Between Ourselves

Part 2 of this episode of Between Ourselves on Black Women and Disabilities we continue the conversation with Tumu and Jumoke. We pick up the discussion thinking about how their race and gender might affect how their disability is seen, their experiences visiting African countries, what people think about disabled people and sexuality, having surgery, and the injustices of covid and disability. (Recorded in 2020).

Part 1 of this episode of Between Ourselves is on the theme of Black Women and Disabilities and I am joined by the lovely Tumu Johnson and Jumoke Abdullah! Amongst other things we discuss how they view their identities, what life was like at school and how they relate to the social model of disability, take a listen to learn more about their experiences. (Recorded in 2020).

In part 2, the conversation continues as we consider the ways that Black men and women might miss each other, especially in relation to vulnerability and we ponder whether Black men can be Black Feminist allies and if so how?

Julian Knox, Oz Lupuwana, Jarel Robinson-Brown and Rohan Ayinde join me to discuss the idea of Black Men and Black Feminism. The conversation is far-reaching, we discuss people’s feelings following George Floyd’s murder, definitions of Black Feminism, views on masculinity and their first memories of Black Feminist thought.

Marly Pierre-Louis and I discuss ideas of rest, slowing down and guilt as Black women. The conversation was part of a public dialogue held at Hotel Maria Kapel as part of my artist residency in December 2019.

Reverend Jarel Robinson Brown and Alina Jabari join me to speak about faith and religion and whether it has a place in the arts, art education and academia. How do those of faith and those in the arts perceive each other? And how do people of more progressive faith think about politics? This was a panel discussion at the graduation show of Sekai Makoni at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam in 2019.

My mother (Pepukai Makoni), Yansie Rolston and her daughter Joelyn Rolston join me to talk about Black Mothering. We have a group discussion filled with LOTS of laughter, truths and vulnerability. The conversation is wide-ranging, we consider if there are particular elements to being raised by a Black mother, what are the challenges and joys and what have we learnt as daughters and mothers?

In this episode of Between Ourselves Amandla Awetu, Jessy de Abreau, Simone Zeefuik (via Skype) and Inez van der Scheer join me at the Black Archives in Amsterdam in early 2018. We discuss what it is to be a Black woman activist in the Netherlands, what are the challenges they face? What are the particularities of the Black Dutch experience, how has Black Feminism shaped their activist experiences and what are their hopes for the future?

In this episode of Between Ourselves Melanie Eddy, Amina Gichinga and Dr Gabriella Beckles-Raymond join me to discuss mixedness in relation blackness. What are our experiences with other mixed women? What is the impact of the notion of a post-racial society and how are mixed bodies used in relation to it? How did Brexit impact racism? And what are notions of pain in relation to blackness? This is part 2 of a longer discussion, take a listen to part 1 if you haven't already so you can hear the full thing!

In this episode of Between Ourselves Melanie Eddy, Amina Gichinga and Dr Gabriella Beckles-Raymond join me to discuss mixedness in relation blackness. What does it mean to be a mixed woman who engages with their black identity? How do we resist being held up as poster children of racial harmony? How are mixed women's bodies perceived and marketed to sell products? This is a long discussion which I've split in two to make it more easily digestible! Take a listen to the second part to see how the conversation develops.

In this episode of Between Ourselves Sekai Makoni, Kazvare Knox, Belinda Zhawi and Cherish Bere discuss what it is to be Zimbabwean women in the diaspora, specifically the UK. What are the similarities and differences in how we view our Zimbabwean identities? What does it mean to say you're Zimbabwean? What are relationships with Zimbabwean men like in family structures? This conversation is split across 2 episodes, take a listen to part 1 if you haven't already so you can get the full context!

In this episode of Between Ourselves Sekai Makoni, Kazvare Knox, Belinda Zhawi and Cherish Bere discuss what it is to be Zimbabwean women in the diaspora, specifically the UK. What are the similarities and differences in how we view Zimbabwe dependant on the moment of migration? Do we speak Shona? How do we maintain connections to 'home'? What was it like first moving here? This conversation is split across 2 episodes, so tune in to the second part to hear the rest of the conversation!

In this first episode of Between Ourselves Sekai Makoni, Ella Achola and Nadia Epe discuss what it means to be Black in Europe. What is it to be a Black British, Afro-German or Black French woman? How do we see ourselves, how does society see us and how do we resist negative perceptions?