A few weeks ago, I came across the United Nations (UN) calendar for international days. According to this calendar, 31 August is International Day for People of African Descent. This UN holiday was created to celebrate the diverse heritage and several contributions of people of African descent. The African diaspora has long been recognized for its spirit and contributions to art, culture, science, and other fields. Furthermore, the African diaspora continues to mark a distinctive presence and positive impact in several parts of the world. International Day for People of African Descent is a day where we honour a vibrant culture and the international community of African people.

The UN describes this day as a day that “aims to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent.” International days are created to reflect society’s values, and it is evident that African communities from all over the world have shared commonalities. The UN also highlights that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies. Therefore, “any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust, and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races.” Celebrating this day highlights the UN’s racial equality and cultural diversity mission. This day is an opportunity for people to learn more about African heritage and culture through film, dance, music, art, and other manifestations of political and scientific contributions of people of African descent.

Unfortunately, such days often go uncelebrated or not given the hype it deserves. Because we do not want to miss out on an opportunity to celebrate African women, She Evolves has decided to use such days to share the stories and lives of the extraordinary African women who have changed the global community for the better. This includes writers, advocates, politicians, musicians, actors, and so much more. After all, if we don’t do our best to share and write about these stories and contributions, who will?

So every month, She Evolves will share a story and information about a woman of African descent who has helped change the global discourse. So please stay tuned to this series and share stories of African women who have positively impacted and changed your life. So leave us a comment below, letting us know of any women whose stories you think we need to feature and let us tell the stories we wish we had heard when we were growing up.

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As someone who had sangomas (traditional healer) as grandparents, the idea of natural and alternative medicine has never been entirely new to me. The older I become, the more confident I am about traditional, natural and alternative routes for healing. My upbringing in Pretoria, South Africa gave me a sense of confidence, comfort and peace, knowing that these healing styles are valid and that, when done correctly with proper knowledge, they can have fantastic results.

As a self-proclaimed alternative medicine lover and pseudo practitioner, I have many alternative medicines, lotions, potions and gadgets. After years of learning and expanding my knowledge on this subject, I am further convinced of its powers and capabilities. The same can be said for auto (or self) massage, which falls, at least for me, under the realm of alternative medicine as it helps with several ailments.

My journey with self-massage began when I was introduced to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice of gua sha. Gua sha, which means to scrape, is the process of using a flat stone tool with various nooks and crannies to use upward motions on your skin to allow better blood flow, its heals sore muscles and sculpt facial muscles when used on the face. For a while, I did it religiously before bedtime. I found it relaxing and effective in helping to heal sore joints and muscles.

Nowadays, I still do it, especially after walking a lot or after working out and feeling a bit stiff. But apart from healing sore aches and pains in the body, I have found gua sha and other auto massage practices to be very effective. Especially when it comes to healing my chronic Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which I have struggled with for as long as I can remember.

Now instead of reaching for the medicine cabinet, I find a comfortable spot to lie down and use my hands to massage my abdomen. I use a form of auto massage that focuses on helping to move any trapped gas and food from the large intestine, helping it to move easily to the small intestine and then out of the body. Through this practice, I have gained instant release and comfort, which I had previously only found through the use of western or conventional medicines for IBS. And whilst this form of massage can feel intimidating at first it. After a few tries, I realized how simple and effective it is to try and follow and can also be used on loved ones or children. Just the other day, I used this massage technique to help move my daughter’s bowels after she complained of stomach aches. I was both silently amazed but also happy to see that with just my hands and gentle pressure, I could help ease her discomfort and, in her case, help her go to the bathroom easier.

I also love to use auto massage as a form of pain relief during my period. Because as many of you know, that time of the month can lead to hormonal changes that can cause bloating, trapped gas, diarrhoea and even constipation. All of which I have found to be eased by 5 minutes of auto massage. Hopefully, if you are like me and struggle with bowel issues, this simple technique can significantly help you. Following the massage, I like to load up on water and let my body do the rest and usually find relief within 30 minutes. So grab your hands and get massaging and if your loved one or little one also finds themselves with constipation or gas issues, feel free to try this on them too, the way I like.

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As a bit of a nerd about all things health-related, I was seriously surprised when I opened my weather app one day and saw a warning that the air quality was poor. Living in France, the second biggest city near the ocean and nature, I always imagined and assumed that all these things meant that my health and those around me were in good hands. But alas, that is not the case. The reality is that climate change is real and affects us all in one way or the other. No matter where we live, how much money we have or how “developed” the country we live in is. Air quality is usually something that many of us worry about when the topic of climate change is discussed. Various searches across the internet define air pollution as the prevalence of particles in the air that are not good for human respiratory and overall health. This is caused by burning fossil fuels, industrial emissions, wildfires, openly burning garbage, construction and demolition, to name a few. And while alone, these might not cause significant air quality issues, put together, and done constantly, poor air quality problems start to arise. 

So what exactly can we do about this: 

While some of the major issues can only be resolved at a governmental and industrial level, ensuring that we have a clean and breathable planet is in all our best interests. This is why I have compiled two lists of how to improve air quality in your city and your home.

Three ways to improve air quality in your city: 

1. One of the easiest ways to improve air quality in your city or any city you visit is by using public transportation or bicycles to get around. If either of these is not possible, then carpool with colleagues and friends to and from work and other locations. 
2. Another great way to improve air quality in your city is by buying local products and produce. This is because of the energy and fuel used to transport products and the food we eat. So instead of buying fruit and vegetables from the other side of the world, look for products grown in your region or country. 
3. Adopt gardening where ever and whenever you can. As we all know, plants are a great natural air cleanser. This is why having plants is a good way to improve air quality in your city.

Three ways to improve air quality at home: 

1. In the same way, planting more greens on your balcony or in your garden is a great way to improve air quality, and so is having plants in your home. These help to detoxify and clean your house for better air quality. 
2. Another step toward better air quality in the home is through regular and thorough cleaning of your home especially places like carpets and couches that tend to hold a lot of dust. I have invested in a robot vacuum cleaner I use daily throughout the house. Not only does it have strong suction to help keep my carpets clean, but I am always surprised by how much dust is in the vacuum dust bag after each cycle. If a robot is not for you, then a simple vacuum cleaner or a good shake outside will do. 
3. Lastly, a great way to improve air quality in the home is through the use of cooking vents. These not only catch any splatter and food thrown around when cooking, but they also surprisingly help with the overall air quality in the home.

So whether you are a health junkie like me looking to make your home and city more breathable, or someone with respiratory issues, I hope this article gives you some ideas of how you can do your part to improve air quality indoors and outdoors. 

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A couple of months ago, I started to focus on my overall health. This meant aiming to eat healthier, working out, going on walks, getting sunshine and other minor adjustments that have made a significant impact on my overall health. On that note, I also want to start incorporating evening movement and mobility stretching before bed. I first discovered mobility training/movement by mistake while scrolling through my go-to fitness App, “FitOn”, and landed on the mobility section. As someone who struggles with joint pain, body stiffness and restless leg syndrome, I was fortunate to find stretches to loosen up my very tight and sore muscles. Now I am obsessed and can’t stop singing its praises.

But what is mobility training or stretching, you may ask? Put simply, it is exercises or movements designed to loosen tight and sore tissue and muscles—the exercises that I have been doing make use of a foam roller, small body ball and stretching band. I like to do them in my room after applying some essential oils to my pulse points, like lavender, to help me start the process of winding down and relaxing. Since I started a few weeks back, I have noticed that I move differently from day to do. Not only that, but I noticed that my sleep is a little better, and I find myself a lot more relaxed going into bed. Especially as it pulls me away from being on my phone or computer and forces me to connect to my body more.

It has been a few days since I have done it, and I feel like my body is missing it, so I will try to schedule it for as many nights as possible. Nonetheless, if you are like me and find yourself struggling with aches and pains or struggling to shut down and relax before bedtime, I cannot recommend this enough. It is a daily practice and ritual that can help you feel better and more connected to yourself. It really is a daily practice and ritual that can help you feel better and more connected to yourself.

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I am ashamed to say that I am not a reader, and the other day, as we finished installing tons of bookshelves in our apartment, my husband remarked how few books the both of us have as compared to our two-year-old. She loves books and even insists on sleeping with her books. And while restoration (at least for me) is also about being non-judgemental (even that needs a rest). I think there is power in reading and not being in front of our computers or televisions each night. So I have slowly started reading, and I find myself enjoying it. 

I have an abundance of cooking books. These are the only books currently taking up space on our bookshelves, and I must say I am proud of my collection of cooking books. As I find that cooking and trying new recipes also brings me a sense of calm and happiness that reading a book does. This is why it only makes sense that some of the books in my cart are cookbooks. So without further ado, here are six books currently in my cart that I look forward to pressing the “Buy” option soon. 

1. Salad freak: Recipes to feed a health obsession by Jess Damuck: As someone who is always hesitant to eat or even make a salad. This upcoming cookbook that I have been seeing all over my usual Instagram feeds, and social pages has me excited to get outside my box. Especially as summer approaches and lighter meals will be necessary. 
2. Modern comfort food: A barefoot contessa cookbook by Ina Garten: I am ashamed to say I own zero cookbooks by this home cook legend Ina Garten. And I want to change that with her latest release, which has over 14 000 five star book reviews. 
3. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates: One thing that happens when you start diving into the world of books and reading is that you come across books that every book reader and their mother loves. This is one such book that I am looking forward to making my way through this summer. 
4. The invisible man by Ralph Ellison: Another classic and supposed must-read is this one. And I, for one, am interested to see what all the fuss is about. 
5. Comme un million de papillons noirs by Laura Nsafou: I am anything consistent and, as my husband likes to tell me, a feeder of our two-year-old book addiction. That is why this French bestseller which translated means “Like a million black butterflies” taken from a line written by acclaimed African American writer and poet Toni Morrison. This book talks about bullying and race, an important subject and story for our daughter to learn as a brown girl living in France to a black African mother and white French father. 
6. She’s come undone by Wally Lamb: After reading about this book on Oprah’s book club, I was drawn to the description and quickly added it to my cart. It will probably be the first book I read after finishing my current and first read in years. 

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If you’ve read any of my articles, you probably know that I am always searching for the elusive balance we all want to have—the balance between work, family, friends and personal time. And while I believe that it does not exist, I do think that sometimes, to succeed in one or two areas, you may have to let go of certain areas. For example, when I am focused on work, I usually opt out of going to dinners with friends as I’ve found that dropping my family is not an option. Another thing I could leave behind is, of course, personal time. But I’m now realising that personal time, me time, Phindi time should not be compromised. I am realising that putting myself aside is not sustainable. Truthfully, one thing that has fallen by the wayside is the notion and appreciation for self-care, from little things like not finding the time to work out to more significant things like not being on top of my mental health. However, as another year passes by faster than I ever thought possible, I am choosing to put the focus back on myself… sustainably and realistically.

Lately, this means finding 30-40 minutes to work out every day. I fit this in even on busy days by walking to pick up my daughter instead of taking public transport. Which I recently discovered is only 10 minutes faster. Another way is by getting serious about my nightly routine. One thing I have recently discovered and loved is mobility training. This type of movement is designed to help you move and feel better overall. It can be intense as it works the muscles in ways you may not be used to. But as someone with chronic pain, I have found that moving my body (mobility training) for 30 minutes every night really helps me sleep deeper and better. I also find that my body feels a whole lot better. So if you are keen to give it a try, then download the FitOn workout app. And look under the mobility section of workouts for a few options. These simple and body opening movements have been a game-changer for me and honestly make me feel like a new person.

Lastly, I have been more conscious about how I eat. This does not mean going on a diet or calorie counting but rather ensuring that my body is adequately fueled for all I want to do and achieve in a day, including drinking more water and shutting down my phone at 8 pm.

These small changes are not only game-changing but also sustainable. If you create habits around these lifestyle changes, you will definitely be able to live a more rounded life. So try it out, see if it works and let me know what you think.

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During the month of March, we delved a little deeper into green, conscious and sustainable living. So I thought I would try to incorporate that theme into one of my favourite topics here on She Evolves – Skincare. As a self-proclaimed skincare junkie, I can admit that I spend so much time and money on everything skincare related. I firmly believe that prevention is better than cure when it comes to good skin. I would much rather spend a considerable amount of money on what goes on my skin than on shoes or even clothes. Since I started working for She Evolves and thanks to our founder Christina, I started thinking and writing more frequently about green, conscious and sustainable living. This encouraged me to do more research about “clean skincare.”

While I must admit that in the beginning, “clean skincare” was always a bit of a mystery to me and sounded like a gimmick. It wasn’t until I was pregnant that I started to buy into the hype. Before I continue, I want to define “clean skincare”. Based on my understanding, “clean skincare” is skincare products made with very little or no chemicals in them. Of course, each clean beauty product is somewhat different, but the basic principles are the same. And that is creating products that are not known to be harmful to humans and the environment. This is why the move to clean beauty has gone up so much over the past few years. Especially as we have been thinking more and more about how much impact our lives have on the environment.

Over the years, as I have tried clean beauty brands myself, one thing has stood true time and time again. And that is that clean beauty brands definitely work. One way to measure this is to see how my skin has faired when using clean products versus non-clean products. While some brands will have us believe that for skincare to work, we need all these crazy chemicals in them. A few months of clean beauty and the results are the same, if not better. This is because most clean beauty brands use the natural derivative of something to get results. For instance, using detoxing natural clay for masks, algae for proper skin hydration, and vitamins to aid the skin’s healing process.

And while I would love to say that all clean beauty brands are the same, the reality is that they are not. So before you start, do some research on what brands actually work because some clean products are sadly are just all talk and no action. Also, give products time to actually work before dismissing them. For me, that means trying out a product for 2-3 months to see if there is any noticeable change.

Have you tried any clean, non-toxic skincare brands? And if so, what were your thoughts?

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While the world was watching, experiencing, and commenting on everything that happened at the Oscars, I was stuck in an accident while driving back from a holiday with my family. But thanks to technology, I was able to catch up on all that I missed. As I was getting my toddler ready for school the following day, I started roaming social media for the Oscars. I wanted to know everything, form winners to the fashion as well as all the drama.

As a long-standing Will Smith fan, I was so shocked when I heard that he slapped comedian and Oscars host Chris Rock after Chris Rock made a comment about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair or lack thereof. The confusion was mostly around the fact that Jada had previously explained that she had to cut her hair due to a medical condition. And while everyone and their aunty had something to say about it all, including whether or not Chris Rock knew about her medical condition, I can’t help but feel sorry for all those involved because it must have been a triggering situation that happened in front of millions of people from all over the world.

But with that being said, one of my biggest takeaways from the whole thing is how much we need to stop commenting on people’s looks. We seriously need to stop body shaming people. It seems like we have so many preconceived ideas of people based on how they look and that really needs to stop. If the passing of late Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman taught me anything, it is that we don’t know what people are going through. And making fun of someone’s looks is not ok, as was evident with Boseman, who, after his passing, we learnt that he had long been suffering in silence with cancer, which was one of the reasons he had lost so much weight leading to his passing, which was something that comedians and strangers alike made fun of him for.

When it comes to health issues, I can tell you first-hand that anyone making a joke about my health is a big no-no. It is highly unacceptable. While I often speak about and even joke about my statues, it has been a long road getting here. And sometimes, I still find myself triggered when someone makes light of my statues. And if such a joke was directed at me in front of millions of people on an international platform, it would honestly take a while for me to recover from such an event.

All this to say, while I am never one to condone violence, we need to acknowledge that what happened to the Smiths was also violent. It may have not been as evident as a slap to the face, but it definitely triggered and touched something from their reactions. I think we should not take sides at this point, I think we should rather take lessons and hope for healing and reconciliation. Another more practical lesson I think we should take from all of this is that jokes, comments and side remarks about health-related issues that are none of our concern are NEVER ok.

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It is always so exciting when you have to furnish your home for the very first time. You usually have dreams of how you want to live, how you want your home to look, how you want it to feel, and the kinds of memories you want to build in that home. This is usually all good until you realize just how much work it is to furnish your home. Making your home resemble what you consider your ‘dream home’ is time-consuming and financially straining. What I learned about furnishing two houses is that no amount of money can buy style and character (which is usually essential to transform your house into your dream home). While being able to buy everything brand new may seem more manageable and the quickest option, there is still something to be said about buying second-hand home goods.

With renovation expenses piling up and bills to pay, our second home has taken some time to furnish, unlike our first home. Over a year in, we are still not done because we have been sourcing most of our furniture and home goods from second-hand stores, streets vendors and even home goods from friends. As a homebody who loves having a peaceful place to call home, it has taken some adjusting to accept that things won’t happen in a flash and that our home will take some time to finalize. Furnishing our second home has taught us so much about how we actually live in our space rather than how we think we live in our space. In other words, I have been able to reflect on the space we have in both our homes, and I have been able to internalize how to use this space in the most beneficial ways. This experience has also taught us how to spend more consciously, knowing exactly how and where to use the items bought rather than how we think they will or should be used. It has also allowed us to find one of a kind pieces that no one else has in their homes—some of which I see moving with us to our various homes in the future.

However, the most important lesson from the whole process has been around waste and quality. While most ‘fast furniture’ places are very good at making you feel like you need X and Y furniture or home goods. The truth is, in time, those items ware out (and fast at that). This means that you have to replace them more often, unlike older solid pieces that wear beautifully and don’t need changing that often. Furthermore, unless you are lucky enough to have an endless budget, the reality is that an Ikea type shop might be your go-to, but based on my experience, I would suggest that you think of how you want to live and how long such the item to last before making such a purchase. After that, try looking at second-hand or charity shops for alternatives. Not only will you get time to think through your purchase, but you may also be lucky enough to find something more budget-friendly than the fast furniture item you were about to buy. And if it is that exact Ikea piece you want or needs, then look at second-hand shopping platforms like a Facebook marketplace for gently used modern (and older) items. Trust me, you will thank me later. And you can rest a little easier knowing that you are doing your part for the environment.

While we may think waste only happens with clothes and food. The stark reality I have recently become aware of is that, in actual fact, waste happens in every area of life, from food to clothes and even big-ticket items like furniture. So if you are updating your current place or recently moved to a new home, I highly recommend that you buy second-hand or, if you are handy, find ways to repurpose pieces you already have.

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When it comes to the environment, it can be hard to figure out how you can contribute towards solving some of its problems. With everything currently happening with our environment, taking action can be really overwhelming. I thought I would compile a list of the actions that I usually take to live more sustainably. I try to apply these into my daily life, and it makes everything about the issue around our environment seem a little less overwhelming. This is what I do: 

1. Eat less meat: As a meat lover myself, I know how hard it can be to cut out meat. However, given how much meat we eat nowadays, I personally think it is borderline excessive. This is why cutting back a few days is a good idea. This has been good for my wallet, and it is also really good for the environment. Meat production and consumption contribute towards a large number of carbon emissions, and it depletes so much of our natural resources. 
2. Use reusable bottles: In our house, we have a few reusable glass bottles, and I carry mine pretty much everywhere. You also don’t have to get too fancy with it. Just any good glass bottle that you can throw in your bag will do. Plastic bottles are known to contribute to the tons of plastic pollution that reaches our oceans, kills our marine life and limit the oceans’ ability to sequestrate carbon.
3. Say no to plastic: Similar to the point above, cutting out plastic bottles, bags, and straws is much easier now that restaurants and shops have started offering alternatives. But instead of buying paper ones, opt for cotton bags that you can buy anywhere nowadays, and take them with you whenever you go shopping. 
4. Fly less: This is a controversial one for so many. As an expat living in France who would like to go home twice a year, I know that flying is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. This is why I am cutting back on my family trips. Yes, I will still go and visit my family, but I will be a bit more conscious about the number of times I fly to see them. Furthermore, as our 2022 resolution, my family and I have decided to travel locally as much as possible. Or use more environmentally sound transportation such as trains and buses. It is not ideal, but I know that cutting back even one flight lowers my carbon footprint by a lot. 
5. Pick up litter: This one is a small act that can go far. As a mom, I must teach my daughter not to litter. I find myself often picking up litter on walks and hikes and throwing them away in the appropriate places. Now I watch in awe as my daughter, who is nearly two years old, does the same. 

Lastly, and I won’t really put it as a point as it is just a general thought, but I am realizing more and more, especially as we talk about it on She Evolves, that one way to be truly sustainable is to take less from the environment than we put in. This means planting more trees, using less electricity, being conscious about how much water we use and how much waste we produce. So whatever you do, do it with the intention of giving more than you take from the world because it is the only world we have, and if we don’t take care of it, no one will. 

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