesn’t always have to be that way. Give the gift of media, and absolve yourself of being the “go-to LGBT person” for the Holidays.
BET.com interviews me about my work as a media activist focusing on gender and LGBT issues in Africa. The piece, which was very positive and optimistic, prompted some thoughts about what “good” media activism means to me. Surprisingly “good” media has nothing to do with it. Read the interview, and my thoughts here.
My career path in media hasn’t been linear or conventional by any means. I went to MIT to study Mathematics, before realizing that I was really an artist. My parents are still in recovery. But everything will work out. It always does. Don’t drive your career with someone else’s rear view mirror. Don’t tailgate an externally constructed ambition or let someone else’s version of success distract you the most important driver on the road… you.
Are you affiliated with a college, university, or high school who’s seeking speakers for the upcoming academic year? Are you a conference in search of an inspirational keynote speaker? A loyal reader of my blog? :) Check out my latest talk, “The Power of Storytelling: LGBT Rights, the Media, and the African/Black Diaspora” and help bring my love revolution to as many spaces as possible!
I have witnessed the daily grind of empowerment of black South African lesbians, watched them sink and wade through the cultural stigma that surrounds them like a mist, clouding the world’s perception of their lives as ordinarily human. Thus, I have come to re-affirm my belief that we must also celebrate our proud perseverance, our steady survival, just as fervently as we do our big, bold acts of bravery.
About Me
Meet Spectra: Queer Nigerian Afrofeminist Writer and Media Activist. Social Entrepreneur Nurturing Principled Diaspora and Women's Philanthropy in Media and Tech. Self-Care and Self-Love Evangelist. Idealist Warrior Woman. Big Dreamer. Big Thinker. Big Doer, Too.
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The African Union Protocol on the Rights of Women: Progress and Pitfalls for LGBT Rights
The African Union Protocol on the Rights of Women is the first comprehensive legal framework for women’s rights in Africa that seeks to “improve on the status of African women by bringing about gender equality and eliminating discrimination.” Except, it doesn’t explicitly name protections for LGBT African women. Moreover, Liberia President Sirleaf isn’t the only African woman who needs convincing that it should be included.