It's Layered Podcast

You asked, we answered! The Season 4 Finale is here and we’re answering your burning questions! From Season 2 all the way to Season 4, we get into the different questions we’ve received from our different episodes and delve a little deeper into the conversations that we’ve had with some of our listeners. It was such a treat going down memory lane - from friendships to classism, domestic violence to colonialism - we delve deeper!

Thank you for rocking with us for yet another season! What a ride it’s been and we can’t wait to bring you more!

Zim ShoutOut:
Chozen Foundation

Facebook: Chozen Foundation

PayPal: Chozen Foundation

Instagram: Chozen Foundation

We'd love to hear from you!

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marriage. Some get it. Some don’t. Some will. Some won’t.

The topic of marriage is a never ending discussion that seems to be ever complex with no single answer. On this episode, we speak to Kudzai Kanyangarara - a media professional who’s been married for almost 9 years. We seek to understand the male perspective on marriage and proceed to explore the many questions that aren’t always brought up at kitchen teas and bachelor parties. 

From cultural pressures to Jeff Bezos, is marriage losing its original hold on society? Why do we continue to get married? What are the implications of choosing marriage? What are the hardest and best parts of the institution?

Delve deeper into this and more.

Keep up with Kudzai Kanyangarara

Instagram: @kudzaik

LinkedIn: Kudzai Kanyangarara 

We'd love to hear from you!

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“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." | Frederick Douglass

Motherhood is a hood not all get to permanently reside in, but all have to pass through on their journey to adulthood. In this episode, we speak with Skhoe, a mother of over 21 years who has been mothering her two children in the diaspora. From Thailand to Swaziland, Washington D.C. to Switzerland. 

We try to glean from Skhoe the many lessons she has learnt on her motherhood journey; discuss the questions one has when parenting or thinking of parenting; and take a moment to reflect on what success as a parent looks like. As African women in the diaspora, we recognise that the community and support typical of raising children in Zimbabwe is not afforded to us as easily, whilst also recognising that parenting needs to be done a little differently in order to survive.

What are some of your lessons from mothering or being mothered?

Keep up with Skhoe

Instagram: @skhoemaphosa

Twitter: @skhoe1  

We'd love to hear from you!

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"Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu" | Zulu Proverb

“The central tenet of the so-called ubuntu philosophy, umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, literally translates to "a person is a person through persons."” Jennifer L. Beight

Given the communal and interconnectedness that this African proverb highlights, it is no surprise that this connectedness seeps into financial areas. With the economic and financial disparities that Africans face, the need to support one another becomes even more prevalent. 

In this episode, we delve deeper into ‘black tax’, defined by Investec as “A term for financial support that a professional or entrepreneur of colour is obliged to provide to their family on a continuous basis outside of their own living expenses. Sometimes it is taken on subconsciously, as a kind of payback for sacrifices made by previous generations or family members.” 

How do you feel about black tax? Is generational wealth a myth for historically oppressed communities? How do you manage expectations with reality?

Zim Shoutout: Mazviona Madzima

Instagram: @mazviona__ 

Tik Tok: @mazmadzima 

We'd love to hear from you!

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Gemma Griffiths is an Afro-fusion, award-winning star, proudly hailing from Harare, Zimbabwe. In this episode, we got to sit down with this multifaceted artist on what it means to be 'A Girl From Harare', as per the title of her latest album. 

We also speak to her about her love for Zimbabwe; what driving across Africa to make her album was like; how she acknowledges her privilege of being white whilst navigating predominantly black spaces; the curation of the Live version of her album; her backstory and what lies ahead for her.

Keep Up With Gemma

Instagram: @gemmamusic_ 

Twitter: @gemmamusic_ 

Facebook: Gemma Griffiths Zim 

Watch ‘A Girl From Harare’ The Live Album Recorded at the National Gallery here.

Watch ‘A Girl From Harare’ | The Documentary here.

About Gemma

Gemma Griffiths, a household name in Zimbabwe with 4 x ZIMA’s (Zimbabwe Music Award) under her belt, she also counts another two awards from Star FM and a string of nominations for the prestigious MAMA’s (MTV Africa) and Afrimma Awards.

Gemma grew up in Zimbabwe and continued her education in the USA, on a trumpet scholarship.  She then moved to Cape Town to begin her career and shared the stage with some of South Africa’s finest, like - Freshly Ground, Goodluck, Majozi, and Matthew Mole. A personal career highlight was sharing the stage with the late great Dr Oliver Mtukudzi at Artscape Theatre.

It was Gemma’s love of Zim-Dancehall,  that inspired a rendition of ‘Musarova Bigman’, a track by her favourite artist – Winky D also a Godfather of the scene. Gemma’s version showcased her distinctive vocals accompanied by the piano, singing in both English and Shona. Thanks to social media, her version gained notoriety across Zimbabwe, catapulting her into the dancehall space as an artist as well as putting her directly in front of the man himself…and in 2019, her life changed forever. 

By 2020, Gemma independently released her debut EP ‘Pamwe’ via The Orchard.  The second instalment, ‘A Girl From Harare’, was released in February 2022 alongside a mini documentary of the same name.

Gemma’s joint first love with travel is playing live and this has seen her take her brand across the continent and beyond. 2022 unveiled a nationwide tour of 11 shows across Zimbabwe, with an artist community of friends such as Nutty O,  DJ Tamuka, rapper Holy Ten and  DJ King Her. She also toured Dubai and Australia alongside Sungura legend, Alick Macheso.

Whilst Gemma is regarded a national treasure to many, she continues to carve out an international trajectory with music – carrying her beloved home country with her. She says, “I owe so much of my journey to Zimbabwean music culture and to Zim dancehall. I’m grateful for my upbringing, for my parents and my country, as before anything else, I am a Zimbabwean.”.

We'd love to hear from you!

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“Religion is a prison but truth sets us free
Helps us believe
That the world we're in now is not the world that will be..” 

| Kirk Franklin (Losing My Religion)

Religion is an all-encompassing umbrella that has and continues to dictate the ins and outs of many lives. What is religion? Why is it so controversial and polarising? How come Africans have taken religion and run with it? Why do we need it? Why is religion so problematic?

In this episode, we go in on all these questions. We’re curious, though, what are your thoughts?  

—

Zim Shoutout: Makho Ndlovu

Instagram: @makhondlovu 

Twitter: @makhondlovu

We'd love to hear from you!

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“If you educate a man you educate one individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a family. " | African Proverb

The place and spaces that women and men 'belong' is a conversation that has been ongoing for decades... and we still have a long way to go.

Why are gender roles so controversial, especially within an African context? Why can't Africans let gender roles go? Why do we still have to explain what 'equality' looks like and defend ourselves as women?

On this episode, we go all in from defining which gender roles are typically attributed to women, the pressure of it, our thoughts on gender neutrality and unpacking the reasons why we feel gender roles will continue to be a hot topic in African society.
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Zim Shoutout: Shungudzo Kuyimba
Instagram: @shungudzo
Twitter: @shungudzo

We'd love to hear from you!

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“Mwana asingachemi anofira mumbereko.” | “A baby that never cries soon dies on its mother’s back.” – Shona proverb

Growing up African and more specifically, growing up Zimbabwean, there are certain commonalities we can all relate to. From the discipline, respect for elders and family, high expectations to the communal upbringing. 

We delve into all the nuances of African parenting that have shaped us - good, bad and interesting. 

What would you say is the typical upbringing for an African child and what did it look like for you if you were raised in an African household?

Zim Shoutout: Steven Chikosi

Instagram: @stevenchikosi 

Twitter: @stevenchikosi 

We'd love to hear from you!

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*TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNING*
In this episode, we deal with the triggering topic of domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a phenomenon that has plagued the world - African households included. Zimbabwean society seems to normalise domestic violence & abuse. We delve into the chokehold that domestic violence has, unpacking the layers that have maintained this status quo & offering tips on supporting those experiencing abuse and violence. 

Useful resources
For those experiencing or who know someone experiencing domestic violence, please see below our non-exhaustive list of useful resources:

• 1800 Respect (Australia)
• Acorus (Czech Republic) 
• Beyond Blue (Australia)
• Bily Kruh Bezpeci (Czech Republic) 
• Bright Sky Vodafone Mobile App (Czech Republic)
• Childline (Zimbabwe)
• Domestic Violence Helpline (Czech Republic): 2 5151 1313 via English Radio CZ
• Friendship Bench Zimbabwe
• Legal Resources Foundation Zimbabwe
• Lifeline (Australia) 
• Men’s Referral Services (Australia)
• MensLine (Australia) 
• Musasa Project (Zimbabwe)
• No More (Czech Republic)
• Padare / Enkundleni / Men’s Forum on Gender (Zimbabwe)
• Profem (Czech Republic)
• Reach Out (Australia) - Directory of Support Services
• Rosa Centrum (Czech Republic) 
• Volunteer Service Overseas | Speak It Loud (Zimbabwe)
• Women in Law Southern Africa (Zimbabwe)
• White Ribbon (Australia) - Directory of Support Services
• Zimbabwe OCD Trust

*Thank you, Kim Harrisberg (@KimHarrisberg) & Expats.cz for the useful resources.

We'd love to hear from you!

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“The most powerful weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” | Steve Bantu Biko

Colonialism is "the the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically." On this episode, we speak very candidly on a topic that is integral to how we grew up and has greatly influenced who we are.

From "Lizzy's gone" to erasure of identity, we go THERE! Dissecting how it has impacted our lives and questioning if we would be who we are today had we not been raised in colonised Zimbabwe. We also speak on how colonialism bleeds into the black inferiority complex, identity, colourism, having to prove ourselves in white spaces and being the "right kind of black"!

Delve deeper with us and let us know if it's had any effect on you and how you've experienced or witnessed colonialism!

Zim Shoutout: Takkunda
Instagram: @takkunda
Tik Tok: @takunda.k

We'd love to hear from you!

• Website: It’s Layered Podcast
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• Instagram: @itslayered
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• Email: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.