Across the globe, Afro-descendant women are organising and strategizing against overlapping systems of oppression which are determined to keep them subdued. Against all odds, these educators, activists, artists, and leaders from across the African continent and diaspora are using their voices and talents to challenge the status quo and build liberated futures for us all. Here are seven such women who are at the forefront of social change.

Oluwaseun Babalola discusses the role of storytelling in the reclamation and definition of African identities. She highlights the power of storytelling as a tool for social change, the challenges African storytellers face in navigating expectations and stereotypes, and the need for authenticity and integrity in storytelling.

In this conversation, Ehime Ora discusses her spiritual practice and ancestral veneration. She shares how her journey unfolded and explains the importance of ancestral veneration in African cultures and how it contributes to resilience and identity.

Hakim Adi explores the history and significance of Pan-Africanism. He shares his personal journey as the first historian of African descent in the UK, discovering African history and the exclusion of African heritage in mainstream narratives, and delves into historical examples of Pan-Africanism, the challenges and limitations of Pan-African institutions, and the goals, principles, and values of Pan-Africanism that are needed for collective action and empowerment