Not Your African Cliché

Happy New Year! The Ladies of NYAC return with our first episode of 2017. We look back on the year 2016 recounting our highlights and lowlights, and gaze lovingly and optimistically into 2017, discussing our goals and aspirations for the new year. We reveal our key words for the year (intentional and purposeful), share some of our new year aspirations (not resolutions) and talk about the changes we’ll be making to achieve those aspirations. Expect your usual does of vulnerability, frankness and giggles.

Talked about:

Viola Davis and Tom Hanks’ Variety conversation - http://variety.com/video/tom-hanks-viola-davis-actors-on-actors-full-interview/

What we are reading/watching/listening to

- The Keys by DJ Khaled (Book)

- Chewing Gum by Channel 4 (UK); Netflix (US) (Show)

- Skinny Girl in Transit by Ndani TV (Web Series)

- Celia by Netflix (TV Show)

- The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu (Book)

This episode was mixed by Ifeoluwa Olokode and theme song is Ayo by Femi Leye

P.S. We want to say a very big thank you for your continued support of our lil ol’ podcast. We appreciate you!

On this episode, the ladies of NYAC talk with Jessica, founder of Jet Black, and Rory, founder of TripZapp. They all discuss why travel is important(particularly travel to the African continent & Diaspora), and the rampant misconceptions about travel to & within Africa (by foreigners and Africans). Lastly, the ladies share what African countries they want to visit and why.

Find Jessica at @jnambowa and check out her travel company at http://globaljetblack.com/services/

Find Rory at @tripzapp and check out her travel company at http://tripzapp.net/index

-----------------------------------------------------------

Reading/Watching/Listening to:

- Emeli Sandé’s Long Live the Angels (Music)

- FX's Atlanta (TV Show)

- Luvvie Ajayi’s I’m Judging You (Book)

- Brent Coker's Going Viral (Book)

- Common’s Black America (Music)

- Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life (Book)

- ABC's How To Get Away With Murder (TV Show)

- Post-US election coverage (Articles)

- Alicia Keys’ Here (Music)

Episode mixed by Ifeyinwa Arinze. Theme song is Ayo by Femi Leye

On this episode, the Ladies of NYAC chat with Ntokozo (@Ntokozo_Moloi), an activist involved in the #FeesMustFall movement in South Africa, and Zoé (@ztsamudzi), a first-generation Zimbabwean-American PhD candidate and activist from Oakland, CA, about activism and building movements. We recount when activism was first awakened within us and discuss our early encounters with activist movements. Using current movements across the African continent such as the #OromoProtests in Ethiopia, the #ThisFlag movement in Zimbabwe and #FeesMustFall movement in South Africa as examples, we answer the following: How does one mobilize people and build a sustainable movement? How can divisions within a movement be overcome? What activism strategies can be deployed when there aren’t enough bodies? How can Pan-African activist alliances be formed and nurtured?

Resources:

Oromo Protests in Ethiopia

- https://www.buzzfeed.com/aliciamelvillesmith/scores-of-protestors-killed-in-ethiopia?utm_term=.sbYm9Nok#.sbYm9Nok

- https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahgiorgis/menem-desta-altesemaynem?utm_term=.ryXPmQM8#.qe39wqoY

This Flag Movement in Zimbabwe

- http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/07/15/why-a-hashtag-isnt-enough-for-a-revolution-in-zimbabwe/

FeesMustFall Protests in South Africa

- http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/10/feesmustfall-decolonising-education-161031093938509.html

- http://feesmustfall.joburg/2016/10/09/pan-africanism-and-education-free-access-to-all-or-a-case-for-black-power/

Social Pan-Africanism

http://www.ted.com/talks/siyanda_mohutsiwa_how_young_africans_found_a_voice_on_twitter

-----------------------------------------------------------

Reading/Watching/Listening to

- Steve Biko’s I Write What I Like (Book)

- Alexander G. Weheliye’s Habeas Viscus (Book)

- Solange’s A Seat at the Table (Music)

- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o’s Decolonizing the Mind (Book)

- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o’s Petals of Blood (Book)

- South African Jazz e.g. Simphiwe Dana (Music)

- A Tribe Called Quest’s We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service (Music)

- Jesmyn Ward edited The Fire This Time (Book)

- Emeli Sandé’s Long Live the Angels (Music)

- TVLand’s Younger (TV Show)

- Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony (Documentary)

- James Baldwin’s Go Tell it on the Mountain (Book)

- Season 2 of CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (TV Show)

Show was mixed by Ifeoluwa Olokode, and theme music is "Ayo" by the über talented Femi Leye.

On today's episode, the ladies of NYAC openly and vulnerably discuss their experiences moving to new places for school and work, including the isolation that comes it. Additionally, they talk about the arduous process of building new community and what moments of solitude have taught them- about life or themselves.

#Africanexcellence is Rahawa Haile who hiked the Appalachian Trail

#Africandisgrace is Malik Obama... he can go.

Resources:

http://brevitymag.com/current-issue/black-in-middle-america/

Reading/Listening/Watching:

- Tye Tribute’s Work it out

- Young & hungry (TV show)

- Solange's A seat at the table

- AMC's The Preacher

- Showtime's Masters of Sex

- Lindy West's Shrill: Notes From A Loud Woman

- ABC's American Crime

Episode mixed by Ifeyinwa Arinze. Theme song is Ayo by Femi Leye

The Ladies of NYAC are joined by Brian Bush (@BrianCBush), an African American from Tennessee, and Ifunaya, a 1st generation Nigerian-American from New Jersey, to examine one of the most complicated sibling relationships in the world: the relationship between African-Americans and black people from Africa. We revisit our first encounters with the African or African-American community, learn the history behind some derogatory words each group has for the other, talk about the differences between/similarities of our struggles, and ask if African-Americans can be accused of culturally appropriating African cultures.

Resources:

- Articles examining the possible sources of tension between Africans and African-Americans

o https://www.library.yale.edu/~fboateng/akata.htm

o http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2014/01/must-read-complicated-relationship-africans-african-americans/

- Article about black student make up of Ivy League schools: https://www.good.is/articles/ivy-league-fooled-how-america-s-top-colleges-avoid-real-diversity

- Article claiming African-Americans appropriate African culture - https://thsppl.com/black-america-please-stop-appropriating-african-clothing-and-tribal-marks-3210e65843a7#.l74a5bnur

- Counter argument for why African-Americans cannot appropriate African culture - https://medium.com/thsppl/claiming-what-s-ours-on-black-americans-and-cultural-appropriation-ceb7ec3fa4ae

- Invisibilia Episode with Hasan Minahj - http://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia/484359511/frame-of-reference

-------------------------------------------

Reading/Listening/Watching

- Solange’s A Seat at the Table

- Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing

- Marvel + Netflix’s Luke Cage

- Ava DuVernay & OWN’s Queen Sugar

- Alexa von Tobel’s Financially Fearless

- Holy Trinity Brompton/Church of England’s Alpha Course

- Tony Morrision’s God Help the Child

- deVolkskrant’s interview with Chimamanda Adichie about the differences between her feminism and Beyoncé’s

- Brian C Bush’s articles on The Grio and HuffPo Black Voices

- Nir Eyal’s Hooked

Show was mixed by Ifeoluwa Olokode, and theme music is "Ayo" by the über talented Femi Leye.

In this episode, the ladies of NYAC discuss Nigeria's performance at the Olympics, sharing potential explanations for our performance in comparison to other countries. We also talk about the Paralympics then mention our favorite African athletes.

Resources mentioned:

- http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/2016/08/nigeria-olympics-opening-ceremony-outfit.html

- http://www.okayafrica.com/sports/20-moments-africans-athletes-made-history-2016-rio-summer-olympics/

What we are reading/watching/listening to:

- The Smart Money Woman by Arese Ugwu (book)

- The Star Side of Bird Hill by Naomi Jackson (novel)

- Bank Alert by P-Square (music)

- Science Vs (podcast)

Episode mixed by Ifeyinwa Arinze. Theme song is Ayo by Femi Leye

We are bacccckkk! In keeping with the theme of the back-to-school season, the Ladies of NYAC relieve their beginning of school year memories and talk about our favorite things about the season. From buying gel pens and fancy stationary to sewing new house clothes for (Nigerian) boarding school to new fall TV lineup. We also give advice to the youngins on how (not) to start the school year, and suggest ways that working people may infuse their jobs with that back-to-school energy.

What we are reading/watching/listening to

- The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu

- Gold by Adekunle Gold

- We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

- Things Fall Together EP (especially the song Reinfiltrator) by Falana

- Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper

- Romance novels by Courtney Milan and Molly O’Keefe

- Sister Outside by Audre Lorde

This episode was mixed by Ifeoluwa Olokode and theme song is Ayo by Femi Leye

In our last episode of the season, we sat down with the founder of Brittle Paper, Ainehi Edoro, and talked about the origin and evolution of her online literary platform. We also discussed what African Literature means to each of us, the challenges it's currently facing and our hopes for its growth.

Resources:

• http://brittlepaper.com/2015/10/lesotho-stepping-frosty-fairytale-moso-victor-sematlane-african-erotica/

• http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/30/opinion/sunday/african-books-for-western-eyes.html?_r=0

• http://brittlepaper.com/2016/03/lauren-beukes-book/

• http://www.snarksquad.com/

What we are currently watching/reading/listening to:

• Igoni Barrett's Love is Power, Or Something like That

• Ken Saro-Wiwa's Sozaboy

• Sarah Manyika's Like A Mule Bringing Ice-cream To The Sun

• Leye Adenle's Easy Motion Tourist

• 2016 Caine Prize shortlist http://caineprize.com/2016-shortlist/

• Netflix's What Happened, Miss Simone?

• UnREAL

Survey: http://goo.gl/forms/EDmIV0MS2wUKKp4K3

Show was mixed by Ifeyinwa Arinze, and theme music is "Ayo" by the über talented Femi Leye

The Ladies of NYAC are joined by Sara Jean-Philippe (@Sjnphil), a mental health counsellor, as we talk mental health in our communities. We discuss harmful stereotypes, self-harm warning signs, effects of past trauma on mental health, and how we can be better mental health advocates.

Resources:

• Robin Hammond’s Condemned Series - http://www.robinhammond.co.uk/condemned-mental-health-in-african-countries-in-crisis/

• Forming a joint dialogue about mental health - https://ethnobiomed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13002-015-0075-6

• Mental Health Policy Development in Africa - http://www.who.int/bulletin/archives/78(4)475.pdf

• Mental Healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa - http://www.rand.org/blog/2015/03/mental-healthcare-in-sub-saharan-africa-challenges.html

----------------------

Reading/Watching/Listening to

• Susannah Cahalan’s Brain on Fire

• Ama Ata Aidoo’s Changes: A Love Story

• Buchi Emecheta’s Second-Class Citizen

• Siana Bangura’s Elephant

• Siana Bangura’s Elephant book launch highlight reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTdhw28abLs

• Ndani TV’s Youtube Series Skinny Girl in Transit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBYN7uU9mpE

• Ndani TV’s Rumor Has It - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw4b1yLZOoE

• WanaWana’s Room 313: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBTJuakGKZTdxNYgP5bvES-5hYThAxj7E

This episode was mixed by Ifeoluwa Olokode and theme song is Ayo by Femi Leye

Hi NYAC listeners,

In this episode, the ladies of NYAC talk about the mandatory National Youth Service Corps in Nigeria, their feelings about the incredulous exchange rate, and that glorious day when Lagos was featured on Snapchat.

Resources:

• http://zikoko.com/list/lagos-in-captain-america-civil-war/

What we are currently watching/reading/listening to:

• Skinny Girl in Transit (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBYN7uU9mpE)

• Orphan Black

• Barbershop 3

Show was mixed by Ifeyinwa Arinze, and theme music is "Ayo" by the über talented Femi Leye