In this powerful episode, women of color share their honest experiences with the heavy burden of the “strong Black woman” trope. We explore how society expects Black women to always be brave, resilient, and unbreakable — often at the cost of their emotional well-being and ability to ask for help.

Natasha opens up about growing up under this label and the pressure it creates, while Christina shares her journey as a mother navigating vulnerability in a world that rewards toughness. Together, they discuss:

• The dangers of the “strong Black woman” stereotype and how it normalizes oppression
• Why being called “so strong” can actually prevent women from showing vulnerability
• The fear of letting go of the “strong” or “reliable” identity
• How historical and cultural expectations shape womanhood for women of color
• The importance of human connection, emotional support, and relearning to ask for help
• Moving beyond either/or labels — you can be strong AND vulnerable

This conversation challenges the idea that strength means suffering in silence and encourages women to embrace their full humanity — emotions, needs, and all.

If you’re a woman of color tired of carrying the weight alone, or anyone interested in authentic discussions on race, gender, vulnerability, and feminine strength, this episode will resonate deeply.

Watch until the end and share in the comments:
Have you ever been told “you’re so strong” when you needed support instead? How do you balance strength with vulnerability?

Drop your thoughts below — let’s create space for real conversations.

Subscribe to She Evolves World for more raw, honest talks on womanhood, identity, personal growth, and evolving together.

#StrongBlackWoman #BlackWomen #Vulnerability #Womanhood #FeminineStrength #BreakingStereotypes #EmotionalWellbeing #SheEvolvesWorld #InHerOwnWords

Timestamps (coming soon)

Video uploaded: November 2021

The post In Her Own Words Ep 3 – The Strong Black Woman Stereotype: Vulnerability, Strength & Societal Labels appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

In She Evolves Video 4, Kicia shares her raw, inspiring journey of survival and transformation.

From an unplanned pregnancy after betrayal, enduring emotional and physical abuse, single motherhood under judgment, and cultural pressures — to rising above it all and leaving her municipal job to pursue her dream: creating a Trauma Center for abused children and girls.

This episode is a testament to turning pain into purpose, breaking cycles of neglect and abuse, and becoming the strongest version of yourself so you can help others heal. Kicia’s story highlights loyalty, strength in adversity, music therapy, community support, and the power of not giving up.

If you’ve faced hardship in relationships, family, or life and are still standing — this one will speak to you.

Share your story of resilience or what inspired you most in the comments!

Watch Video 3 here: https://youtu.be/V1_oBjBhCHQ

#SheEvolves #WomenEmpowerment #Resilience #OvercomingAbuse #TraumaHealing #SingleMotherhood #PersonalGrowth #InspirationalStory

The post She Evolves Video 4: From Trauma to Building a Trauma Center – Kicia’s Powerful Story of Resilience appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

“I began my journey as a dreamer—curious, passionate, and deeply rooted in the desire to uplift others. Even as a child, I was known for always advising my siblings, often misunderstood as being “too forward”. But my intentions were always anchored in love, wisdom beyond my years, and an innate drive to see people grow.

My love for self-development and speaking was ignited early on, shaped by the powerful words of Les Brown, whose quotes I devoured as a young reader. Yet, like many transformative journeys, mine wasn’t without obstacles. One defining moment in junior school was when I froze in front of the entire assembly while delivering a presentation. That moment of fear and vulnerability could have silenced me, but it became a turning point. Today, I face that memory with resilience, using it as fuel to become the confident speaker and motivator I continuously evolve into. I know I am more than my past traumas and fears. I am becoming the best version of myself daily.

My voice has found a home on Life On The Other Side of My Perspective, a podcast I host where I invite industry experts, speakers, and coaches to share stories that inspire personal and professional transformation. I am also a poet and writer whose journey was nurtured by teachers who believed in my talent early on. Their encouragement propelled me to pursue creative writing not just as a passion but as a tool for healing, first for myself and now for others.

Today, I am a Creative Writer for Instinctively Beyond Magazine and the proud author of Poetry From Within, published by Poetry Planet Publishing House. I am a dedicated writer, podcaster, poet, researcher, wellness, and transformational coach who uses her creative and professional platforms to contribute to personal and communal development. This collection earned me the Best Poet Award at the 5th OPHIR Awards for Writers 2025 in the Philippines. My journey as a creative writer and speaker continues to unfold with purpose.
Beyond writing and podcasting, I am deeply committed to community empowerment. I currently serve as the G100 Club Botswana Country Chair – Youth Engagement Wing, using my platform to engage and inspire the next generation of leaders.

My work spans storytelling, poetry, and holistic wellness, reflecting a commitment to meaningful engagement with individuals and communities.
My poetry was featured in international anthologies, and I collaborate with local artists to merge literary and visual arts. My upcoming booklet includes recent poems and selected works from my anthology contributions, complemented by commissioned digital artworks from local artists. I regularly perform at Travelodge Poetry Nights, held on the last Thursday of each month, using these opportunities to expand my craft through recitation. My recent feature in Tlhakakgolo Literary Journal and Poetry Journal (Nigeria) marks a growing presence within Botswana’s literary scene and a focus on local and international collaborations.

This work led to my nomination for the Founder of the Year Africa Awards 2024 in the Social Founder of the Year and Healthpreneur of the Year categories. I have been awarded Global 2024 under Healthpreneur of the Year. With more nominations surfacing, Social Founder Of The Year, Most Promising Founder of The Year, and Founder of The Year, under Founder of The Year Awards-Southern Africa 2025.

My recent nomination is for Best Young Poetry and Book Writer under the Youth In Business Awards in Tanzania. I have also been nominated for Leading Women in Africa and listed among the Top 30 Africa’s Leading Women 2025 by Crest Africa. On February 28th, 2025, I was honored with an introduction as a Botswana Country Chair for the G100 Club Wing under Youth Enterprise, Empowerment, and Leadership.

My journey is a testament to progress in motion—proof that greatness is not a destination but a continuous unfolding. Today, I stand not only as a voice of purpose but as a symbol of what is possible when we embrace who we are and pursue what we are meant to become.

I am greatness in progress—and we, as a global community, are rising together for greater impact.”

Written by: Ophadile

Instagram

The post My Journey as a Creative Writer and Speaker~ By Ophadile appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

Rebecca W. Mtegha is a remarkable woman who pours her heart into a cause that resonates deeply with her: ensuring that every child, regardless of their learning disabilities, has easy and convenient access to quality education. Rebecca is a steadfast advocate for neurodivergent learners, a journey that began with her daughter’s struggles to find suitable education within a reasonable distance of their community.

As a mother of a child with special needs, Rebecca understands the overwhelming challenges faced by caregivers. The situation often feels overwhelming and difficult to make sense of, highlighting the need for self-care and general well-being for the caregiver to remain physically and mentally fit. She has personally navigated financial hurdles, from the high costs of supplements to special diets, making her well aware of the extensive resources required to support neurodivergent children.

Fueled by her experiences, Rebecca founded a Learning Centre in Mzuzu, Malawi, dedicated to promoting special education for children with learning disabilities. Her vision is not only about academic achievement but also about nurturing functional skills and uncovering unique talents among neurodivergent children. The centre, which caters to children aged 5 to 17, serves as a place full of hope where every child is valued and given a chance to thrive in a judgment-free environment. It offers services, including specialized education, psychosocial support, and various extracurricular activities designed to foster growth and independence.

Rebecca and her team are more than educators; they are ambassadors of change within their community. Through awareness campaigns, they spread the message that every child deserves an equal chance to learn and grow. This work is crucial in a society where understanding and support for neurodivergent individuals are still evolving.

Running such a center in an African community is not easy, especially when you are facing several challenges like scarce resources and a shortage of specialists in the field. Despite these obstacles, Rebecca’s resolve remains determined. She firmly believes in the fundamental right of every child to receive an education that respects their abilities and encourages them to reach their potential.

Her commitment extends beyond the classroom walls. With a passion for mental health and well-being, she has been involved in initiatives like organizing tree-planting campaigns, which align with the She Evolves community’s dedication to conservation. For Rebecca, conservation is about creating a sustainable future where all individuals, regardless of their differences, can grow and thrive.

Two years into this journey, Rebecca continues to face each challenge with grace and determination, motivated by a steadfast vision of inclusivity in education. Her work emphasizes the need for hope, love, and perseverance in the face of adversity. She dreams of a future where every child, no matter their learning ability, is happy, supported, and able to focus on their strengths. In

Rebecca’s perspective, success isn’t just measured by academic achievements. It’s in the smile of a child discovering their own capabilities, the confidence of a community embracing diversity, and the promise of a future where every voice is heard and valued. She, her daughter, and her team embody the spirit of “being the change you want to see in the world,” making the impossible seem possible.

Written By Rebecca

Editor: Mutshidzi Kwinda

The post Meet Rebecca, a mother determined to ensure that her neurodivergent child receives a fair education. appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

I completed high school last year (2023), and I’ll be joining Kisii University in September 2024.
In addition to being a student, I am also an author and an inspirational speaker. My journey as
an author began when I was in Form 1. After being inspired by numerous motivational books, I
felt the urge to write my own. I took a leap of faith and started my journey as an author. Although
I faced challenges, I remained determined.

I completed my first book in Form 2, but it wasn’t immediately published due to financial
constraints. Undeterred, I wrote my second book in Form 3, completing it in just five weeks.
Despite facing discouragement and mockery, I refused to give up. On September 9, 2023, I
contacted Dr. John Ngeno for support. Soon after, my former primary school teacher provided
financial assistance, which I used to publish my first book, “There’s Still Hope Beyond the Horizon.”

Receiving the first copy of my book on 20th October was a dream come true. The arrival of
“There’s Still Hope Beyond the Horizon” silenced those who had doubted me. With renewed
confidence, I focused on my studies and celebrated my acceptance to the university. In March, I
was honored with an award from the Minister of Education, Ezekiel Machogu, and I was proud
to present him with a copy of my book.

Currently, I am dedicated to publishing my second book, “The Greatest Utterance Of
Greatness.” Through this journey, I have learned that my current situation is not my final
destination. I believe that if I continue to do my best, the rest will fall into place. I am confident
that the best is yet to come.

Thank you.

The post My name is Cheptoo Levian Chepkwony, and this is my story. appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

This is the story of the African woman who made me love the environment. Her story inspired me to pursue a career in environmental and climate justice, and it also inspired me to pursue my dreams, irrespective of the societal limitations placed on my skin colour and gender. 

Wangari was born in Kenya on April 1st, 1940, during British colonial rule. Her family was of Kikuyu origin, and her father was polygamous. As a child, Wangari, was given a small plot of land to grow her own food and to learn how to cultivate the land. She completed her primary and secondary education in Kenya. In 1960, she received a scholarship to commence her university studies in the United States of America, where she received a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences. In April 1966, after returning to Kenya, Wangari met her future husband, Mwangi Mathai, a politician. The two got married in May 1969.

From 1966 to 1982, Wangari Maathai was a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, and in 1971, Wangari received her Doctorate in Veterinary Anatomy from the University of Nairobi, becoming the first woman in eastern Africa to receive a PhD. 

In 1977, Wangari and her husband got divorced. Soon after that, Wangari was imprisoned because she publically contested the judge’s ruling regarding her divorce.  As this ruling was in favour of her ex-husband and it shamed her for being a woman in need of a divorce. As a result, the judge ordered her to stop using her former husband’s last name.  In defiance of the judge, she changed the spelling of her last name, adding an “a” and becoming Wangari Maathai. That same year, she founded the Green Belt Movement. This grassroots environmental non-governmental organization planted over 30 million trees across Kenya over the next three decades. This movement became a successful platform for women’s empowerment (especially for rural women in Kenya). As a result, she became known as Africa’s Mother of Trees. 

Wangari was imprisoned several times in the 1980s for criticizing Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi and for demanding multi-party elections in Kenya.  She stood for environmental justice due to new construction developments that endangered the environment and indigenous peoples’ rights. Furthermore, in 1992, Maathai ran for president on a platform urging environmental protections. And at that time, she was the first African politician to embrace that cause publicly.  She withdrew from the elections but ran again in 1997.  In 2003, she founded the Mazingira Green Party of Kenya and later that year, she was appointed Assistant Minister for Environmental and Natural Resources by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki. 

In 2004, Maathai won the Nobel Prize for her work in protecting the environment through political lobbying and reforestation initiatives. These initiatives were aimed at empowering rural women in Kenya. This was an outstanding award as it’s prestige helped put environmental rights on the map. 

In 2006, she was one of the founders of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, an organization of six women recipients of the Nobel Prize, representing North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, who united in their efforts to work for peace, justice, and equality throughout the world.  In January 2007, Maathai hosted the Global Young Greens conference in Nairobi, which some have described as a meeting of the next wave of the leadership of the world environmental movement.  In addition, Maathai wrote four books, including “The Greenbelt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience”.

At 71, Wangari Maathai died from complications from ovarian cancer treatment at a Nairobi hospital. 

But her legacy lives on!

Today millions of women like myself have gained inspiration from her story and aim to share this story with many people. Her passion, resilience and approach to environmental rights and gender equality contributed significantly to my career path. I am forever grateful! 

Source for reference:

The founder of the Green Belt Movement and the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Photo 1 and photo 2 credit: Pinterest

The post The African woman whose legacy has changed my life: Wangari Maathai appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

As I began to assimilate and became part of my community, through discussions and constant deliberations with the chiefs, the locals, the academics/learned/intellectuals, as well as those in the diaspora, I quickly realized that my quest for development in my community would never be a one-person game. I became aware that there is a short circuit in the flow of engagement amongst community members. People in my community generally associate themselves according to political affiliations, family ties, social status, villages, etc. Therefore, I decided to create a platform (Tukombo Today) that will act as a bridge to bring them together to have a consensus in building our community. The idea was “well” received, but the challenge was skepticism, distrust, and political and family differences. The platform had (still has) a snail’s pace on the flow of information. Yes, meaningful ideas were being shared. Also, concerns were being expressed, albeit treading on eggs. But however great the ideas were, they lacked a unified force to actualize them. In my view -this was a platform (a boardroom, as I call it) to bridge the engagement block. But still, people could not engage freely and unbiasedly with one common goal due to trivial matters that have crippled development. I have realized it is not unique to my village but to Africa as a whole.

Another huge challenge was that however great the developmental ideas were, the struggle was that most members were based in different cities, towns, and countries. Therefore, they needed more feasibility on the ground, physically ensuring that some of the ideas were shared with the relevant stakeholders in the village. The challenge was decoding these ideas into a layman’s language that the general public and chiefs would understand. I realized that our priorities were different, and our vision in terms of development ran on parallel lines; therefore, merging the two was a dream that “might” never be a reality, the demise of my community and Africa. My mind and heart would be overwhelmed as I saw my vision for a better Tukombo becoming a burden instead of a blessing. A unified force will never work under such conditions. The ideas got suffocated before they could see any daylight. My community has so many opportunities for greatness, considering its location close to the lake, excellent weather, fantastic scenery, unique natural vegetation, a heritage site that has ancient carvings, naturally warm water springs, and is home to some of the most prominent political leaders Like Aleke Banda and his wife, Mbumba Margaret Banda. Recently gold was discovered in my village. All of these opportunities lie dormant because people fail to come together to “agree to disagree’’ to ensure that they maximize the available resources to build a better community. The other challenge is ”the bwana mentality,” the scramble for positions in any community committee, especially by the locals to gain respect and access to resources. Celebrity status is especially used by those with resources to manipulate the locals to partner with them, manipulating them to their advantage. If a person comes with noble ideas and does not belong to either of the groups, there would be little or no local support. The person becomes a threat to those scrambling for positions or a threat to the community celebrities. Any noble efforts face many red tapes, and secret agents or monitoring personnel are deployed to spy and report to their ‘’master’’. Therefore, instead of making friends, a Pandora’s box of enemies is opened. It makes it difficult to trust anyone with any information on development for fear of ideas being stolen by people with the speed of light to ensure they remain celebrated (bwana mentality) – the battle for village/community celebrity. I have been debating whether to continue with the mission of working together through shared ideas or go solo since I have individually made minor impacts through financial help from just a few friends, but an impact nonetheless.

I have realized that development is not only in terms of infrastructure but a changed life and mindset. Therefore, I plan to implement progressive developmental change through whatever efforts I can manage and any assistance I receive. I have started a youth leadership program, a girl empowerment program, as the youths are the soul and future of the community. Hopefully, I will live to see my dreams of a better Tukombo.

Being an activist for community development comes with many burdens; however, it can never quench the desire to see a better life for my community and country because it is the place I call home.

Story by:

Cathrine Banda, from Mzuzu Malawi. She is a Community Activist, Motivational Speaker, Writer, Poet, Former Radio Presenter The 1873 FM, Johannesburg South Africa

cathrinetwabi@gmail.com

The post Diary of a village girl: Tukombo – Parrarel Mindsets appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

I have always had the urge to go back home to Malawi and be part of the builders of my community and the country at large. Though born and raised in Zimbabwe by Malawian parents, my love for Malawi developed when I arrived there in 2004, still a child yet old enough to know good from the bad. 

I instantly fell in love with an odd way of life in my parents’ villages, both my mother’s and father’s sides. I fell in love with the country’s innocence, the people oblivious of a life other than their way of living. Indeed, ignorance sometimes is bliss. I was raised, in my view, in an average home with running water, a bathtub, electricity, a stove, a fridge, and sleeping on a bed. I naively thought that this lifestyle was a common way of life for everyone everywhere across the world. Sleeping on a mukeka or African mat in my parent’s village in Malawi was not a shock but a roller-coaster adventure for me. Fetching water was the most exhilarating experience. Carrying tons of buckets with my cousins and brothers, contrary to our small family way back in Zimbabwe, I was faced with many cousins in Malawi, an unfamiliar sight, but it was such a pleasure. We would take turns swinging the borehole wheel until we filled all the buckets. 

Cooking was quite exciting, and mealtime was beyond enjoyable. We sat amidst more than 20 people near the kitchen, chit-chatting while we waited for the food to be served. We had to sit in groups, males separate from females. Just as the mothers comprised their separate group, so did the children. Each group had to be served from a communal dish according to their gender and age. 

After three months of this pleasurable village experience, my father took me back to Zimbabwe. I vowed in my heart that I would return. Years later, the nudge to return to Malawi was still stirring in me. In 2014, a mature woman, I decided to relocate and work in Malawi. By then, I understood that some of the first pleasant experiences I had encountered resulted from lack and poverty. I worked in Malawi for eight months, only to be so disappointed by the new experiences of hardships. The people and the country were going through tough times due to poor governance and political misalignment. At that time, I did not find anything pleasant about my country, so I left despite my inward-burning desire to help. 

Subsequently, in 2021, I mentally prepared myself for disappointment and discomfort. I went to live in Tukombo, my parent’s village in Malawi’s Northern region. This village comprises of Tonga-speaking people, one of the tribes that pioneered multi-party rule through Aleke Banda and are also known to be the most intelligent and educated tribe in Malawi.

I realised that my community needed help urgently. So, I contacted the Traditional Authority (TA) of the land to help and found out which areas needed immediate attention. To my shock, I was given a Bible of needs, and with no financial resources, I felt helpless and hopeless. However, although hopeless, I was confident that I could reach out to some of my trusted and valued friends with whom I had built trustful relationships over the years based on our common interests, spiritual foundation, or vision of building the Africa we want. It is an Africa with a prosperous future for the present and future generations. 

I embarked on a solo journey of knocking on every one of my friend’s doors for financial assistance, hoping to have a good response. Indeed, most of my friends fell head over heels without hesitation in extending their financial resources in helping to build my village while building the Africa we want, one village at a time. Yes, there have been a few exceptions whereby I had some emotional wrecking experiences. Some potential donors I approached thought that I shouldn’t be “appealing” for financial assistance at this stage in my life and that I was a failure and an embarrassment to society. Therefore, I should have never reached out to them or shared the philanthropic request work I was doing. Nevertheless, through various resources and help from friends, we have managed to renovate the village court/office, helped construct a nursery block, bought chairs for the community court and distributed food parcels and clothes to the community. Once the news started reaching out to some of the people in the diaspora who shared the same passion for building or facelifting the community, the response to contribute multiplied tremendously. Many reached out to me and expressed their commitment to joining hands to improve the village. 

I partnered with my fellow brothers and sisters from Tukombo, mainly based outside the country, to extend the existing clinic into a hospital. Each person would contribute as little as US$6. With all this being done with a couple of close friends, the most mind-boggling question comes to mind: How does the government of Malawi fail to deliver on the smallest of services when a small group of friends can bring change within a couple of months? Where does our government fail in service delivery? What are the priorities in the national expenditure, and what should they be? 

Meanwhile, Tukombo village has diverse so-called development committees that convene countless meetings, with little or no tangible deliverables on the ground. Is it because of a lack of focus on the bigger picture regarding vision, genuine sense of duty, unity for purpose, or unity of purpose? Could this be attributed to a lack of a shared mindset, education, drive or enthusiasm to live well in Malawi? 

Unfortunately, despite the continent’s immense potential, there are similar heart-wrenching cases across Africa. The abovementioned drawbacks pose unsurmountable obstacles to true meaningful emancipation and economic freedom. But we must face these challenges and forge a more livable and prosperous Africa. Our experience in Tukumbo village must help us to create a hopeful community with successful tangible development goals.

Written by: 

Cathrine Banda, Community Activist

Tukombo Village, Nkhatabay, Malawi

Mobile: +265 881 69 30 58 

Email: cathrinetwabi@gmail.com

The post Diary of a Village Girl: Creating Hope in my Community appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

THE RISING

Rising from dust,

From squatters and cages encroached on us;

Skins of coffee and earth-

A people of devotion for freedom

A love for the land

An ache to live- strive- and expand

A need to protect a culture and 

Pave a way for the next clan. 

The drums beat 

Every 9th October

A recount of a past,

A past rooted in sweat, blood and pain-

Of the struggle to feel at home 

In the land of our ancestors

From whence we came.

The fore warriors who stood 

Led- fought

And waved the flag of victory

Black for the skin scratching the earth,

Yellow for the life-giving sun

And red for the African brotherhood connected by blood

On this day, we reminisce

That we are a free people

And this- our motherland, 

Survived battle to sustain us-  

The pearl of Africa.

By Vannesa Birungi

Vannesa.birungi – Instagram

The post Independence Day appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

My Name is Latiyah. I am 26 years old and a feminist activist. I started working with ONG QET Inclusion, the first trans-related organization in the Ivory Coast, where I was the communication manager. At that time, I was very new to activism. I was 19 years old and had no idea what activism was. I had no idea what it was to fight for the rights of my community.

At that time, I was volunteering at the organization, and at the same time, I was transitioning. I was also navigating the general population by going to school. You know, this was a period with so much depression. I faced a lot of rejection at school because people were like, Uhm, are you a guy? Are you a girl? Who is this person in this classroom? There were many instances where one person would say; ‘We have seven girls in the classroom’. Another would say, ‘we have eight girls.’ Then the first person would respond by saying, ‘no, we have seven and a half girls in the classroom.’ And I was right there the whole time while this conversation was happening.

Because of such conversations, I just realized that these people calling themselves the general population needed to be educated about many things; they needed to understand what it was to be a trans person. I became more comprehensive. I realized that comprehension is the mother of acceptance. Because when you understand something, you are more likely to accept that this thing exists. These periods were challenging because I experienced a lot of depression. I was also in a period where I was rejecting myself, and it became really important for me to start my transition.

My family is very religious, and they were like something wrong was happening. They were convinced that there was an evil thing using my mind, that is, using my body to make me feel the way I felt. It was a lot to deal with at that time. I was like, I need the information to describe what I’m currently feeling. And this is one of the reasons why I joined the first organization. They were working on self-esteem, self-acceptance, and this kind of thing.

Working with them helped me become more confident. It helped me get to a point where I felt comfortable being a trans person. It was that comfort that allowed me to just became that person. There is no silence; there is no more accepting injustice. There is no more accepting oppression. And I started to share information because it’s also important to share my knowledge. The same way I share my experience within the trans community is the same way I share my experience with the general population. Because I am part of the general population.

When I was more comfortable saying that I’m a trans person, one of my cousins discovered that I often dressed like a girl. She brought some of my pictures to my bigger brother, and they shared them with my mother. My mother called, ‘We just discovered some pictures, and I want to understand what they mean?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, you know, It’s not serious.’ I had a girl best friend who worked in cosmetics at this time. I explained that she had just tried to see if she could do makeup. So this is the reason why we took these pictures. And my cousins were like, ‘no, it is too well done for this to just be an exercise. ‘No, we need to have a serious conversation about these things, and we need to have a conversation where we can communicate freely.’ And I was like, ‘Okay, no problem.’

Because I had these periods of self-reflection, I was more comfortable with who I was and a bit more confrontable in saying that out loud. So, we had this conversation privately with my mom and two cousins. And they were like, ‘We want to understand what is happening?’ At first, I was like, ‘Nothing is happening.’ And my cousin said, ‘We see that you are changing; your face is changing, your body is changing. From your childhood you were alwasy acting like a girl. You sometimes think like a girl, but now it’s coming to the point of having a girl appearance. So it’s a lot of things, and we want to understand.’

And I was like, ‘Okay. So, you know, these past 3,4 years, I’ve been very depressed because I was trying to understand what is happening to myself. Thank God I finally discovered what was happening. It’s just that I define myself as a trans person. I’m currently in a situation where I need to transition because I’m uncomfortable being called son, sir or even brother. I’m not comfortable and I decided to keep it to myself and not say anything to anybody. But since you are asking the question, this is what is happening. I define myself as a girl. I never defined myself as a boy. So I’m in a situation where I am ashamed of being called a man. And this is why you are currently discovering some of the changes that I have made.

My mom said, ‘Okay, let us have this conversation because communication is very important. Let us ask questions, let us discuss, topics freely, comfortably.’ And I was like, ‘Okay, I’m ready for that because I have answers to give you. So if you want us to be communicating more, no more secrets. Let us go to the point of honest conversations. Sharing true information. And it was at that moment that my mom became my best friend.

I told her I didn’t need everybody to accept me as I was because it was enough that she had already accepted me. She feared that maybe I would become a sex worker and use drugs. Because I was working in an organization, I had the opportunity to meet with other people, with other trans girls that are sex workers. And I used to learn from their experience and what put them in that situation. So I explained to my mum that I knew some people like me who were doing sex work. But not just because they want to, but because their family rejects them and they don’t have anywhere to sleep. They don’t have anywhere to live. They don’t have anything to eat, and they don’t have access to employment. So what do you want them to do except look for money for survival? So if at this moment you are rejecting me and I’m on the streets, be sure that I will do sex work.’ And she was like, ‘Oh, no, no, no, no.’ I don’t want you to do sex work because you have enough with us. You don’t need to be in that kind of life.’

She said, ‘You are a trans person. How are you going to be your true self?’ And at that moment, we start talking about transitioning. And I started explaining what transition was, how it was possible to transition, and what kind of medication I was supposed to take. And my mom was like, ‘Okay, Now that I have all this information, I know how to explain myself in front of other people. So for me, it’s okay. But what I want you to do is to have a successful life. I don’t want people to talk about you as someone who failed in life. I want you to have success in everything you choose to do; I want you to succeed in your life. Because I know my family supports me and allows me to be comfortable speaking, giving my face, and giving my voice to my community. And since that moment. I came out in a certain way, my big brothers and me, and we became the very best of friends.

Understanding the situation is the mother of acceptance. It is the key to accepting a situation. This is the reason why I’m not looking for acceptance now. I want people to understand. Just listen and try to understand. When you understand, you will see that this is a human being’s experience, and nothing is offensive.

We need to know these stories. We need to know about their experiences. I questioned how I could position myself as a trans person. There are a lot of trans people who want to transition, and when transitioning, there is a moment when you are not matching the ID document you have. So when I faced this situation, I realized that I would have to justify myself. I would have to explain why they don’t look like the person in my ID document. And it is not fair for me, and it is not fair for my community.

Because of this, I decided to create my organization in 2017 called Association Transgenres et Droits. For me, it is important to tell and to show people that, as trans people, we are proud to be trans. In addition, we have human rights, and because we have human rights, we are fighting for those rights. Currently, we are working on education and organizing a focus group around human rights. What are human rights? What are human rights systems, like the UN and the African systems? We educate our community on how to fight for their rights as trans people in an African context. How can we navigate through these different systems to make our voices heard? I am also on the board of the African Queer Youth Initiative. African Francophone LGBTQIA activists cannot always enter specific spaces because of English. For me, it is important to bring the experience and the stories of Franco queers from Western Africa to the broader African LGBTQIA community.

My work allows me to travel, enter different spaces, and share this information with others. I want to share what is important to my community. To deconstruct some things that have been presented. Education is very important. When you enter a room where you can make people think and think repeatedly, it’s not just fighting to fight. We need to stop looking for acceptance. We must make people aware and understand that it’s not a choice. We are living as we are as human beings.

And it’s very important to look at what we can bring in addition to the development of our society. Maybe the community we are fighting for, it’s not the same. But we are fighting for the same thing. For example, our members are facing violence. A lot of women are facing violence. And often, this violence comes from home. You are fighting that violence. We are fighting against that violence. So how can we bring our efforts together?

For more information contact:

transgenres.d@gmail.com / +225 05 841 651 35

Facebook : @transispowerful ( Transgenres et Droits )

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