by Salha KaitesiI recently learned that one of my cousins has AIDS. Even though we haven’t been in contact for a few years, this information hit me really hard. While still trying to process everything, I couldn’t help but wonder why it had to get to the death sentence that is AIDS and not HIV. As I […]
by Nadjath Akanni“Acquire an education, a degree (preferably before your thirties…), move out, get a job (you don’t have to like it; bills won’t pay themselves…), buy or rent a house, start a family, and if you’re lucky enough you should retire early with incoming pension benefits… Basically, by a certain age, you should have it all […]
by Salha KaitesiThree years on from the inaugural Teakisi Woman Talk, Teakisi as the organiser prepares yet again for its annual conference as the 2021 speakers are announced. This conference celebrates the culture and heritage of Africa, minoritised communities, people of African descent and the entire community. This #BlackHistoryMonth conference also gives the opportunity to attendees to ask […]
by Nadjath AkanniIf you had asked me growing up to name an architect, I’d probably name a renowned male figure in the field. For a very long time, the construction industry as a whole remained a male-dominated sector like many others. It used to be so uncommon to hear high schoolers say they want to study architecture. […]
by Nadjath Akanni“One in every fifty human beings – more than 150 million persons live outside of their countries of origin as migrants or refugees. They are highly vulnerable to racism, xenophobia, and discrimination. But even when their movement is legal and authorized, non-citizens face high levels of discrimination.” Have you ever been at a job interview […]
by Faith MangwanyaI grew up in a cosmopolitan suburb in the southern parts of Johannesburg. In the early 2000s, the community was an eclectic mix of white Afrikaners, a few Indians who owned the local grocer, blacks and coloureds who had worked their way out of the townships, and a growing population of foreigners. The local church […]
by Yunah BvumbweIt was one fateful evening when Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the demise of their beloved president Dr. John Pombe Magufuli. Grasping her breath with anxiety written all over her face, she announced that the president had died due to a cardiac failure. What a dark hour it was for Tanzania and Africa at large. Citizens […]
by Nadjath AkanniOne’s perspective of life changes the day you witness firsthand a close relative or friend go through series of indescribable, agonizing levels of pain, watching them cry for help and there’s nothing you can do, administered pain killers becoming ineffective to the point of an eventual overdose. They have good and bad days, most of […]
by Dr. Daniel JeffersonAs the UK vaccination programme achieves 873,784 jabs in the past 24 hours, it is bringing to mind much wider issues that are clearly toxic and also represent a sense of unfairness in society. The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E) inequalities that are freely talked about really represent discrimination if they are not being addressed. Vaccine hesitancy means putting off having the jab, or completely saying no. […]
by Nadjath AkanniEver heard of the expression “Barça wala Barsakh”? Only a handful of people will understand this, but as I dive into details most of you will get the point. The slogan basically translates to Barça (as in Barcelona) or Death meaning they will rather die or risk their lives than being denied access to Europe. […]
Lovely event with a light-touch, informal and friendly feel. I had a chance to catch up with people I had not seen in ages, as well as to meet a few new people. My suggestions would be for a greater range of entertainment (I’m a big fan of Georgia May and Daps, and they were great), to showcase some of the different kinds of talent in the NE. Food from the African continent or diaspora. And something slightly more structured (but still light-touch, fun and social) to encourage people to get to know about each other, and to find out more about Teakisi and the different initiatives which support different cultures and exchange and sharing in the region.
Had a great time at the event. The team were great and welcoming.
