I am very, very excited to share that @thenew.institute where I have been a fellow since November 2022, has invited me to be a Programme Chair and I’ve accepted the role. My objective (both at The New Institute and at large) is to expand and advocate for feminism and especially Black and African diasporic feminisms,…
New writing on the Eco Gender Gap
I have published an article on Project Syndicate titled Closing the Eco Gender Gap. It’s about the perceived relationship between climate change, gender stereotypes, and rationality, topics that I am deeply concerned about. Read it there or below, share the link, and do let me know your thoughts. Closing the Eco Gender Gap Feb 15, 2023 MINNA…
Enlivenment, Sensuous Knowledge and Postactivism at the World Ethic Forum
I’m so much looking forward to participating in the WorldEthicForum in Pontresina, Switzerland, this month with an inspiring group of “Firekeepers” such as “Auma Obama (sociologist, matroness), Vandana Shiva (Alternative Nobel Prize winner, matroness), and the philosopher/authors Bayo Akomolafe (Narrative Philosophy) and Andreas Weber (“Enlivenment”) whom I’m excited to lead a 4-part workshop series exploring…
Knowledge that is alive
Should dance performances be a part of studying philosophy? Can morality be objective? Are there alternative ways to think of IQ and EQ? Watch my interview at The Philosopher, which took place on 16 May as part of their Spring 2022 series, where we discuss questions such as the above. With thanks to host Adam…
Interview in Evolve Magazine
evolve: You speak about sensuous knowledge. What do you mean by that? Minna Salami: The word “sensuous” is a unique word in the English language, which was coined by the poet John Milton in order to describe poetry. He coined the word sensuous as a quality that describes the integration of mind, body and spirit. He thought that…
100 things to recolonise
The indigenous Waorani activist, Nemonte Nenquimo, wrote in an unforgettable GuardianOp-ed titled This is my message to the western world – your civilisation is killing life on Earth,that, You forced your civilisation upon us and now look where we are: globalpandemic, climate crisis, species extinction and, driving it all, widespreadspiritual poverty. In all these years…
What is Sensuous Knowledge? A visual exploration
I spoke to the Institute of Arts and Ideas about the key explorations in Sensuous Knowledge. In line with the book’s argument of bringing together worlds of knowing, the feature blends words, visuals, and sound. I’m blessed to share this. Enjoy!
What liberating effects does writing have?
I spoke to the Institute of Arts and Ideas about the below key themes in Sensuous Knowledge. What is sensuous knowledge compared to euro-patriarchal knowledge? How can black feminism provide a critique of euro-patriarchal knowledge? How is joy inherently political for black women, and how does it arise? Can euro-patriarchal knowledge be changed within the…
The question of blackness in writing
How do contemporary African artists, curators and writers deal with the question of blackness in our work? How does blackness inform the creative process? I’m really looking forward to sharing these discussions in an event titled “Blackness in Contemporary Art Practice” taking place online at the Tate Modern on Tuesday, 2 June. Join us as…
A Black Feminist Approach to Life
I had a fun book event at Columbia University last week titled “A Black Feminist Approach to Life” where I spoke to the lovely Abigail Ony Nwaohuocha about Sensuous Knowledge and SO much more. You can catch the talk on Vimeo or watch it below.
Without feeling, knowledge becomes stale. Without reason, it becomes indelicate.
I grew up in Lagos in Nigeria, in a multifaith household, where I lived with my parents and my extended family. Lagos is a very cosmopolitan city, drawing in many different ethnicities of Nigeria, but also from Africa and around the world. My mother was Finnish, and my father is Nigerian Yoruba. He is a…
A feminist analysis of the soul
What is the function of the soul in society? In culture, in religion, in politics? Emotionally, what role does the soul play? If the understandings that women held about the soul had the same historical significance and public presence that those of men do, in what ways would the soul be encoded into spiritual, cultural,…
A better way to talk about oppression is as a ‘crisis of relationship’
This blog is the English version of an OpEd I wrote for EL PAÍS published 21.12.20. The original version in Spanish can be read here. Let’s begin by saying that we are living through a time of peak oppression. This fact can’t be denied. After the disastrous events of 2020, even those who may be…
Sensuous Knowledge featured on Al Jazeera
Earlier this month I spoke with Malika Bilal, host of Al Jazeera’s podcast The Take, about the journeys that led to my writing Sensuous Knowledge. I hope it gives you a feeling of the book. Below is the feature as published on Al Jazeera. Why Minna Salami says Black feminist ideology is for everyone The…
Sensuous Knowledge Masterclass with Africa Writes X Arvon At Home
I’m looking forward to teaching a nonfiction masterclass at Arvon At Home in collaboration with AfricaWrites. We’ll be applying a rounded and imaginative approach to the journey. Please see below for more information via Africa Writes. Book your seat via Arvon At Home. I hope to see some of you there. Sensuous Knowledge Masterclass with…
Sensuous Knowledge references and recommended reading
“The only thing that can save the world is the reclaiming of awareness of the world. That’s what poetry does.” So said the poet Allen Ginsberg, and he was right. In addition to poetry, our awareness of the world is expanded by the arts (music, visual art, sculpting etc.) which are a kind of poetry….