Pánsá Pánsá Podcast

Hello, listeners, and welcome back to another exciting season of Pansa Pansa podcast. I am thrilled to have you join me for what promises to be the most engaging and inspiring episodes of pansapansa to come. During this season l will be bringing you a series of incredible stories, thought-provoking discussions, and in-depth interviews with extraordinary guests from all walks of lives.
This season marks an important shift in our focus—from exploring the intergenerational relationships between African immigrant parents and their children to delving deeper into the unique issues faced by immigrant parents.
In this season, we’ll be interviewing African   immigrant parents to understand their experiences, challenges, and triumphs as they navigate life in a new country. l plan to discuss a wide range of topics, including cultural adaptation, parenting in a different environment, maintaining cultural heritage, overcoming barriers and many more.
My goal is to shed light on the diverse and rich stories of African immigrants, provide insights that resonate with many of you and to foster a greater understanding of the immigrant experiences. I hope these conversations will be as enlightening and inspiring for you as they are for me.
I intend to have guest who embodies the resilience and adaptability that many immigrant parents exemplify. Stay tuned as l bring you heartfelt stories, practical advice, and a deep dive into the issues that matter most. there’s something for everyone.
To kick off this season, it is such an honor to introduce my first guest.  Dr. Olusegun  Fayemi, an accomplished pathologist and a celebrated photographer who has spent over four decades capturing the essence of Africa through his lens. His journey is a testament to the power of passion and dedication, and l can’t wait to share his incredible story with you.
Thank you for tuning in, and get ready for an unforgettable season of  Pansapansa podcast and Let’s dive in!

Madam Alimatu Dimonekene MBE is an award-winning British-Sierra Leonean human rights activist, child protection and safeguarding expert, philanthropist, and one of the world's leading advocates for ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). In 2023, she was honored by King Charles III with the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her outstanding contribution to preventing violence against women and girls and her tireless campaign to eradicate FGM globally.

Alimatu is the founder of A Girl At A Time (SL), an organization dedicated to educating, empowering, and protecting girls and young people from gender-based violence, child marriage, and harmful traditional practices. She is also a member of Equality Now, an Op-Ed Public Voices Fellow on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls, and a recipient of numerous awards, including the African Achievers Award and the Rosie McGrath Activist Award.I first met Alimatu by coincidence when she attended Pansa Pansa's conversation with Lola Aforo as a supporter. During that event, she briefly shared her own experience as an FGM survivor and spoke passionately about her global advocacy work. It was immediately clear that her story deserved a wider audience, and I was honored when she accepted my invitation to join the Pansa Pansa Podcast.In this deeply moving and educational conversation, Alimatu reflects on her childhood in Sierra Leone, her loving relationship with her parents, and the painful reality that despite their opposition to FGM, cultural pressures and the authority of her grandmother ultimately led to her being subjected to the practice against their wishes. She explains how deeply rooted traditions and societal expectations often silence families and prevent them from challenging harmful practices.Throughout the conversation, she provides valuable historical and global context, discussing the origins of FGM, the various forms practiced around the world, and the reasons communities continue to uphold the practice. She also explains the significance of February 6th, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, and how international awareness and advocacy have contributed to progress in protecting girls.Alimatu further discusses the devastating physical, emotional, psychological, and reproductive health consequences of FGM, while emphasizing the importance of education, community engagement, and empowering survivors to speak out. She offers hope and practical insights into how families, communities, policymakers, religious leaders, and advocates can work together to end violence against women and girls.

Chapters

02:56 Madame Ali Matsu's Background and Journey

06:08 Cultural Identity and Diaspora Experiences

09:01 Advocacy and Activism Against FGM

11:47 Challenges Faced by African Immigrants

15:07 Personal Experience with FGM

17:55 Impact of FGM on Personal Life

21:07 Navigating Cultural Expectations and Identity

23:52 The Role of Family in Cultural Practices

27:08 Reflections on Trauma and Healing

29:57 The Importance of Advocacy and Awareness

39:54 The Journey of Healing and Advocacy

45:13 Empowerment Through Community Engagement

52:47 Historical Context of FGM and Women's Health

60:27 Cultural Identity and the Impact of FGM

67:41 Reclaiming African Identity and Education

79:57 Changing Perspectives on African Identity

90:28 The Significance of February 6th FGM Awareness Day

108:10 Empowering Change: A Girl at a Time Organization

119:43 Breaking the Silence on Sexual Desire

122:06 Unpacking Cultural Stigmas and Pain

125:15 Empowering Women Through Education and Support

129:31 Community Responsibility and Changing Mindsets

132:41 The Role of Men in Ending FGM

136:59 The Socioeconomic Factors Behind FGM

140:09 The Impact of Violence on Women and Girls

143:34 Redefining Language Around FGM

149:13 A Call to Action for Community Engagement

To follow Alimatu's work, visit her website @ https://www.agdgetitdone.co.uk/

Ms. Esther Lola Aforo was born and raised in Sierra Leone, where she attended Ahmadiyya Muslim Secondary School. In her late teens, she immigrated to the United States with her husband and developed professional skills while working in a variety of roles. She earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and later pursued postgraduate studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Throughout her career, she has worked with the University of Sierra Leone as a Public Relations Officer and Career Development Advisor, and has also served in positions with the Florida Department of Education, Emory University, and Georgetown University. Ms. Aforo is an educator, feminist, storyteller, and researcher whose life and work are rooted in advocacy and resilience.

In her memoir, Lupus or Me? I Chose Me!, Ms. Aforo courageously recounts her experiences of surviving childhood trauma, including female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, early marriage, and spousal abuse. Her story sheds light on the realities faced by many girls and women living in societies where harmful cultural practices, poverty, gender inequality, and societal expectations contribute to the marginalization of women.

During our conversation, Ms. Aforo reflected on painful memories from her childhood and the lasting physical and emotional consequences of those experiences. She spoke openly about how trauma affected her self-esteem, relationships, and overall well-being, while also sharing the strength and resilience that helped her persevere.

We discussed her memoir, Lupus or Me? I Chose Me!, and explored the intersection of trauma, culture, faith, and healing. Ms. Aforo explained how her unwavering faith in God and determination to reclaim her voice empowered her not only to confront her past but also to navigate the challenges of living with lupus.

Our discussion also examined broader issues affecting girls and women across many African societies, including gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, domestic violence, and the role that poverty and social expectations can play in shaping family decisions. While acknowledging these difficult realities, Ms. Aforo emphasized the importance of education, self-worth, and breaking cycles of silence.

On a lighter note, we celebrated her remarkable academic and professional accomplishments. Despite enduring tremendous adversity, Ms. Aforo pursued higher education, built a successful career, and transformed her pain into purpose. She reflected on how her experiences cultivated self-discipline, resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to helping others.

Today, Ms. Esther Lola Aforo speaks boldly and writes fearlessly about her journey. She is a survivor, an advocate, and a living testimony to the power of choosing oneself, healing, and hope. Her story reminds us that trauma does not have to define a person's future and that even after unimaginable hardship, healing and transformation are possible.

Areas of Discussion with Esther Lola Aforo

1. Growing Up in Sierra Leone

2. Childhood Trauma and Abuse

3. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

4. Early Marriage and Spousal Abuse

5. Faith, Healing, and Survival

6. Living with Lupus

7. Writing "Lupus or Me? I Chose Me!"

8. Education and Career Accomplishments

9. The Condition of Girls and Women in African Societies

10. Resilience and Personal Growth

11. Breaking Generational Cycles

12. Advocacy and Speaking Out

13. Advice to Young Girls and Survivors

14. Looking Forward Closing Reflection

#EstherLolaAforo #LupusOrMeIChoseMe #PansaPansaPodcast #FGMAwareness #EndFGM #TraumaHealing #ChildhoodTrauma #DomesticViolenceAwareness #WomenEmpowerment #LupusAwareness #AfricanWomen #SurvivorStory #HealingJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #FaithAndResilience #AfricanDiaspora #BreakingTheSilence #OvercomingAdversity #Storytelling #Resilience

Gugulethu Makhari, affectionately known as Gugu, is an entrepreneur, global advocate, and passionate champion for women's rights, human rights, and youth empowerment. Originally from South Africa, Gugu has built a life dedicated to service, activism, and uplifting vulnerable communities around the world.I had the privilege of meeting Gugu at the African Animation Film Festival hosted by one of my previous guests, Professor Boukary Sawadogo. I was immediately struck by her warmth, humility, and commitment to social justice. Her passion for empowering women and advocating for human rights made it impossible not to invite her to join us on Pansa Pansa Podcast. I am especially honored to welcome Gugu as the first South African guest on the podcast.Gugu currently serves as Chair of the Commission on Women's Rights, Human Rights, and Youth Council for March for Our Planet and is the U.S. National Organizer and Coordinator for the global movement. Her educational background spans health and skincare, business management, project management, peer support training, fashion marketing, and retail management. Beyond activism, she is a multifaceted entrepreneur, artist, painter, dancer, actress, model, and culinary enthusiast whose recipes have been featured on WoodSpoon. She is also a mother to a 16-year-old son and has navigated the challenges and lessons of two marriages.In this deeply moving and candid conversation, Gugu shares her experience as an African immigrant in America and reflects on how growing up under apartheid in South Africa shaped her understanding of race, inequality, and systemic oppression. Having lived through institutionalized racial segregation, she discusses the parallels she sees in America's racial history and explains why she finds it easier to understand and empathize with the struggles of African Americans.The heart of our conversation centers on Gugu's remarkable story of survival and resilience. She courageously recounts a childhood marked by physical abuse, sexual abuse, and a forced marriage arranged against her will at a young age. She speaks openly about the emotional pain and trauma that followed, including her struggles with alcoholism and addiction.Gugu explains how these painful experiences became the catalyst for her life's mission. Rather than allowing trauma to define her, she transformed her pain into purpose, dedicating herself to advocating for women, children, and marginalized communities. She discusses the circumstances surrounding her forced marriage, her initial reactions when she learned of the arrangement, and the reasons given by her family. Through it all, she shares the lessons she has learned about healing, forgiveness, resilience, and reclaiming one's voice.This episode is a powerful testimony of survival, courage, and transformation. It is a conversation about difficult truths, but also about hope, healing, and the extraordinary ability of the human spirit to rise above adversity.Topics Covered:Growing up under apartheid in South AfricaImmigrating to the United StatesRace and systemic inequality in AmericaShared experiences between South Africans and African AmericansChildhood trauma and abuseForced marriage and its consequencesAddiction and recoveryWomen's rights and human rights advocacyYouth empowerment and community activismTurning pain into purposeHealing, resilience, and reclaiming your voiceEntrepreneurship and creative expressionLessons learned from survival and advocacy#GugulethuMakhari #SouthAfricanImmigrant #ForcedMarriage #WomenRights #HumanRights #AfricanDiaspora #Apartheid #TraumaHealing #SurvivorStory #AddictionRecovery #PansaPansaPodcast #BlackHistory #AfricanPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #WomenEmpowerment

I learned about Dr. Mathero Michelle Nkhalamba on The More Sibyl Podcast. She was invited along with other experts in the field of mental health and mental illness to talk about one of the most pressing issues globally "Suicide in Preteens. I was one of the attendees, and I will say that her contribution to intergenerational trauma in African societies could be relatable to many African families in the diaspora. I was confident that she would be a perfect guest on the Pánsá Pánsá podcast to discuss intergeneration trauma further.

Dr Mathero Michelle Nkhalamba is a Clinical Psychologist based in Malawi. She holds a Philosophy and Psychology degree from the University of Malawi, earned her Master's in Clinical Psychology at Bangor University in the UK, and completed her PhD at Rhodes University in South Africa under the prestigious Beit Trust Scholarship.

She provides psychosocial support to various client groups, including students in higher education institutions, staff in international organizations working in humanitarian contexts, human rights activists, and staff supporting survivors of violence.

Dr. Nkhalamba's work with human rights activists and digital rights activists involved holding space for peer support while processing the mental health challenges of working in the human rights activist space. She also delivered talks to promote a culture of self-care in the activist community.

In her work, she uses evidence-based interventions and psychological techniques, considering the unique lived experiences of her clients. Dr Nkhalamba incorporates motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution-focused techniques, and she trained in mindfulness and trauma-informed approaches.

She has developed and delivered psycho-educational webinars and workshops on various topics, including stress management, dealing with anxiety and depression, trauma and vicarious trauma, coping skills, sleep hygiene, self-care, and other mental health topics.

Dr Mathero Michelle Nkhalamba is a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a registered clinical psychologist with the Malawi Medical Council. She is a lecturer in psychology at the University of Malawi, and her teaching areas are Counselling Psychology, Clinical and Abnormal Psychology, Health Psychology, and Forensic Psychology.

During the conversation, we talked about mental health and mental illness and when someone should seek mental health care. We discussed the taboo associated with mental health and mental illness in many parts of the world, especially among Africans on the continent and the Africans in the diaspora, which includes immigrants and refugee families who may have gone through traumatic experiences before migration into a new country. We also talked about generational trauma and how someone can recognize that someone might be suffering from generational trauma within the family dynamics and many more.

In 2017, Pánsá Pánsá Forum was established to normalize conversation about the importance of community engagement regarding African immigrant experiences in America. This forum was created to facilitate discussion of our adjustment to our new homes as immigrants and to openly discuss complex issues within our community. We have held many community conversations on intergenerational relationships, featuring discussions between African parents and their children. In the summer of 2018, Mariem Sanoe was one of the panelists, as the daughter of an African immigrant mother who arrived in the USA from Liberia at eight years old in 1999. Ms. Sanoe spoke passionately about her experiences as a child of African immigrants in the public school system.

What happens when a young immigrant child arrives in America without speaking a single word of English? How do childhood trauma, bullying, and cultural isolation shape a person's future? More importantly, how can those painful experiences become the foundation for helping others?

In this powerful episode of the Pansa Pansa Podcast, I sat down with Mariem Sanoe, CEO and Founder of Let Us Talk About IT Coaching and a Youth Family Service Life Development Coach with African Immigrant Family Services (AIFS) in Nebraska.

Mariem shares her remarkable journey of immigrating to the United States with her family at a young age. Entering the American school system without understanding English, she faced enormous challenges—from struggling to communicate with teachers and classmates to experiencing bullying, exclusion, and discrimination. Like many immigrant children, she often felt isolated while trying to adapt to an unfamiliar culture.

Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, Mariem transformed them into a lifelong mission of empowering others.

Since 2016, she has devoted herself to studying human behavior and interpersonal relationships, mentoring people from diverse backgrounds, faiths, professions, and cultures. Through her coaching practice, she equips individuals with practical tools to build confidence, develop leadership skills, strengthen relationships, and unlock their full potential.

During our conversation, we explore:

• Mariem's immigration journey and the emotional challenges of adapting to a new country.
• Learning English while navigating an unfamiliar educational system.
• The lasting impact of bullying on immigrant children.
• Why many immigrant students suffer in silence.
• How language barriers create isolation for both children and parents.
• Why some African immigrant youth become vulnerable to gangs while searching for acceptance, belonging, and protection.
• The critical role parents play in recognizing emotional and behavioral changes in their children.
• Practical strategies parents can use to advocate for their children within American schools.
• The importance of building resilience, confidence, and emotional intelligence in immigrant youth.
• The life-changing work being done by African Immigrant Family Services (AIFS) in supporting families throughout Nebraska.
• Mariem's personal mission to help African immigrants thrive rather than simply survive.

This conversation offers valuable insights for immigrant parents, educators, community leaders, youth mentors, and anyone interested in understanding the immigrant experience. Mariem's story reminds us that our greatest struggles can become the very tools we use to uplift others.

If you enjoy meaningful conversations about immigration, parenting, identity, leadership, mental health, and community empowerment, be sure to subscribe, like, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

To further contact Ms. Mariem Sanoe, please go to her website @ https://www.letustalkcoaching.com/

I first discovered Iyabo Onipede after watching a short Instagram clip she posted during Black History Month in 2023 about racial healing. Her message was thoughtful, powerful, and deeply moving. Seeing her distinctly Yoruba surname also sparked my curiosity. I wanted to learn more about her Nigerian roots, her family background, and what inspired her passionate advocacy for racial equity and justice in the United States.

As I explored her website, I learned that Iyabo is a facilitator, keynote speaker, and consultant who helps organizations eliminate racism, dismantle oppressive systems, and cultivate equitable cultures. It immediately became clear that her voice and perspective would make for an important conversation on the Pansa Pansa Podcast.

During our conversation, Iyabo shared her remarkable personal journey. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to a Nigerian father and a White American mother of primarily Irish American heritage, whose own father was a Polish Jewish immigrant. Iyabo spent most of her formative years in Nigeria before moving to the United States to attend college.

We explored what it was like growing up as a biracial child in Lagos, how she navigated questions of identity during childhood and adolescence, and how her mother adapted socially, professionally, and within her husband's extended Nigerian family. We also discussed Iyabo's transition to life in the United States and how she learned to navigate race, culture, and belonging while defining her own identity in diverse American spaces.

Our conversation then turned to her professional work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Iyabo is a certified Emotional Intelligence Coach and a qualified Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) administrator. She is also the creator of The CARA Model, an integrative liberation framework designed to help individuals and organizations move beyond performative diversity initiatives by confronting racism, dismantling oppressive systems, and building cultures rooted in equity, compassion, and belonging.

We examined the similarities and differences between the historical experiences of Black Americans and African immigrants in the United States. Together, we discussed common misconceptions each community may hold about the other, the complexities surrounding affirmative action and who ultimately benefits from it, and the often-overlooked realities of Black-on-Black discrimination. We also explored how African immigrants are frequently absent from broader conversations about race, ethnicity, and social justice in America.

As the African immigrant population continues to grow, understanding its unique experiences becomes increasingly important. Too often, the assumption is made that this community is too small or too successful to warrant focused research or public attention. Yet without meaningful scholarship and open dialogue, the distinct challenges African immigrants face while adapting to American society—and the complex ways they negotiate race, ethnicity, and identity—remain largely invisible.

This episode is an insightful exploration of identity, belonging, race, culture, and what it truly means to build a more equitable society. Whether you are an African immigrant, a member of the African diaspora, a diversity practitioner, or simply someone interested in understanding the complexities of race and identity in America, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives that challenge assumptions and invite deeper reflection.

About Our Guest

Iyabo Onipede is a facilitator, keynote speaker, consultant, and community builder specializing in inclusion, equity, and racial justice. A self-described "recovering attorney," she practiced law for two decades before earning a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Through customized workshops, storytelling, compassionate dialogue, and experiential learning, she helps organizations create lasting cultures of belonging and accountability.

Episode DescriptionAdwoa Lee is a Ghanaian first-generation immigrant living in Italy whose work has sparked important conversations about African parenting, childhood trauma, identity, and healing. I first discovered Adwoa through her thought-provoking YouTube videos, where she openly discusses the complex relationship between African immigrant parents and their children. Her honesty, courage, and willingness to challenge long-held cultural norms inspired me to invite her to the podcast.Our conversation examine how cultural expectations, discipline, silence, and family obligations often shape parent-child relationships and how unresolved trauma can continue across generations when left unaddressed.Adwoa's StoryBorn and raised in Accra, Ghana, Adwoa moved to Italy at the age of 17. Like many young African immigrants, she had to navigate the challenges of adapting to a new country while balancing two cultures and trying to find her own identity.Living as a first-generation immigrant presented its own struggles from confronting racism and cultural differences to finding acceptance in school, university, and later in the corporate world. These experiences ultimately shaped her passion for speaking honestly about identity, emotional well-being, and the hidden struggles many African families experience behind closed doors.Outside of her professional life, Adwoa has built a growing YouTube platform dedicated to discussing difficult but necessary conversations surrounding African families, emotional health, and personal healing.As Adwoa explains:"I dream of a world where African children grow up in safe spaces without the constant pressure of pleasing parents and extended family. I dream of a world where African children whether living on the continent or in the diaspora can express themselves confidently and respectfully without fear because they have been encouraged to speak their truth."What We DiscussDuring our conversation, Adwoa shares her personal journey growing up in Ghana before relocating to Italy as a teenager. She reflects on what it means to live between two cultures and how those experiences influenced her understanding of family, identity, and belonging.Together, we explore:Growing up in Ghana before migrating to ItalyThe challenges of being a first-generation African immigrantIdentity, belonging, and navigating racism in EuropeBalancing African cultural values with Western societyCollege life and professional experiences in ItalyWhy she decided to start her YouTube channelConversations about African parenting and emotional healingThe YouTube Videos That Started the ConversationMuch of our discussion centers around two of Adwoa's most widely discussed YouTube videos:"Dear African Parents, This Is Why We Don't Talk to You. You Are Toxic, and It Is Messed Up.""African Parents Need to Apologize to Their Children for the Trauma."These videos resonated with thousands of viewers because they address conversations many people have privately but rarely discuss publicly.Rather than criticizing African parents, Adwoa explains that her goal is to encourage honest dialogue, greater understanding, and healing between generations. She acknowledges the sacrifices many immigrant parents make while also recognizing that love and sacrifice do not erase emotional wounds experienced by many children.Generational Trauma and HealingOne of the central themes of our conversation is generational trauma.We discuss how many African families unintentionally normalize emotional suffering by dismissing painful childhood experiences with phrases such as "that's how we were raised" or "our parents did worse to us." While these beliefs are often rooted in survival, culture, and tradition, they can prevent meaningful healing.We also examine how religious beliefs, cultural expectations, and community pressure sometimes discourage open conversations about emotional health, counseling, and therapy.

As I said during my conversation with Titilayo Ogunbambi, “When you are in the right part, the right people will come your way.” During my conversation with Dr. Ibrahim Puri on one of my podcast episodes on female genital mutilation, she mentioned Ogunbambi’s work on gender violence. Dr. Puri cited Ogunbambi’s publication titled Emerge, and she suggested that Titilayo would be an excellent candidate to discuss gender violence further. It is a privilege to converse with Titilayo Ogunbambi, a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Harmful Practices expert.

Before diving into our conversation on gender violence, we talked about her family background and the immigrant experience as a student, a wife, and a mother raising children in a country quite different from Nigeria in terms of its diversity and the dominant American culture. We talked about some of the challenges she experienced as a new immigrant in America and the benefits of migrating to America. We further discuss the African brain drain and the impact on the development of our continuant. Ogunbambi is pursuing her Ph.D. candidacy at National Louis University, where her research focuses on the intersection of gender, violence prevention, and policy and advocacy. We talked about how has or how would obtaining her education in the US empower or enhance her activism on gender-based violence globally. We briefly touched on the role of women in Africa before coming in contact with Christianity and Islam and how the religion changed or obstructed the role of women. Our curiosity also extends to the role colonization and the European educational system have adopted impacted the role of women during its early stage.

Bio:

Titilayo Ogunbambi is Gender-based violence (GBV), harmful practices specialist, and development professional. She founded Boundless Hands Africa (https://boundlesshandafrica.org/), a nonprofit championing Gender-Based Violence advocacy in Nigeria. Since 2016, through various interventions, Boundless Hands Africa has advanced the health and well-being of women and girls of gender-based violence survivors by facilitating access to sexual reproductive health information/services and psycho-social support to survivors of sexual abuse living in underserved communities.

She led these efforts through capacity building, education, sensitization programs, partnerships with service providers, and policy advocacy by leveraging technology and the media. As a UN Women Nigeria Beijing +25 Eaglet, she has collaborated with

UNWomen Nigeria to execute various interventions to address the root causes of GBV. Boundless Hands Africa has also partnered with the American Conner Lagos Nigeria to implement GBV prevention, intervention, and rapid response programs. She currently serves as an International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign Regional Coordinator at the American Red Cross ARC of Chicago & N Illinois Region.

Ogunbambi has over ten years of experience designing and implementing programs focused on economic empowerment, sexual reproductive health/rights, and social justice in local, national, and international capacities and management experience across multiple social policies and health market services. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Jos, Nigeria, and an MA in International Development and Policy from the University of Chicago. She is a Doctorate student at National Louis University Chicago, Pursuing a Ph.D. in Community Psychology.

Her work is recognized as a multiple award-winning girl-child advocate, 2022

UN Women Chicago USA Gender Equality Champions Award winner, One Champion

2019, YALI RLC Fellow 2016, UNWomen Beijing +25 Eaglet 2020, and a 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow selected by the United States government as an outstanding young leader from Sub-Saharan Africa. She is the Author of; “Emerge”; Rising from the shadows of Sexual and Gender-Based.

Website:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKgMvCY4EmLPJuXVGnDlEBQ

I came across the story of Kanyeachukwu through my dear family friend Dodji Gbedemah, the owner of Kente Royal Gallery, whose mission is to feature and connect the strength of Africans in the diaspora through Art. In May, Kente Royal featured Kanyeachukwu Okeke, an exceptionally talented artist 13-year-old Nigerian/Canadian young man living with autism. I could not resist my aspiration to request to interview his parents. The Parents graciously accepted my request to interview them, but the interview could not take place while they were in the U.S. because of many engagements they had in place. I interviewed Mr. Tagho Okeke, the father of Kanyeachukwu Okeke, when they returned to Nigeria.  

This recording underwent extensive editing due to difficulties connecting and recording with Nigeria's climate. At one point, the NEPA cut off electricity, which is part of Nigerians' daily life challenges. I am grateful that the family's generator came on then we resumed the interview. During my conversation with Mr. Okeke, Kanyeachukwu stopped by with his younger brother to say hello. Mr. Okeke proudly showed me some of Kanyeachukwu's creative artworks that beautified the family's home.     

Kanyeachukwu Tagbo Okeke is a 13-year-old gifted artist whose artwork has been featured in galleries and museums in Nigeria, Europe, and other parts of Africa. 

Kanyeachukwu is living with autism, and as he quoted on his website, "I paint my own reality." Every year, Kanyeachukwu hosts a week-long multiple-group art exhibition called F.A.T(Fabulous Autistic Talent) to celebrate World Autism Month. This yearly exhibition aims to promote awareness, acceptance, and inclusivity of the members of our societies who are living with autism. 

Apart from hosting these essential yearly events, Kanyeachukwu participates in art exhibitions worldwide. Listed below is the list of shows he has participated in.

Imagine, Kanyeachukwu is just a 13 year old with so much contribution to the art world and using his talent to speak for others who are also living with autism. The world cannot overlook his unique gift. 

During our conversation, we talked about the family background regarding where Kanyeachukwu was born and the family background. We discussed his initial diagnosis, what prompted his diagnosis, where he was diagnosed, and the educational, developmental, and social support he is presently receiving. We further talked about how emotionally tasking for the parents caring and advocating for Kanyeachukwu and how both parents care for their needs in a country such as Nigeria that does not have publicly funded services for a child in need and their parents. We discussed the negative stigma associated with autism or people with special needs and how the parents use their experience with Kanyeachukwu to educate the public about autism. Mr. Okeke also expands on Kanyeachukwu Autism Society (K.A.S), where he donates some of his artwork to charitable causes for children with special needs in Nigeria.

Please follow Kanyeachukwu