• Home
  • Bio
  • Media
    • Read
    • Watch/Listen
  • Speaking
  • Work with me
  • Contact

MsAfropolitan

FEMINISM. PAN-AFRICA. SOCIAL CRITICISM. DIASPORA. CULTURE.

  • feminism
  • Africa
  • Pop Culture
  • Social Criticism
  • decolonisation
  • Afropolitanism
  • seven
  • Sensuous Knowledge
    • Sensuous Knowledge references and recommended reading
    • International
    • Sensuous Knowledge news
  • Other Books
  • The MsAfropolitan Philosophy Book Club @ Waterstones

Book announcement! I’m writing a book about African feminism

August 16, 2022 By MsAfropolitan 1 Comment

I’m so excited to share that I am writing a new book! It is titled “Can Feminism be African?” and will be published by William Collins early 2024. This book has been a long time in the making. I can’t wait to share it with the readers of this blog. Read on for the full…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Africa, Can Feminism Be African?, feminism Tagged With: Africa, african diaspora, African feminism, feminism, gender

On the African Union’s message to women

March 9, 2015 By MsAfropolitan 3 Comments

Yesterday, to commemorate International Women’s Day, the former chairperson of the African Union, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, posted a message for African women on the union’s website. The focus of the update, one which I have pasted below, was to hone in on a political vision and action plan – ‘Agenda 2063‘ – which, among other things, “envisages a…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Africa, feminism Tagged With: Africa, african diaspora, African feminism, African Union, African women, Agenda 2063, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, women's issues

Media frenzy about Ebola

August 6, 2014 By MsAfropolitan 3 Comments

On a flight to Lagos last week, a woman with a terrible chesty cough and feverish eyes sat a couple of seats away from me. Unlike many a public transportation commuter, the woman was considerate; she covered her mouth when she coughed and it was evident that she was trying to cough as little as she could despite…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Africa, Social Criticism Tagged With: Africa, african diaspora, Ebola, Hysteria, Lagos, media

The sacred is political

April 3, 2014 By MsAfropolitan 38 Comments

“You can’t not be religious!” is a reaction I often receive when someone asks me first whether I am Muslim, as my name implies, and then (when I say no) whether I am a Christian, which I am not either. Having found out that I’m neither Christian nor Muslim, the inquirer then often proceeds to…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Africa, Social Criticism Tagged With: Africa, african diaspora, Christianity, gallery, Islam, Religion, secularism, Spirituality

A badass case of Beyoncitis

February 20, 2014 By MsAfropolitan 22 Comments

It starts with cunnilingus. Not the “Beyoncé ” album (which starts with “Pretty Hurts”) but this review. After all, when a megastar like Beyoncé dedicates a song to oral stimulation of the clitoris in a world where the opposite is more common, an emphasis is only appropriate. OK, “Lick my skittles, it’s the sweetest in…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: feminism, Pop Culture Tagged With: african diaspora, African feminism, beauty ideals, Beyonce, beyonce album, gallery, sexuality, style icons

His idea of beauty: Interview with Terence Nance, director of An Oversimplification of Her Beauty

February 10, 2014 By MsAfropolitan 1 Comment

Are you familiar with semiotext(e), the avant-garde, “punk-rock” publisher that introduced french theory to America? No? Don’t worry, most people probably are not. But they should be. Semiotext(e) publishes books that are at times bursting with self-indulgent introspection but that often push and provoke new ways of understanding the world we live in. I ask this…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Pop Culture, seven Tagged With: african diaspora, An oversimplification of her beauty, film, love, popular culture, Terence Nance

7 ways that Africa is shaping globalisation

November 1, 2013 By MsAfropolitan 14 Comments

Globalisation, the compression of the world through cultural exchanges and innovation, is not a new incident to Africa (nor any other part of the world for that matter). Africa is interwoven in a millennia-long global exchange, where it has often lost out but also benefited from and shaped the course of global innovation to a far…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Africa, Pop Culture, seven Tagged With: Africa, african diaspora, Afropolitan, entrepreneurs, fashion, feminism, globalisation

Guest post: Musings of a Jamaican lesbian

September 19, 2013 By MsAfropolitan 14 Comments

This is a guest post by Andrea Dwyer. Contact info below the post. — Many of the privileges and rights I have as a naturalised U.S citizen, are unfortunately not afforded to my LGBTQ brothers and sisters around the world, such as in my home country, Jamaica. I love my country. She represents belonging and freedom…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Guest Posts Tagged With: african diaspora, feminism, gender, Jamaica, LGBTQ, sexuality

Alliance 54 to host Africa Global Women in Business Forum

August 26, 2013 By MsAfropolitan 3 Comments

As a member of the advisory board of the Africa Global Women in Business Forum (AGWIBF), it’s my pleasure to inform you of the upcoming Africa Global Women in Business Forum hosted by Alliance 54 taking place in London on 30-31 October. The aim of the meeting is to promote financial inclusion for African women and a…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: events Tagged With: Africa, african diaspora, African women, African Women's Decade

Event: An African summer festival in London

July 30, 2013 By MsAfropolitan 3 Comments

If you are a reader who is currently in London, I hope you are enjoying the heat, sunshine, rejuvenation, relaxation and enjoyment that the summer season promises. It’s been a rare treat na! As a friend and supporter of the Africa Centre in London, I’m sharing an upcoming event of theirs that I’m looking forward…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: events Tagged With: Africa, african diaspora, Afropolitan, art, fashion, Music

Winner of the “Outstanding Achievement in Media” Award at the African Diaspora Awards!

May 3, 2013 By MsAfropolitan 6 Comments

I am happy to announce that I have won the “Outstanding Achievement in Media” award at the African Diaspora Awards which took place on 2 May 2013. The African Diaspora Awards (ADA) ceremony is an event which pays tribute to African success across all walks of life; emphasising achievement and highlighting inspirational role models in the fields…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Africa, events, feminism Tagged With: Africa, african diaspora, African women

Can Africans have multiple subcultures? A response to “Exorcising Afropolitanism”

April 3, 2013 By MsAfropolitan 33 Comments

On 24 June 2011, over 5,000 people showed up for an event at the V&A Museum in London titled “Friday Late: Afropolitans”. Now, packing the world famous museum is usually the function of western art and high fashion, but on this night the crowd came to listen to artists like Spoek Mathambo, taste palm wine…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Africa, Pop Culture Tagged With: Africa, african diaspora, Afropolitan, identity, politics

Mobilising African Women in the Diaspora – FORWARD Conference

March 29, 2013 By MsAfropolitan 2 Comments

On Saturday, 6th April, I’ll be joining a host of inspiring speakers (see below) to address the matter of ‘Mobilising African Women in the Diaspora: Creating a movement for African women’s leadership, rights and development’.  The conference is hosted by FORWARD UK and will take place between 10.30am-6.30pm at Greencoat Place. If you would like to attend, complete the registration form which…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: events Tagged With: african diaspora, African women, African Women's Decade

What does women’s day mean to African bloggers?

March 8, 2013 By MsAfropolitan 13 Comments

When I was seventeen, I got a job as a telephone salesperson of ink cartridges. The worst thing about the job was that I was so good at it. I was promoted and was eventually earning a serious lot of money. I don’t know what made me a successful ink cartridge seller but I use…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Africa, feminism, Pop Culture Tagged With: #IWD, Africa, african diaspora, African feminism, African women, feminism, gender, women, women's issues, Young Women

Why Spike Lee was right about Django Unchained

January 3, 2013 By MsAfropolitan 54 Comments

Spike Lee did the right thing in publicly taking issue with Django Unchained, the latest Quentin Tarantino movie about a freed African slave who embarks on a violent journey to save his wife. The wife character, Broomhilda, played by Kerry Washington is monotonous to discuss for hers is a shockingly flat role. Her character serves…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Decolonisation, Pop Culture Tagged With: african diaspora, African history, Decolonisation, Django Unchained, slavery, Spike Lee, stereotypes

History meets present-day in Queens of the Undead by Kimathi Donkor

September 26, 2012 By MsAfropolitan Leave a Comment

In my view, if Kimathi Donkor‘s painting of Queen Nanny of the Maroons was an antique, precious Tarot card, she would be ‘The High Priestess’, standing as a veil between life and death, her arms outstretched; one mercifully forgiving, the other holding a deadly sword, reminding us that when it comes to life, she both…

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Decolonisation, feminism, Pop Culture, Social Criticism Tagged With: Africa, african diaspora, African women, art, Decolonisation, gender

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

Feminism. Africa. Popular Culture. Social Criticism.

Hi! I'm Minna Salami, I'm a Nigerian-Finnish and Swedish writer and social critic, and the founder of the multiple award-winning blog, MsAfropolitan, which connects feminism with critical reflections on contemporary culture from an Africa-centred perspective. As a lecturer and keynote speaker, I have spoken at over 300 universities, cultural events and conferences, on five continents. I am the author of "Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone - a collection of thought provoking essays that explore questions central to how we see ourselves, our history, and our world." (Harper Collins US) Read full bio

View My Blog Posts

Follow My social media

Visit Us On InstagramVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On FacebookCheck Our Feed

Subscribe to my newsletter

* indicates required

An African Feminist mixtape

Essay: Oyalogy – A poetic approach to African feminism through Yoruba mythology

ESSAY: A brief history of African feminism

ESSAY: A brief history of African feminism

VIDEO: TEDxTalk – To change the world, change your illusions

VIDEO: TEDxTalk – To change the world, change your illusions

VIDEO: ARISE TV TALKING AFRICA INTERVIEW

VIDEO: ARISE TV TALKING AFRICA INTERVIEW

Recent Comments

  • Evgen on There were no matriarchies in precolonial Africa
  • ทางเข้าเล่น joker on The challenge for western feminism in the 21st century
  • Schües on On Abortion
  • AneM on Polygamy in Africa has little to do with sex
  • Khalifa on Polygamy in Africa has little to do with sex

Sensuous Knowledge – Get the book (US version)

Sensuous Knowledge – Get the book (UK version)

Archives

  • August 2022 (4)
  • May 2022 (1)
  • January 2022 (2)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • August 2021 (1)
  • May 2021 (5)
  • April 2021 (3)
  • March 2021 (4)
  • December 2020 (1)
  • October 2020 (1)
  • September 2020 (3)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (2)
  • March 2020 (4)
  • February 2020 (2)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (4)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • December 2018 (2)
  • November 2018 (1)
  • October 2018 (2)
  • August 2018 (1)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • March 2018 (2)
  • February 2018 (2)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (2)
  • September 2017 (3)
  • August 2017 (6)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (3)
  • May 2017 (6)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (3)
  • January 2017 (2)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (3)
  • October 2016 (3)
  • September 2016 (2)
  • August 2016 (2)
  • July 2016 (2)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (3)
  • April 2016 (1)
  • March 2016 (2)
  • February 2016 (2)
  • January 2016 (3)
  • December 2015 (2)
  • November 2015 (3)
  • October 2015 (4)
  • September 2015 (4)
  • August 2015 (3)
  • July 2015 (2)
  • June 2015 (3)
  • May 2015 (4)
  • April 2015 (4)
  • March 2015 (10)
  • February 2015 (4)
  • December 2014 (3)
  • November 2014 (5)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (4)
  • July 2014 (3)
  • June 2014 (3)
  • May 2014 (5)
  • April 2014 (4)
  • March 2014 (2)
  • February 2014 (4)
  • January 2014 (3)
  • December 2013 (3)
  • November 2013 (4)
  • October 2013 (3)
  • September 2013 (4)
  • August 2013 (5)
  • July 2013 (4)
  • June 2013 (4)
  • May 2013 (6)
  • April 2013 (3)
  • March 2013 (7)
  • February 2013 (3)
  • January 2013 (5)
  • December 2012 (4)
  • November 2012 (9)
  • October 2012 (8)
  • September 2012 (4)
  • August 2012 (6)
  • July 2012 (6)
  • June 2012 (5)
  • May 2012 (8)
  • April 2012 (7)
  • March 2012 (5)
  • February 2012 (4)
  • January 2012 (6)
  • December 2011 (5)
  • November 2011 (6)
  • October 2011 (6)
  • September 2011 (8)
  • August 2011 (6)
  • July 2011 (5)
  • June 2011 (5)
  • May 2011 (5)
  • April 2011 (4)
  • March 2011 (7)
  • February 2011 (6)
  • January 2011 (7)
  • December 2010 (5)
  • November 2010 (9)
  • October 2010 (7)
  • September 2010 (5)
  • August 2010 (4)
  • July 2010 (6)
  • June 2010 (5)
  • May 2010 (3)
  • April 2010 (3)
  • March 2010 (1)

more articles

A Historical Overview of African Feminist Strands

August 24, 2022 By MsAfropolitan 3 Comments

… [Continue Reading...]

On Abortion

August 23, 2022 By MsAfropolitan 1 Comment

… [Continue Reading...]

Privacy Policy

https://msafropolitan.com/gdpr

Copyright MsAfropolitan © 2023