How to get on BBC Africa #TheSheWord, and my Nairobi, food, African women, and style
As a fan of Girlfriends, and Sex and the City growing up in the US, never in my life would I have dreamed that I would move to Africa and not only live that kind of life but a much better one at that! With the BBC Africa’s #TheSheWord platform I have had an opportunity to meet and connect with incredible African change-makers and doers from across the continent.
#TheSheWord
A couple of people have asked me what they can do to get on #TheSheWord so I thought I should answer that here. I don’t know how the producers decide who to invite but based on who I have met on the five episodes that I’ve been on this is what it takes to get on BBC #TheSheWord:
Produce content and do work on issues affecting the whole woman
Be passionate, committed, and unafraid to share your thoughts and views with the world
Placing this here for more emphasis on what content is: Write, Blog, Vlog,
Get covered by local or international media as an expert or known voice in your field to amplify the content and your point of view.
Use hashtags and engage in conversations affecting African women across the content
Love the shit out of womankind
Be authentic and firmly grounded in yourself
I do not know if the BBC really understands the power of #TheSheWord platform because the conversations that we are having, the issues that we are discussing are not being had at this level anywhere else. We are talking about the stats, the national policy, the global outlook and personal experiences about consent, periods, femicide, rape and gender-based violence, toxic masculinity and more.
The curation of the show’s panelists is diverse and inclusive. Why? The people making the show and calling the shots are 21st Century Women themselves. They’re bringing together women who represent a new generation of African women who are fearless in their pursuit of equality, and progress. And even more, powerful all of the guests are multi-dimensional.
African Women So Lit!
Meet the women on my last two shows
Take for example my girl Jackie Phamotse. Yes, she is the best selling author of the Bare series in South Africa, but she is also a swimsuit model, and she is also a criminologist working and she also runs a youth skills training program. Yes seriously.
And then there is Crystal Asige who makes beautiful music, is a Youtube content creator and a VIP Ambassador where VIP means Visually Impaired Person. The entire time on the show I kept thinking how her presence there at the table to speak as a woman, and an artist, and a person with a disability just added depth and dimension to the conversation on sexual consent. She lost her sight at the age of 20 because of glaucoma but she is doing her thing. Unbothered, like oh you think I need sight to become? Watch me work!
Lolo Cynthia is from Nigeria and she is an amazing sexual and reproductive health expert. A whole decade younger than me and still someone I learn so much from. Imagine you’re following someone on Instagram and you fangirl each other even sharing phone numbers and talking. Then months later you see their name on the same list and you’re headed to the same place to do the same thing. How phenomenal is that? And this was just after she told me she had been selected to be an Aspen New Voices Fellow. Yup!
Finally, there is Janet Mbugua an author, advocate, mom of two on a mission to destigmatize periods and create safe spaces for men and women unlearn the harmful patriarchal and traditional notions on menstruation to embrace the varied experiences of women. Janet is one of the most respected media personalities in Kenya. If you doubt it, you just have to check in with her 1 million followers on Instagram. Yup! A whole milli in her tribe!
So yeah these are the kinds of GoWomen I get to meet, eat, and connect with over passionate and stimulating conversation around issues that affect all of our lives. Like I said up top, it’s kind of a dream.
Nairobi & Food
I’m not going to go in an in-depth narration on food in Nairobi but that place is correct like Nike. Whether its Ethiopian, some lamb chops, french bakery or salads Nairobi is so far undeafed in my humble biased opinion. I love it! Right now my top places to eat in the city are Le Grenier a Pain (Croissant Sale (savory) with scrambled eggs, greens, and avocado? I’m not going to say it was orgasmic but….okaaaay!), then the salads at either Tin Roof or Amaani Yaa Ju Cafe (that homemade poppy seed dressing??? Sheeesh! White people be knowing!), Habesha, and last but not least.
Enjoy all of it in pictures below and see you next time on #TheSheWord.
