In this episode of Griots & Galaxies, Jenna and Chinelo sit down with Ifa/Òrìsà scholar and writer Ayodele Olofintuade. In this conversation, Ayodele talks to us about African metaphysics and the importance of queer and gender-expansive characters to resisting colonization.

Ayodele Olofintuade is yet to understand the concept of cis-heteronormativity. They are the author of Swallow: Efunsetan Aniwura, Lakiriboto Chronicles: A Brief History of Badly Behaved Women, Eno's Story, which was shortlisted for the NLNG Prize for Literature in 2011. They are genius at creating chaos by merely existing. Their short stories, non-fiction, research and essays have been published in diverse international magazines and journals. They're an Ifa and Òrìsà scholar presently researching indigenous peoples of Yoruba and ways their practices are intertwined with stewardship of the land and nature.

Griots & Galaxies is produced by the Center for Science and the Imagination, with support from the Institute for Humanities Research and The Transformation Project, all at Arizona State University. The podcast is created and hosted by Jenna Hanchey, Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, and Chinelo Onwualu, with the assistance of sound engineer Bailey Pyritz. The theme music is performed by Sonja Branch and Dethie Sarr Diouf.