Afrocentric Confessions

capturing the souls of black folk. a blog by Chika Oduah

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Tag Archives: Chika Oduah

Stopping Babies From Being Ritually Killed in Nigeria

December 28, 2017by Admin Leave a comment

    In 2016, I learned about a community in the outskirts of the Nigerian capital city of Abuja that was practicing a generations-old cultural ritual that involves killing babies. […]

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Culture, Religion, Society, Spirituality, Violence, Young People

Muslim & Queer

December 13, 2016by Admin Leave a comment

I started wearing hijab when I was around three years old. It was both cultural and religious, so I never questioned it and wore it on and off until I […]

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Religion, Sexuality, Spirituality, Women

Zin’naariyâ! (‘The Wedding Ring’)

October 30, 2016by Admin 1 Comment

It’s a beautiful new film by the Nigerien journalist and film director, Rahmatou KEÏTA, which explores the themes of longing, love and travel. The film is called Zin’naariyâ, which means the […]

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Art, Culture, Gender, Society, Women

Preserving a ‘Poor Man’s Sport’

May 5, 2016by Admin Leave a comment

  Recently, I became quite interested in a sport called dambe. It’s a martial art derived from the Hausa people of West Africa. It’s akin to boxing, or kickboxing, actually, […]

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Culture, Poverty, Society, Sports

Remembering #IfAfricaWasABar

April 17, 2016by Admin Leave a comment

  One of the best hashtags ever! Remember?   The hashtag grabbed the attentions of millions of people. I was certainly one of them. It all started in July 2015. […]

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Culture, Innovation, People, Society, Young People

The lost children of Nigeria: Boko Haram orphans thousands

February 10, 2016by Admin Leave a comment

      Thousands of youths orphaned or separated from their parents by Boko Haram’s campaign of violence face ongoing trauma YOLA, Nigeria — Rose Wakulu is exhausted. Yet the 25-year-old […]

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Human Rights, Security, Young People

In Nigeria, neglected women bear the shame of fistulas

February 10, 2016by Admin 1 Comment

At least 500,000 women have vaginal fistulas, largely as a result of lack of medical care during pregnancy and labor   JOS, Nigeria — After giving birth five times, all Amina […]

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Culture, Health, Society, Women

Miss Jill Scott, Black History Month

February 3, 2016by Admin Leave a comment

Miss Jill Scott. I love you. Not because you have a beautiful face and a wonderful body and a delicious voice, but because of what and who you represent. You […]

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Music, People

The Afro-German Experience Under Hitler

February 3, 2016by Admin Leave a comment

January 27 is the UN’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Commemorated to remember the liberation of Auschwitz, largest of the German Nazi concentration camps and extermination centers But I am writing this […]

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Activism, History, Human Rights, People, Race, Society, Violence

Life or Death: Investigative Reporting In Nigeria

November 3, 2015by Admin 1 Comment

A few weeks ago, a Nigerian journalist uncovered alleged cases of rape and sodomy in a boys’ school in Kano, northern Nigeria. Reporting on a sensitive cultural taboo, the journalist […]

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Journalism, Media

The widows of Boko Haram

March 15, 2015by Admin Leave a comment

  Despite efforts by women’s groups, thousands of Nigerian widows struggle to survive because of Boko Haram’s insurgency.   Maiduguri, Nigeria – For four months and 10 days, Falmata Gana never […]

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Human Rights, Women

In The Land Of Nigeria’s Kidnapped Girls

May 29, 2014by Admin 2 Comments

On Monday morning, May 12, I sat in the backseat of a Toyota Corolla, headed to Chibok. With a satin abaya draping my body in a sheath of black, and […]

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Human Rights, Journalism, Travel

Becoming Nigerian Part 1: One Year In

January 18, 2014by Admin 17 Comments

This is part 1 of my series ‘Becoming Nigerian’ I flew into Abuja, Nigeria on a Lufthansa aircraft in December 2012. It’s been one year, a year of profound personal […]

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Culture, Diaspora, Food, Personal, Society, Travel

After God Is The Condom: Sexual Health In Nigeria

January 18, 2014by Admin 2 Comments

Bassey Ngehaje does not have a problem using condoms. When that moment approaches, when he’s aroused in the company of an alluring woman, Bassey pulls out a condom and puts […]

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Activism, Health, Sexuality, Society, Spirituality

Nigeria’s Ethiopians Protest Abuse In Saudi Arabia

December 26, 2013by Admin Leave a comment

While thousands are decrying the reported abuse of Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia, one woman hopes to stir more activism in Africa “I couldn’t sleep. If you see the pictures… […]

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Activism, Human Rights

Josephat’s Search For Love

November 1, 2013by Admin Leave a comment

In continuing my story profiles on Tanzanian albinos in their struggling experiences to find love and get married (read more here: Love in a Time of Fear: Albino Women’s Stories […]

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Activism, Human Rights, Society

Love In A Time Of Fear: Albino Women’s Stories From Tanzania

October 31, 2013by Admin 1 Comment

Albino women in Tanzania share stories on love, family and survival in a country where albinos are targets for violence  *          *          *          * Grace Medaldi looked for love in […]

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Activism, Health, Society

Jacarandas and Children: Reflections on Tanzania

October 31, 2013by Admin 2 Comments

It’s been exactly three weeks since I left Tanzania and my mind is pregnant with vivid thoughts. I must deliver. On an excursion made possible by the International Reporting Project […]

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Development, Personal, Travel

Nigeria Urged To Reduce Child Marriages

October 13, 2013by Admin Leave a comment

Activists believe women’s education and stronger laws will improve life in Africa’s most populous nation. Child marriage – defined as a marital union with a person under the age of […]

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Activism

She Sings To Know She’s Alive

August 14, 2013by Admin Leave a comment

“I sing to know that I’m alive” starts with a calypso-inspired rhythm, Nina’s piano playing trails in. Then her unrefined, jarring voice “I sing just to know that I’m alive, […]

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African-American, Music, Race, Society

It Happened To Me

August 13, 2013by Admin Leave a comment

I got a job in New York City a few years ago. I was new to the American North; I still reeked of the South. Pillsbury biscuits, Georgian peaches and […]

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Activism, Gender, Human Rights, Personal, Sexuality, Society

Facing Child Marriage In Nigeria

August 13, 2013by Admin Leave a comment

The Nigerian Senate is reeling in the backlash of a sweeping outpouring of public protests. Activists and protesters are rallying on streets, tweeting and hashtagging #ChildNotBride, sharing editorials in the […]

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Activism, Gender

Prayers For Trayvon’s Mother

July 15, 2013by Admin Leave a comment

Trayvon Martin’s mother lost her son and the man who killed him got away. The murder of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his killer brings my mind not only […]

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Activism, People, Race

Black Americans Undergo Cleansing From ‘Slavery Stigma’

July 15, 2013by Admin Leave a comment

It took a trip to Africa to change 10 lives forever. Six months after Irene Toland, Sidney Davis, Robin Almeida and Pamela Ramsay joined a group traveling to Africa, the […]

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African-American, Diaspora, Spirituality, Travel

Release Her Power

July 7, 2013by Admin 1 Comment

She brings you into this world in a flush of blood. Divining with the gods with each forceful thrust, shrieking into the hands of the invisibles. Burdened to dim her […]

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Gender, Society, Spirituality

Mandela, From Frame To Heart

July 3, 2013by Admin 3 Comments

Nelson Mandela smiled at me everyday when I walked by him. Softly curled lips and softly curled hair, his face beckoned me and I came to him. I’d plop myself […]

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Activism, History, People

The US-Africa Relationship By The Numbers

June 28, 2013by Admin Leave a comment

The cost of President Obama’s eight-day trip to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania has raised the ire of deficit hawks ever since the Washington Post broke news of the trip. […]

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Development

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My Afrocentric Confessions

I'm a journalist, capturing the stories and experiences of Africans. Journalism, anthropology, Africa, these passions keep me alive. Afrocentric Confessions is a space for me to share some of what I find interesting: spirituality, governance, culture, art, activism, social trends and history. And, some of my observations and rantings on where I've been and where I am and where I'm going. I like receiving email. chika.oduah@gmail.com Peace. Chika Oduah

If black ain't beautiful, then I don't know what is. Brazilian model Mariana Calazans for Vogue

#ExpandYourVocab: peccadillo (noun) a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault.

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Katherine Dunham, dancer-anthropologist, is my greatest dance inspiration

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I AM CURRENTLY READING:

My Tweets

The Gaze on Black Bodies

Same Sex Relationships in Africa

Don't forget you're black

Abuja Africa African-Americans African Union Al Jazeera America Apartheid Barack Obama Bella Naija Boko Haram by Chika Oduah Chika Oduah Chimamanda Adichie Christianity CNN Corruption Discrimination Ghana Guinea Huffington post Islam Kenya Liberia Mali Namibia Nelson Mandela New York Nigeria Nigerian American Racism Religion Reuters Rwanda Senegal Sierra Leone Slavery South Africa Tanzania theGrio youth

If you've never heard highlife music...

This is where the vagina counts

Blogs I Follow

Instagram

Living in #Dakar #Senegal awakened my inner creativity, sizzled my senses and nourished my love of all things green and natural. I enjoyed living here. It was good for my soul. I'm revitalized, refreshed and ready to see more in this life. I'll miss you, Senegal, but I'll be back. Keep the sabar playing for me. Merci, merci. In honor of my stay in Senegal, I'll be re-posting shots of some of my favorite moments. Photo by my sis @akosua0906 #journey #sisterlocks #blackpeople #Senegal #streetfashion #reflect #african #travel #traveller #travelAfrica #streetshot #sundress #Africarising #africanwoman #travelista #travelling #travelgram #blacktravelista #ocean #nature #atlanticocean #blacktravelfeed #blacktravelclub #womenintheworld #Nigerian

Activism African-American Art Beauty Culture Development Diaspora Education Gender Health History Human Rights Innovation Journalism Literature Media Music People Personal Politics Poverty Race Religion Sexuality Society Spirituality Travel Violence Women Young People
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Premium Times Nigeria

Premium Times - Nigeria's leading online newspaper, delivering breaking news and deep investigative reports from Nigeria

Tom Bradley's Blog

Photographs, travels, adventures...

Sherese Francis: Futuristically Ancient

The Sankofic Now: Reimagining the Past + Manifesting the Future

African Blood Siblings

An African War without an African Army is an African Genocide

How to love Igbo things (or what you will).

Maka ihu n'anya ihe Igbo n'ile na ihe ndi ozo di iche n'iche.

Atheism Africa

Promoting Secular Values from an African Persective

FreedomTrapped

I'm the type of soldier who will dig out the fake warriors from my own army before I go out wielding the anti-imperialist arrow to The West

WEHNAM

Homage to men who support women: The blog that deals with matters specifically relating to African women those in rural areas and in the diaspora

Zainab Usman

Working, thinking, writing and exchanging ideas on development

Nana A Damoah

Reflections, Musings, Effusions, Thoughts...

seyisandradavid

A Writer With A Difference

Subhan Zein

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