That “tribal” word
I cringe whenever I see that word in a news article. And I see it so often in journalese. Stories about developing countries often feature phrases like tribal healer, tribal […]
Author Archives: Chika Oduah
Black Lady Goddess…coming soon
There’s an upcoming series that’s caught my eye, thanks to Afriquette.com. It’s called Black Lady Goddess by Nigerian-American-Guyanese content creator/director/filmmaker Chelsea Odufu. This young woman has a powerful voice. “I […]
My Name Is Chika
My name is Chíkà. I love my name. If you want to get an idea of what it means, you can look it up here on Wikipedia. It’s made of […]
Nigeria’s young people confront police brutality
Young Nigerians around the world are raising their voices to demand an end to police brutality. The campaign is called #EndSARS and some of the campaigners were killed while participating in peaceful protests in Nigeria.
Sustainable African Fashion
Sustainability is a darling word now in the industry, but African designers have always practiced sustainability. African designers are more resourceful when using fabric. They’re careful to minimize waste. Made-to-order is more common and the African fashion market is not as seasonal as the mainstream Western market.
Why I Am A Pan-Africanist
Pan-Africanism is an enduring hope and appreciation for the continent, the people of it and what it can offer. With 54 countries, Africa is a vast land mass — 11.7 million square miles — that can contain the United States, China, India and the whole of Eastern Europe. Pan-Africanism is not glorifying blackness as a divine or magical race. It is not black supremacy.
The Beautiful Load: A Visual Poem
This poem is an ode to the African woman’s head scarf and all that she carries… I grew up watching my mother tie huge pieces of fabric on her head. […]
I’m back!
Hi friends. It’s been quite a while since I lasted posted here. But not to worry, I’m back! Once a week, I’ll share something that you: a work of art, an article I read, a story I wrote, a piece of fashion, music, whatever. So, here it goes. The hiatus is over. Thank you for visiting.
Why The Most Important Person in Africa is the Storyteller
Storyteller. At its basic level, the word conveys the role of someone who preserves the memories, beliefs, aspirations, experiences of a people, a society, a civilization. Storytelling is the convergence of many disciplines, as many disciplines involve storytelling such as history, sociology, anthropology, photography and of course, literature.
I appreciate the storytelling that is done on a micro-level that requires one-one-one interaction with people on-the-ground.
Researchers say that it’s the ability of humans to tell stories that has greatly contributed to our survival as a dominant species.
Stunning new images celebrate Kenyan female icon who stood up to colonialists
Mnyazi wa Menza a.k.a Mekatilili was a strong woman known for her fierceness and resistance of colonial rule in Kenya. This photography project represents her life in the Giriama region of Kenya where she lived from the1840s to 1924, according to local sources. In this reimagination, a fearless Mekatilili is pictured readying for battle, defying the age-long patriarchal norms in Kenyan (and generally, African) societies. Women were not known to be headstrong during that time, but Mekatilili could not be silent about the colonial oppression in her community.
Afrocentric Confessions 