Radiant No.12, The Womanhood Issue by Radiant Health Magazine

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G O L D - O N W U D E

W O M A N H O O D

№ 12

I S S U E

Radiant Health Magazine is published by Radiant Rose Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the editor, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the editor at EDITOR@RADIANTHEALTHMAG.COM

Opinions expressed in Radiant Health Magazine are the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Radiant Health Magazine is published biannually.

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more than a woman

woman. “She is a beauty. She is a challenge. She is the Earth. She is the nature. She is the power that keeps the balance of this world. Respect her wisdom and be intimidated by her power.” — Heenashree Khandelwal

Photography by Ahmad Barber Model Mia of MP Management Styling by Ray C'mone Makeup by Bee Wade Hair by Ebonee J.

Earrings by Kari Phillips Jewelry

If I didn't define I would be crunched fantasies for me

myself for myself, into other people's and eaten alive. Audre Lorde

MASTHEAD

Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola PharmD, MPH FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & PUBLISHER

Ahmad Barber ART DIRECTION

Bianca Kipp DESIGN

Nikki Igbo FEATURES EDITOR

Cordialis Msora, R.D. NUTRITION EDITOR

LeeAnn Nielsen COPY EDITOR

Queendolly “Queenie” Verhoeven OPERATIONS MANAGER

Ken Nuarin WEB DESIGN & SUPPORT

Chinyere Amobi, Yvonne Ibifuro Ator, MD, MPH, Patrick Dale, Zora DeGrandpre, MS, ND, Ngozi Ekeledo, Allison Knott, MS, RDN, CSSD, Gabriela Iancu, Manseen Logan, Temitayo Olofinula, Emily Rubin, Katie Schenk CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Brian Ezeike, Karin Lang VIDEO

Akinloye Julius Makanjuola, MD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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CONTENTS

26– 51

healthy eating

fitness

LOW-CARB DIET CLARITY?

INTERVIEW AGATHA ACHINDU

LOCAL CHAMP OKRA

RECIPES OKRA ON THE MENU

74 – 103

features 76

BETWEEN YOUR LEGS (FGM)

SPOTLIGHT FGM I. INTERVIEW COMFORT MOMOH

II. INTERVIEW SOLA FAGORUSI

IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD

100

style

SPICE UP YOUR WORKOUT

WORKOUT BACKYARD OBSTACLE COURSE

INTERVIEW KELECHI OKAFOR

104– 114

CARING FOR YOUR LADY PARTS Q&A 106 WE ARE ALL HORMONAL

108

NEW WAYS TO CATCH YOUR FLOW

112

134– 151

beauty

FINDING YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

120

INTERVIEW JOY EGBEJIMBA

122

152 – 161

RHABDO: WORKOUT DANGER

health & wellness

COVER STORY ROS GOLD-ONWUDE

118 – 133

52– 71

culture

MY CROWNING GLORY

136

INTERVIEW SUSAN OLUDELE

142

162– 175

body & mind

INTERVIEW ISHA SESAY

154

CULTURE ON THE GO

160

RECLAIMING YOUR WOMANHOOD

164

RADIANT WOMAN WATCH PAMELA ADIE

170

EDITOR'S NOTE

Nwanyi, ga choro driver! Woman, go and get a driver! Nwanyi, ke ihe ina anya?! Woman, what kind of driving is this?! Nwanyi, puo eba! Woman, get out of here!

WOMAN THIS, WOMAN THAT, WOMAN, WOMAN, WOMAN …

These insults and directives, always shouted of course (especially when my mom was behind the wheel), colored my childhood in Nigeria. They were common enough not to be particularly startling to a child — it was just how things were — but even so, they bothered me. What bothered me even more were the special ekpo (masquerade) dances that I wasn’t allowed to watch during the festive Christmas seasons I spent in my village of Abiriba, because … Woman. You see, I loved the ekpo dances — the colorful attire, the movement, the stories, the mystery behind the masks. There were the ones performed by local kids who danced for tips for anyone who beckoned them to their house. Those were the most fun because you could enjoy them up close. My brother and I were always on the lookout for passing ekpo troupes, incessantly beckoning them to

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

perform for us and exhausting our parents with cries for more money to tip the troupe. Then there were the larger, more aggressive dances that we would sometimes go watch in the street. Occasionally the dancers would chase you, and you would have to run for your life. You see, these masqueraders are said to be spirits from beyond, so there was no shortage of tales of calamities that might befall a child if an ekpo caught you or if (gasp) you unmasked one. Still, we couldn’t resist the thrill of the chase. But then there were the special dances — the most feared and the most exciting — which I wasn’t allowed to see because … Woman. You’d have to cover your eyes or run away if you were female and happened to be in the same area when they appeared. I always wanted to know what being a girl had to do with not seeing this particular masquerade.

African women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are — to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence. WANGARI MAATHAI

I never got a satisfying answer, perhaps because there was none! Here in Radiant Issue 12, The Womanhood Issue, we are reclaiming our womanhood to embrace all that makes us women, to celebrate how far we’ve come, to boldly examine the battles yet unwon, and to unapologetically press on. While gender parity in Africa is evolving, the African woman still remains on the receiving end of belittling insults and orders, blocked opportunities and prohibited experiences, and even life-threatening atrocities, simply for having been born female. One of the worst examples of this is the illegal but persistent practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), which you will read about in “That Thing Between Your Legs: Putting an End to the Cruelest Tradition” (page 88). I couldn’t be more thrilled about our cover girl, the amazing, talented, and beautiful spirit that is Ros Gold-Onwude. Ros is dominating a space that didn’t have her in mind when it was created, and doing so with grace and style. Hers is a story of kindness, resilience, sheer determination, and staying true to oneself. Also in our amazing lineup are Nigeria’s LGTBQ activist Pamela Adie; actress, womanist, activist, pole dance and twerk queen, and overall fitness guru Kelechi Okafor; and Isha Sesay, one of the most recognizable faces on the news, who recently left her post as a CNN International anchor and correspondent to focus on women’s issues in Africa. But wait, as they say — there’s more! More spectacular African women, that is, including the founder and creative director of the award-winning handbag brand, Nuciano, Joy Egbegemba; health

food advocate and innovator Agatha Achindu; hair aficionado, Susy Oludele famed for Beyoncé's Lemonade braids; and Comfort Momoh, MBE, the renowned campaigner against female genital mutilation (FGM) who established one of the first FGM clinics in Britain. In the spirit of this issue’s theme, we asked you, our readers, what questions you have about your vagina that you’ve been too embarrassed to ask your doctor, and the questions came pouring in. So be embarrassed no more! Instead, read what our experts had to say in response to your questions. (You’re welcome in advance!) As you delight in these and many other treasures in this issue, don’t skip our local champ — those lady fingers also known as okra. The colorful okra dessert recipe made me wish for a technology advanced enough to allow you to eat directly off the page! My team and I had a lot of fun producing this issue. I hope you’ll find within its pages health and healing, and that you come away with a renewed sense of purpose and pride as you reclaim your power as Woman. From the bottom of my very grateful heart, I thank you for another year of wonderful support for the work we do here at Radiant. I wish you and your loved ones a perfect close to 2018, and your best year yet in 2019. To your health, Nnenna

FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @NNENNAKALUM

2018—volume 2

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The good stuff doesn’t have to stop when you close your copy of Radiant. On RadiantHealthMag.com you’ll find more inspiration, including feature stories, fitness tips, healthy recipes, behind-the-scenes videos & breaking news you won’t want to miss. Tubers for Twins? The Yoruba tribe in Nigeria has a fantastically high rate of twin births, with some 45 to 50 pairs of twins per 1,000 live births compared to the global average of 13.1. Although genetics play a part, researchers believe there’s a substance in yam tuber peelings that can lead to women releasing multiple eggs during their cycle. Even if you’re not trying for twins, you’ve got to try this Yam and Kale Pottage recipe. It’s filled with both the goodness of home and superfoods to fuel your day. Plus, it can be eaten as part of the Whole30 and Paleo diets, and is in keeping with Mediterranean eating too. What more could you want? (Well, besides sleep when the twins arrive.) Get the recipe at WWW.RADIANTHEALTHMAG.COM/YAMPOTTAGE

Enlisting the Help of a Death Doula

Behind the Scenes with Ros Gold-Onwude

We’re all going to die at some point, so why aren’t we talking about it? Why aren’t we planning for it? Many of us just don’t know where to start. This is where the skills of selfdescribed “death doula” Alua Arthur come in.

Can someone be both at the top of her game and a rising star at the same time? When it comes to this issue’s cover girl, we all say yes! With humble roots and the perseverance to keep going, Ros Gold-Onwude will charm you with her truly radiant personality. Watch the exclusive behind-the-scenes video of our cover shoot — we guarantee you’ll catch yourself smiling right along with her!

Alua’s work might just surprise you, as will the positivity she gains from it. Learn why we need more help dying than ever before, and what is really important in life, at WWW.RADIANTHEALTHMAG.COM/DEATHDOULA

It just might change your life.

WWW.RADIANTHEALTHMAG.COM/ROSBTS

NEWS & VIEWS

N EWS

VI EWS

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

STAY IN THE KNOW

CODEINE ABUSE 01.

Ilustrations by Bianca Kipp

Codeine Abuse in Nigeria

02.

Ebola Vaccine Update ACCORDING TO BBC NEWS, the Nigerian Senate

estimates that up to 3 million bottles of codeine syrup were consumed daily in Kano and Jigawa states alone in 2016. The combined population of these states (approximately 13.8 million) paired with a BBC report revealing the appalling conditions of many rehab centers has prompted the government to ban both the production and import of cough syrups containing codeine.

Codeine is an opiate that numbs pain. It is added to certain medicines and can’t be consumed in large quantities; large doses or extended use can lead to kidney and liver damage, pancreatitis, uncontrollable muscle shaking, coma, and death. Codeine is also highly addictive, which means that users will go to any length to get a fix, making the ban’s effectiveness somewhat questionable. Codeine users, including a large number of students, will either put up with higher prices to fuel their addiction or switch to similar substances such as heroin, which is also made from the opium poppy. The cough syrup ban addresses neither the root problem nor the related issues of healthcare and policing. Concerned that someone you know may have fallen into the codeine trap? Look for drowsiness, mood swings (euphoria followed by depression), decreased appetite, constipation, muscle twitches, itching and rashes, and a blue tinge on the lips and fingernails. If you see any of these signs, seek professional assistance. The most severe effects of codeine withdrawal usually last about two weeks, though addicts may battle the physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal for more than a year.

EVERY EBOLA OUTBREAK to date has ended through “contact tracing,” which is the process of locating and isolating everyone an infected person has had contact with. But the sheer scale of the 2013 – 2016 West African outbreak demonstrated a desperate need for additional ways to fight the virus.

One potential line of defense could have been a vaccine developed by Canadian scientists back in 2003. This vaccine doesn’t include any traces of the Zaire form of Ebola that it’s meant to counter; instead, a harmless livestock virus is coated with a protein designed to trick the body’s immune system. Although proven to be 100 percent effective in primates, the Canadian vaccine had not undergone any clinical trials in humans when it was licensed to Merck in 2014. (Ebola has a 50 percent mortality rate, terrible odds for any control group.) But in 2015, a field trial was undertaken in Guinea and Sierra Leone, and not one of the 5,837 persons vaccinated contracted Ebola. The Merck vaccine, named rVSV-ZEBOV, was then deployed to counter outbreaks in May and August of 2018. In both cases, the epidemics were quickly extinguished, and it appears that rVSVZEBOV combined with contract tracing can stem the disease before it can spread to the levels seen from 2013 to 2016. This amazing vaccine is currently in use and yielding impressive results despite a lack of clinical trials, and it will likely remain in high demand in those countries most at risk for future outbreaks.

2018—volume 2

NEWS & VIEWS

03.

The Case for Intermittent Fasting

WANT TO LIVE LONGER? Want to lose weight?

Intermittent fasting (IF) may help you do both.

So, what exactly is intermittent fasting, and how do you do it? Let’s start with what fasting isn’t. It’s not a diet, because it doesn’t actually dictate what you eat, but is instead a pattern of eating. Fasting is also not new; versions of it have been around for as long as humans have. In fact, you already practice a form of intermittent fasting when you’re asleep (assuming that you usually sleep for several hours at a time). If you were to stretch your overnight fast to 16 hours and consume your meals in an eight-hour period of the day, you’d be practicing a common form of IF: the 16/8 method. This type of fasting could help you lose plenty of weight without having to watch what you eat too closely, something many dieters struggle with. When you eat, your body breaks down food for use by the cells that need it. In the process, carbs become sugar, which is what our bodies use for energy. If those sugars aren’t used, the body’s natural response is to store them as fat. When your body has no new energy sources (meaning that you haven’t eaten in a while), it will start releasing stored energy from fat cells.

For those who crave carbs, IF offers a solution that’s often easier than cutting them out altogether, and the 16/8 method is the form that many find easiest to stick to. Some other options are the eat-stop-eat method, in which you take 24 hours off from eating once or twice a week, and the 5:2 approach, in which you consume minimal calories (500 to 600) on two nonconsecutive days while eating normally on the other days. Whichever method you choose, studies have found that you can lose between 3 and 8 percent of your body weight in 3 to 24 weeks using IF methods, with a 4 to 7 percent loss in waist circumference. Want even more benefits? IF has been shown to reduce insulin resistance, helping protect against type 2 diabetes, and it also reduces inflammation levels, which are one driver of chronic disease. Although more studies are needed, early research also suggests a reduction in “bad” cholesterol and cancer risks while increasing the odds of a longer, healthier life. (Fasting lab animals can live up to 36 to 83 percent longer than their non-fasting counterparts.) With all of these benefits, it’s easy to get carried away with IF, but remember that you can’t go crazy during your periods of consumption and expect full benefits. If you load up on junk, you won’t be giving your body an opportunity to clear out old fat cells or trigger cellular regeneration.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

INTERMITTENT FASTING

Studies have found that you can lose between 3 and 8 percent of your body weight in 3 to 24 weeks using IF methods.

And you definitely shouldn’t try to go on an extended fast to burn off your excess fat all at once. Not only are there vital nutrients that you need to survive, but we all know how we behave when hangry (that unpleasant state of hungerinduced anger).

As always, it’s a case of everything in moderation. But at least IF offers the option to have treats, which most diets don’t allow, and that alone may make it easier for you to make healthier choices the rest of the time. Just remember to consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any type of diet or fast.

2018—volume 2

NEWS & VIEWS

04.

Male Contraception: Will Men Ever Be on the Pill?

ASK AROUND, and most guys will tell you that

they’d love a means to prevent pregnancy besides condoms or a vasectomy. And with as many as 40 percent of pregnancies worldwide unintended, we women wouldn’t mind their help in that department. But then ask the same men if they’d be willing to reduce their sperm production and they’ll tell you no way — it’s part of how they define their manhood. So why don’t we have better male contraception? You know, something temporary but reliable that doesn’t threaten anyone’s masculinity?

One reason lies in the numbers. Women release a single egg per month. With female oral contraceptives, all you need to do is stop that single egg from becoming fertilized. (The pill accomplishes this by tricking your body into believing that you’re already pregnant.) Men, on the other hand, produce

hundreds of thousands of sperm daily. How do you trick all of them into believing they’ve already fertilized an egg? We’re still far from figuring that out. Another reason for the lack of male contraceptive options may be that men just aren’t willing to put up with the side effects that women endure when we take the pill. Recent clinical tests for male oral contraceptives were halted due to the reactions they caused, such as weight gain, irritability, and headaches — the same issues that women face while on the pill. It seems fair to ask whether we’ll ever get to a reliable yet reversible form of male contraception that doesn’t depend on having a condom within reach. A viable solution is possible, but the most promising one is still roughly 10 years away and isn’t a pill at all; instead, it’s a gel designed to be rubbed into the shoulders daily.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

There are two other options, but neither has reached the point of widespread clinical testing, and both are even farther from market availability. One involves a gel-like substance injected into the vas deferens to stop sperm from entering the urethra, and is fully reversible through a second injection that dissolves the gel. The last option is, of course, that elusive male oral contraceptive tablet. The question we really need to ask is whether there would be such a long wait if men felt the same level of reproductive responsibility that women do. If men were the ones getting pregnant, would more money and research flow to meet the demands that men would invariably make? You might just find the answer in another set of numbers: while women across the world battle to secure safe, affordable contraceptives, the erectile dysfunction drug market is valued at $4.82 billion worldwide.

MALE CONTRACEPTION

05.

A Sugar Tax for South Africa

06.

Progress Against HIV/AIDS in Africa set an ambitious target to halt the transmission of HIV/AIDS by 2030. In addition, most regions of the world have been able to reduce the number of new cases, including transmission from mother to child. The exceptions may come as a surprise; they are Eastern Europe and Central Asia. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS

SOUTH AFRICA IS THE THIRD most obese country

in the world, led only by the US and the UK, and the country’s highest killer of women is now diabetes. The shocking numbers don’t end there; between 1998 and 2012, its market for soft drinks (or “cool drinks” as they’re known in South Africa) more than doubled. Research shows that drinking two cool drinks a day increases a person’s risk of diabetes by 25 percent, and even just one a day increases the risk of obesity by 27 percent for adults and a whopping 52 percent for kids. In April 2018, the South African government introduced a sugar tax on beverages, both to address the increase in sugar-related health issues and to generate revenue. The tax adds 2.1 cents per each gram of sugar over 4 grams that is added to any drink (with the exception of natural sugars like those found in fruit juice), raising the price of a can of soda by as much as 11 percent. South Africa isn’t the first country to impose a sugar tax, but it is the first African country to do so. The effects of such a tax in other countries have been significant: when a 10 percent tax was introduced in Mexico, cool drink consumption decreased by 10 percent, while sales of non-sugary beverages increased by more than 7 percent. The tax will have the greatest impact on the country’s poorest individuals, who are also those least able to bear the burden of costly sugarrelated health issues such as diabetes. Only time will tell what effect this tax will have on South African health, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

Between 2010 and 2016, sub-Saharan Africa has seen a 29 percent decrease in new HIV infections. However, it’s believed that 30 percent of those already infected aren’t aware of their status. This lack of awareness is not only due to the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS (which is still prevalent worldwide), but also to the fact that testing remains both financially and logistically difficult in the areas it’s most needed. And for those with HIV/AIDS, testing for the disease is only the first step. Patients receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment should also have their viral load tested annually. These tests show the efficacy of the ARV treatments, but more important, they can indicate that a patient is unlikely to transmit the disease to others — a critical factor in reducing transmission to zero by 2030. We’re on our way to achieving the 2030 goal with the help of reduced-cost tests. The Clinton Health Access Initiative and other development agencies have brought the cost of a viral load test down from $60 to $12, providing immense financial relief to countries already struggling to fund the health of their citizens and contributing greatly to hastening the end of HIV/AIDS transmission.

2018—volume 2

NEWS & VIEWS

07.

Suicide and African Women

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

SUICIDE AND AFRICAN WOMEN

Suicide rates are on the rise, and the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 79 percent of suicides occur in low-and middleincome countries.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT to not hear

about the suicides of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade; their high-profile status ensured that their deaths were splashed across the news. And while we’re all becoming a bit more socially aware of the issues underlying suicide through the help of shows such as Thirteen Reasons Why, we should also focus on the realworld statistics. Suicide rates are on the rise, and the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 79 percent of suicides occur in lowand middle-income countries. In August 2018, South African university student Khensani Maseko committed suicide after struggling to cope in the aftermath of a rape attack in May. She’s now part of a sad statistic — more than 23 people on average take their own lives daily in South Africa. That’s one suicide every hour in the country, with an overall suicide mortality rate of 11.6 in 100,000. According to the WHO, South Africa is sixth in per capita suicide rates in Africa, with Lesotho, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Swaziland, and Cameroon all ranking higher. While the dramatic rise in the number of suicides in Africa may be due in part to previously underreported cases in some countries, either because of the difficulty in reporting or the stigma attached to suicide across the continent, the fact remains that suicide is on the rise. It is the second leading cause of death for 15 to 29-yearolds globally, and the number of suicides in women in the US increased by 50 percent between 2000 and 2016.

While depression is still a leading cause of suicide, it’s not the only reason a person might decide to take their own life. What are some of the warning signs you should be on the lookout for, both in yourself and those around you? »» Making threats to hurt or kill oneself »» Looking for ways to attempt suicide, such as getting access to pills or a gun »» Talking about death, dying, or suicide out loud or on social media »» Showing signs of rage or revenge-seeking »» Being reckless or doing uncharacteristically risky things »» Feeling trapped and withdrawing from social activities »» Experiencing anxiety or having trouble sleeping »» Exhibiting dramatic shifts in mood Half or more of all suicides may be preventable with intervention and the best place to start is with you. The more you know, the more you can help. Learn more about the symptoms of suicidal behavior and how to support those in need at sprc.org.

2018—volume 2

NEWS & VIEWS

08.

The End of Secondhand Junk?

TECHNOLOGY CAN CERTAINLY make our lives eas-

ier and more connected, but it also poses serious risks. We’re not talking about cyberstalking or the dangers of too much screen time, though those too are very real concerns, but the serious health risks that are literally built into products such as cell phones, microwaves, and LCD televisions. Toxic substances such as lead, mercury, flame retardants, cadmium, chromium, and dioxins can all be found inside our tech, and exposure to these toxins can lead to higher rates of miscarriage and stillbirth as well as decreased lung function, among other serious conditions.

When old computers and phones are cracked open, these toxins can spill into the environment, endangering surrounding communities. Yet many of these objects are being dumped in Africa, despite the laws and protocols prohibiting the import of used electrical and electronic equipment (UEEE) into countries that don’t have proper disposal channels for these items. While usable items of all types can provide business opportunities on the continent, a recent review shows that as much as 26 percent of the

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

items received is actually unusable garbage. And though customs officers have become adept at finding these items being transported in shipping containers, used vehicles such as cars and school buses are now being used as clever storage spaces for these goods. Some countries, such as Nigeria, are cracking down on the import of used electronics; others, including Rwanda, are putting a stop to the import of secondhand clothing in order to develop their own industries. But Rwanda’s refusal to accept containers of used clothing from the United States has put the country under fire from the current US administration. Bullying in the form of revoked benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity (AGOA) Act, in which African exporters receive favorable trade tariffs on certain export products to the US, has forced Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Burundi to stand their ground to protect their industries. While this story is still playing out, it’s becoming increasingly clear that African countries are done with secondhand junk.

SECONDHAND JUNK

10.

How Small Groups Can Have a Big Impact

09.

Is There a (Woman) Doctor in the House? DID YOU KNOW that heart attacks are more deadly for women than for men? In the United States, 19 percent of men aged 45 and up will die within the year following a heart attack, but this figure rises to 26 percent for women.

There are several possible reasons for these statistics. Women often exhibit “atypical” heart attack symptoms (meaning different than those experienced by men), are generally older when they experience their first heart attack (an average age of 72 for women compared to 65 for men), and are more likely to wait before seeking treatment. But there may also be another factor at work. Women have better survival rates when treated by female doctors in the ER — but 90 percent of ER doctors are men. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that female patients treated by female doctors are two to three times more likely to survive a heart attack. Female patients also experience an increased chance of survival when treated by male doctors who have treated a high number of female patients, as well as in situations where the ratio of female to male doctors is higher. The study suggests that one reason for these findings may be in how women communicate. And though you’re unlikely to have your pick of health care professionals in an emergency situation, you do have control over how and with whom you discuss your medical concerns both before and after a crisis. It’s something else to keep in mind, besides reducing your risk of heart disease, in order to actively advocate for your health.

NEED

MAKE

MEANINGFUL

CHANGE?

Something like overcoming gender or racial inequality in your workplace? It turns out you may only need to have the support of 25 percent of your group to succeed. And that’s good news for a lot of us in a lot of situations. People used to think that it took 51 percent of a group to effect change, but over the last half century, observational studies have shown the tipping point to create a social change lies somewhere between 10 and 40 percent. Researchers recently devised a study in which groups picked a common phrase and then factions of the group had to motivate to change it. As an added hurdle, those chosen to oppose the change were also provided with financial incentives to stick with the established norm. (Sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it?) Believe it or not, as long as the faction campaigning for change amounted to at least 25 percent of the whole, it could sway the establishment — even when the latter group’s financial rewards were doubled or tripled. You can test out this theory yourself with something small, like forming an exercise habit among your friends, or go full-scale and work to make a big difference in our society; there are certainly plenty of problems to solve.

2018—volume 2

0 SECTION

healthy eating

page 28.

CLEARING THE CONFUSION AROUND LOW-CARB DIETS Can I have my carbs back?

page 32.

INTERVIEW AGATHA ACHINDU Nutrition for the next generation

page 38.

LOCAL CHAMP OKRA Lady fingers, veggie of many virtues

page 42.

OKRA ON THE MENU 4 amazing okra recipes — which to try first?

HEALTHY EATING

Clearing the Confusion Around Low-Carbohydrate Diets

CAN I HAVE MY CARBS BACK?

words by Allison Knott, MS, RDN, CSSD

The low-carb versus low-fat debate is common in the nutrition conversation. Within the span of one short year, some headlines declared that low-carbohydrate diets can increase your lifespan while others stated the exact opposite that low-carbohydrate diets will shorten your lifespan. The media’s mixed messages have left many people confused about what type of diet to follow in order to stay healthy or lose weight.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

CLEARING THE LOW-CARB CONFUSION

‹‹ Carbohydrates are found in grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, and dairy, each of which contains one or more of the three types of carbohydrates.

What Are Carbohydrates, Really? Before we take a closer look at the research, we must first understand carbohydrates and their role in the body. Carbohydrates, along with protein and fat, are considered a macronutrient. Macronutrients make up the majority of the human diet, and carbohydrates are the body’s primary energy source. There are three types of carbohydrates: starches, fibers, and sugars. Carbohydrates are found in grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, and dairy, each of which contains one or more of the three types of carbohydrates. Refined grains and added sugars are two additional sources of carbohydrates that are often found in highly processed foods. These types of carbohydrates can be identified on a product’s list of ingredients. Added sugars can also sometimes be found on the nutrition facts label, though in the US this information won’t be required until 2020 per the Food and Drug Administration. When carbohydrates are consumed, they are digested into glucose, the body’s primary energy source. This glucose enters the bloodstream and is either used right away for energy or is stored in the body as either glycogen (glucose stored in the liver or muscles) or fat for use when needed. Research shows that each type of carbohydrate is processed differently in digestion. For example, foods that are high in fiber, such as whole grains, will typically take longer to digest versus foods that are lower in fiber, like refined grains. This variance in the rate of digestion plays a role in the development of the glycemic index (GI), a

numerical system used to rank foods based on how they affect blood glucose levels. Other nutrients, such as protein and fat, also play a role in this process. The Rise of the Low-Carb Revolution “Make half of your grains whole grains.” This is the recommendation from the latest version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Health and Human Services. Other leading health organizations make similar recommendations for choosing whole food sources of carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. But despite these guidelines, the lowcarbohydrate diet has endured due to its promise of rapid weight loss, blood sugar management, and general health improvement. In the late 1990s to early 2000s, the Atkins Diet, an extremely low-carbohydrate diet, became one of the most popular diets in America. Since then, this type of diet has persisted, with the ketogenic diet being one of the most popular iterations today. What Qualifies as a Low-Carb Diet? Unfortunately for the general population, there is no single definition of a lowcarbohydrate diet. Interpretations vary from the low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet, which limits carbohydrate intake to no more than 20 to 30 grams per day, to other more flexible approaches that recommend an intake of less than 40 percent of total calories from carbohydrates (or 200 grams of carbohydrates in a diet of 2,000 calories per day).

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HEALTHY EATING

To better understand what this might look like in terms of food, consider that one gram of carbohydrate contains four calories. A medium-sized banana contains approximately 30 grams of carbohydrates, or about 120 calories from carbohydrates. By using food for context, you can quickly see how varied the carbohydrate intake can be between different iterations of a lowcarbohydrate diet. This wide variation is important when interpreting the research on the benefits and limitations of lowcarbohydrate diets. A Mixed Bag of Results Some studies have shown that people who follow a low-carbohydrate diet have beneficial health outcomes, while other studies have also shown positive effects from following a low-fat diet. A 2006 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that women who followed low-carbohydrate diets that emphasized vegetable sources of fat and protein had a lower risk for coronary heart disease. Other studies have come to similar conclusions by showing that replacing some carbohydrates with protein or unsaturated fats can result in positive outcomes such as lower LDL cholesterol and blood sugar levels. But when it comes to comparing low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets, the results are surprising.

Research shows that while following a lowcarbohydrate diet results in more rapid weight loss in a shorter period of time versus a low-fat diet, this may not matter in the long run. One study in the New England Journal of Medicine compared low-carbohydrate diets to low-fat diets in a small group of obese men. The study found that at three months, the lowcarbohydrate group had lost more weight than the low-fat group. But more important, the study also found that after one year, the two diet groups had no significant differences in total weight loss. Another study published just this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association compared a group of 609 overweight men and women and found no difference in weight loss outcomes between what researchers termed a “healthy low-carbohydrate diet” and a “healthy low-fat diet” after one year. (For reference, the low-carbohydrate group in this study consumed 30 percent of total calories from carbohydrates while the low-fat group consumed 48 percent of total calories from carbohydrates.) The Plants Have It! Lower total carbohydrate intake can be beneficial to some, especially those looking to lower their blood glucose and triglyceride levels. However, equally as important as total carbohydrate intake is what those carbohydrates are replaced with.

» A 2006 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that women who followed lowcarbohydrate diets that emphasized vegetable sources of fat and protein had a lower risk for coronary heart disease. 30

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

CLEARING THE LOW-CARB CONFUSION

» Consistently, plantbased sources of carbohydrates, such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans, has been associated with a lower overall risk for chronic disease.

Many studies investigating low-carbohydrate diets emphasize the replacement of carbohydrates with unsaturated fats and protein from plant sources. The studies have also shown that replacing carbohydrates with saturated fats from animal sources does not have a positive benefit on heart health, further emphasizing the importance of taking into account a person’s overall diet and not just total grams of carbohydrates consumed. Adherence to a particular diet over time is consistently shown to have the greatest effect on health outcomes. In other words, following a diet for a short period of time might result in weight loss, but it is what you do over the long haul that will have the greatest impact. When deciding what type of diet to follow, it’s important to consider individual factors and to remember that no single diet is best for everyone. For many, this might mean taking the approach of adopting a balanced diet that includes moderate amounts of carbohydrates. Two recent studies, though reported differently in the popular press, have found that diets with a moderate carbohydrate intake have the best health outcomes. Both of the large studies,

published in 2017 and 2018 in The Lancet, show that carbohydrate consumption totaling about half of a person’s total calorie intake is associated with improved outcomes, which were defined in these studies as increased life expectancy. It’s also important to consider that the source of the carbohydrates makes a difference in health outcomes. Consistently, plant-based sources of carbohydrates, such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans, has been associated with a lower overall risk for chronic disease. This is because many of these foods provide not only carbohydrates, but also additional nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that contribute to improved health. In contrast, highly processed or refined sources of carbohydrates and excess added sugars have been shown to contribute to poor health outcomes and should be taken into account when determining not only what type of diet to follow, but also what the composition of that diet should be. Instead of singling out specific macronutrients, it may be more beneficial to focus instead on a healthy eating pattern that includes a variety of nutrient-rich foods.

2018—volume 2

HEALTHY EATING

A Spoonful of Goodness AGATHA ACHINDU’S MISSION TO IMPROVE KIDS’ NUTRITION

words by Nikki Igbo

I recall hearing this nearly 200-year-old phrase for the first time in elementary school and then using it to make fun of all my friends who ate nuts or boogers. But as I spoke with my fellow Atlantan, founder and Chief Yummy Officer of Yummy Spoonfuls, Agatha Achindu, the import of that old phrase, particularly with regard to my two toddler sons, struck a nerve. “When a child eats, that food is building their cells,” Agatha explained. “Their food plays so much into their overall wellness.”

be compromised. Her child may have an allergy. The moment she changed her child’s diet, the problem went away. Children are naturally born healthy, with a robust immune system, and all we need to do is nourish that immune system because that is their number one defense. When the immune system is compromised, that is when you have a problem.” Agatha, once a six-figure-salaried IT executive, gave up her cushy income along with $500,000 in her 401(k) to build Yummy Spoonfuls, an honestly organic baby and toddler food brand launched in late 2006. For the Nigerianborn farmer’s daughter who’d been raised in Cameroon around fresh, organic food all her life, the reasoning for creating Yummy Spoonfuls was simple.

I was reminded of the cold and flu season, now in full swing at my sons’ daycare, and how I’d recently loaded up the medicine cabinet in anticipation of the seemingly inevitable runny noses and coughs they’d collect from classmates. “Yummy Spoonfuls came to be just from my But Agatha’s reasoning turned my head around. need to be of service. There was no money tied to it. There were no expectations. There was “In a workshop I’d taught once, a mom shared just me knowing in my core that parents would with me that she’d been to the doctor’s office six do better when they know better, because there times for her child’s ear infection and doctors is no parent who doesn’t have the same type of were prepared to put a tube in her child’s ear. I love for their kid as I do for mine.” told her that her child’s immune system might

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

images courtesy of Agatha Achindu

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.

2018—volume 2

HEALTHY EATING

Of course, the story behind this simple statement is incredibly deep. The proliferation of the Yummy Spoonfuls brand, which is now available in Whole Foods, Target, and most recently Walmart, came about after a partnership with fellow mompreneur Camila Alves. Before that, there were many, many sleepless nights spent in a rented commercial kitchen. And before that, Agatha had to teach her husband Georges how to properly peel a carrot. But even that was only after leading several nutritional workshops for moms-to-be at a local hospital—which came only after a near-death experience. (You may want to nourish yourself with an avocado or a helping of almonds before reading on.) AFLP and a Prayer Agatha had always had a knack for whipping up great-tasting, healthy meals. We’re talking about someone who baked and decorated a wedding cake for the first time at the age of nine. Agatha just calls it her natural gift. She had no idea it would turn into a calling or a business. “When I first arrived in the United States, coming from a different food culture, it was easy for me to see that the food here was making people sick. Back then I would always help people change recipes but I wasn’t committed to it. I would do it when I had some spare time. I take so much pleasure in cooking. It’s never like a job for me. But when I went through that experience with my first pregnancy ...” “I am a multiplicity of things. I am a business owner. I am a mother. I am a wife. I am not going to allow myself to feel guilty when I am playing my role as a business owner. ”

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

AGATHA ACHINDU

“When I first arrived in the United States, coming from a different food culture, it was easy for me to see that the food here was making people sick.” For the first nine months of carrying her first son, Agatha’s pregnancy was the stuff of dreams. No headaches. No morning sickness. No nothing. She went to yoga and to the gym regularly. “I was about two weeks to my due date on January ninth. Christmas Eve I spent cooking and doing all kinds of stuff. On Christmas Day, my sister-in-law flew in from Paris to spend Christmas with us. I got to the airport, picked her up, we came home, and I told her, ‘You know what? I’m feeling way too tired than normal.’ She was like, ‘No, you’re about to pop a baby, so this is normal.’ But I usually don’t get tired. I am really an active person. She told me to get some rest, and I did.”

know my body — and this is true outside of pregnancy, whether it is being in shape or being healthy in whatever way — I would have believed that whatever works for A will also work for B. I just knew that I wasn’t feeling good and I didn’t let it pass. There was nothing physically that I could point to outside of my color. I just didn’t feel right and so I went to the doctor.”

only thing I remember was walking into the hospital, talking to my doctor and him saying, ‘We need to take you into triage.’ After that, I was in the hospital for nearly a month. I remember just praying to God, saying, ‘If you just give me this chance to raise this child you’ve given me, I will make the life of every child a priority just like mine. I’ll do whatever it is you want me to do when it comes to [the] wellness of children.’”

It turned out that Agatha had developed acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP), which is a complication that affects After Agatha’s release from the hospital, an estimated one in 10,000 to 20,0000 she never looked back. She immediately pregnancies every year according to the approached local hospitals to offer Preeclampsia Foundation. AFLP causes nutrition and healthy cooking guidance fat to subtly and slowly accumulate in to expectant mothers. liver cells as well as the placenta, kidneys, and other sites due to a defective “The staffs kept asking, ‘What’s your plan? Agatha rose after a brief nap to go to the mitochondrial beta-oxidation of fatty What’s your plan?’ I said, ‘I don’t have a bathroom, but once there, she noticed acids that develops in mothers or in the company. I don’t have a brand. I just have her reflection and knew something was fetuses they are carrying. the knowledge — I can teach, I can help.’ not right. I started teaching and it just kept going, The potentially fatal disorder, which and I started doing little workshops here “My skin appeared darker than normal and typically presents late in pregnancy or and there.” my eyes looked yellow. There was definitely sometimes after delivery, is difficult to something wrong.” diagnose and is often confused with The more workshops Agatha led, the preeclampsia and/or hemolysis, elevated more she realized how expectant Agatha then drove to the hospital with her liver enzymes, low platelet count mothers simply were not aware of what sister-in-law, but even her doctor was unsure (HELLP) syndrome. the most popular baby food brands were of what the problem was. Agatha insisted actually serving. that there was definitely an issue, and that After going to triage, Agatha went into persistence may very well have saved her life. a coma. “There’s a general belief that all food labeled ‘organic’ is okay. I remember “There is no better advocate for yourself than “I woke up with a newborn. Two days telling 32 women in a workshop how the you. You can only get the best treatment were lost in my life. To this day, I cannot baby food out there is actually two years by taking ownership of, learning, and remember what happened. It was erased. old. None of them knew that organic understanding your own body. If I didn’t I think God took that trauma away. The baby food on the shelves was that old

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HEALTHY EATING

because nobody looks at the labels. People started looking at the labels and finding how the production date was 2004 but the expiration date was 2006. “They came to the realization that if they were pregnant, then the food their baby was going to eat had already been cooked. Then their babies would be six months old before they were even ready to eat that food. That was a huge awakening and continues to be a big aha moment for a lot of parents.”

our entire 401(k). He looked at me and said, ‘Hmmm. It’s okay. I believe in your mission and I trust you.’” Agatha, a staunch believer, continued to pray. She asked her Lord to give her the wisdom and the strength to see and hear only the things that were purposeful to her. One of those things was a book entitled Fighting the Food Giants by former Quaker Oats biochemist Paul Stitt. The book describes the dangers of the American Food Industry and the importance of a proper diet.

Seeing the Need for Convenience

“When I read that book, in my heart I just knew that we needed to prove that healthy, delicious As Agatha continued to provide these workshops, food can be made commercially. We can make she also discovered that parents, although money doing the right things. With convenience equipped with more knowledge on healthy food, the assumption is they are doing their best eating practices, couldn’t always act accordingly. and they can’t do any better. When I founded this company, I wanted it to be viable so it could “Some parents will start making food and then encourage other people to create these types of realize that it is taking too much time. As much businesses. Nutrition is such an important part as their hearts wanted to do it, their bodies of wellness.” physically could not go to work, take care of the baby, and then make all the food. They That’s exactly why Yummy Spoonfuls, which actually needed sleep. Moms are always taking provides meals for babies and children up to care of the world and we are the last. That’s five years, is committed to doing what brands why self-care for mothers is not a luxury, it is like Gerber and Beechnut do not. a survival tool. I tried to create solutions by having moms organize into groups, put their “If you’re doing something that is good for the money together, batch cook enough for each world, blessings will come. I am a testament. participating family, and share.” When we make our meals, we make it from scratch using wholesome ingredients. There is Despite the know-how and tools to get their nothing in it that you cannot pronounce. Not healthy cooking accomplished, moms still even citric acid. We make our meals just like you returned to Agatha. At the end of the day, she make it at home. When you cook your meals, you would end up being the one cooking the food don’t stop and add any additives or preservatives. and sharing. Neither do we. And that is the mission and core of Yummy Spoonfuls, which you can now find in “One mom said, ‘My child doesn’t like it when the freezer section at Walmart.” I cook it. My child only eats when you cook it.’ It struck me that moms really wanted the What About the American Food Industry? convenience of the kind of food they can make quickly that kids are sure to eat and enjoy.” The original 20 minutes I planned to spend speaking with Agatha Achindu stretched That’s when Yummy Spoonfuls began to take shape. into well over an hour. In the midst of our conversation, I held back tears on several “God had seen how difficult this path would be occasions. So many nights I’ve stayed up and He just put the right person for me. It was worrying about how to get my eldest to try a challenge. It still is. When I met my husband more healthy foods. I’ve worried incessantly Georges, he couldn’t even peel a carrot. By the about wiping down surfaces, washing time we were two years into this business, he hands, and dosing multivitamins to ward off could peel a 50-pound bag of carrots within an illnesses. I have lost sleep and beaten myself hour. He would get off work and meet me in up while sacrificing my own personal pursuits, the commercial kitchen. Sometimes I’d be in wondering if I was doing right by my children. the kitchen all night. When Agatha said the following, I was touched: “At this point, we’re in Whole Foods Market and “The one thing that was important to me Dean & DeLuca. And trying to get funding as was that I wasn’t going to have mom’s guilt. a black woman in the organic space — that’s a Being a mother is one of many things that I whole different article. I remember when I told am. Motherhood isn’t just who I am. I am a Georges that we needed to put in more money, multiplicity of things. I am a business owner. I

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

AGATHA ACHINDU

“We make our meals just like you make it at home. When you cook your meals, you don’t stop and add any additives or preservatives. Neither do we.”

am a mother. I am a wife. I am not going to allow myself to feel guilty when I am playing my role as a business owner. I just can’t shut myself down because I am a wife or a mother. Some days I’ve just needed to focus on being a businesswoman and making it work because so many sacrifices have already been made.” In the midst of juggling those various hats and continuing her workshops and speaking engagements, Agatha still found time to study at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and will graduate a certified Integrative Nutrition Wellness Coach this December. Even as a soughtafter teacher in the areas of health and nutrition, Agatha remains humble and open to learning more. “I have dedicated my life to healthy eating and because of that I never really experienced weight issues. Even after I had my last baby, I went back down to a size 4. But at the end of 2016, without changing anything about my diet, I put on 20 pounds. I realized then that there is more to wellness than nutrition. I went back to school to discover other aspects of wellness. Food is a big deal, but there is also finances and your job and spirituality.” I have no doubt that what Agatha has learned will definitely go into making

Yummy Spoonfuls, already the recipient of such awards as the Clean Label Project’s “Best In Class,” an even better brand for moms and kids. As Agatha explained earlier on in our conversation, her company’s model stands in stark contrast to the status quo of America’s food giants, and that status quo is deeply entrenched with even deeper pockets. In October 2016, a report published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine revealed that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo funded 96 major public health groups in the US, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Diabetes Association. They provided funding even as they publicly opposed 28 legislative bills targeting soda consumption as a strategy for boosting nutrition — 12 of which were for soda taxes.

According to a 2014 report by Mother Jones, the main sponsor and sole provider of lunch at the Annual California Dietetics Association’s two-day conference was McDonald’s. At that same conference, Hershey’s, Butter Buds, Sizzler, California Pizza Kitchen, and Boston Market all gave away samples or hosted free evening buffets. The California Beef Council distributed pamphlets on how to shed weight on a diet of steak. I could go on and on with more examples of these sponsorships, which says a lot about the state of nutrition consciousness in the West. The sweetheart relationships between Big Food and organizations that are supposed to advocate for health and wellness are like trusting a hungry lion to babysit a pair of baby wildebeests; the only one who stands to benefit ultimately is the lion. Then when we consider the state of the medical industry, the plot only thickens.

In that same year, the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) hosted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics “We have a medical system that is pro(the world’s largest organization of food business. Business before health,” Agatha and nutrition professionals, policy makers, added. “We need to be able to understand healthcare providers, and industry leaders what that means to us. We need to always addressing key issues affecting American come from the premise of giving our health) was sponsored by PepsiCo, Nestlé, money where it does the most good for the American Beverage Association, the ourselves and our families. That’s why I’m National Confectioners Association, and really interested in helping parents take a the Sugar Association. closer look at prioritizing food parenting.

2018—volume 2

Local Champ Okra

»Our Local Champ series celebrates the diversity of the African kitchen by highlighting a different traditional, indigenous food in each issue.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

LOCAL CHAMP OKRA

6 Great Reasons to Enjoy More Lady Fingers words by Cordialis Msora, R.D.

Okra thrived in a small part of my mother’s garden. I was not a fan, but mama loved it. At least once a week, she would head into the garden, knife in hand, and cut down the freshest fingers of the vegetable that she could find. »

2018—volume 2

HEALTHY EATING

HER SIMPLE RECIPE was one that I had seen

gogo (grandmother) make numerous times before. Boil a little water, add bicarbonate of soda, throw in the chopped okra and tomatoes, and then season with salt and peri-peri peppers before allowing the mixture to stew in an open pot. When tiny bubbles rose to the surface, mama would stir the stew, allowing the okra to release a thick, slippery juice with each turn of her wooden spoon. It’s that juice that fueled my childhood disdain of okra. I detested the long string of sticky mucilage that trailed from my fingers when I grabbed a hearty portion of the stewed vegetable. I hated the slurping noises I was forced to make as I gobbled each bite and tried to prevent okra from dripping onto my clothes. Each mouthful I took slithered down my throat, and I worried that the barely chewed morsels of sadza (a thick cornmeal porridge) that accompanied the okra would somehow lodge in my chest and remain stuck. But okra grew on me. I learned to look past the slimy texture and focus on the flavors it brought to my plate. Today, I cook derere like mama did, but I also experiment with recipes that have helped make okra a staple in many kitchens. From West African okro soup to Indian bhindi to American gumbo and fried okra, my affinity for the vegetable has blossomed. Beyond its unique flavor, here are six additional reasons to celebrate one of Africa’s most popular vegetables.

1. FOR VERSATILITY Almost all parts of the okra plant can be consumed. While the long, pointed-tipped fruit is by far the most popular part of the plant, the leaves, buds, flowers, stems, and seeds are also edible. The fruit can be used as a thickening agent, stewed, fried, steamed, sautéed, or even added to salads, whereas the leaves can be enjoyed as a leafy green vegetable in salads or cooked in the same way as other leafy greens. Oil can be extracted from the fruit’s seeds, which can also be roasted and brewed into a caffeine-free alternative to coffee. 2. TO BOOST NUTRITION In addition to providing vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and helps cells form, okra is a good source of vitamin A, which not only improves immunity and cell function but also plays an important role in eye health. In some parts of Africa, people do not get enough vitamin A, so consuming okra on a regular basis can help ensure adequate intake of the nutrient. Okra also provides vitamin K, which assists in forming and maintaining strong bones and helps blood to clot. A good source of magnesium, calcium, and potassium, okra may also be beneficial to nerve and muscle function, bone health, and blood pressure. As an added bonus, the seeds of the vegetable are rich in protein, with a nutritional profile comparable to soybeans. The seeds are rich in

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

LOCAL CHAMP OKRA

tryptophan and lysine, two amino acids that are generally lacking in starchy foods, making okra a great addition to many of Africa’s starch-based diets. 3. TO HELP HEART HEALTH The sticky nature of okra is a tell-tale sign of the presence of soluble fiber, a soft and sticky gellike substance that has been shown to improve health by binding cholesterol and taking it out of the body. This process helps prevent the accumulation of harmful plaque in the arteries, reducing the risk of heart attack. 4. TO BALANCE BLOOD SUGAR Along with soluble fiber, which improves heart health, okra also contains insoluble fiber. Nicknamed “natures broom” because it literally sweeps harmful substances out of the body and adds bulk to stool, insoluble fiber aids in keeping the waistline svelte by helping you get full and stay full longer. Insoluble fiber controls the rate at which sugar is absorbed, which in turn helps control blood sugar levels.

Want to try okra but are worried about the texture? Try these hacks to reduce the amount of mucilage produced: »» Soak okra in vinegar for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking. »» Cook okra whole or cut it into large chunks. The smaller the pieces, the more slippery it will become. »» Sauté, roast, or grill okra at very high heat before cooking it further. »» Allow washed okra to air dry at room temperature before cooking. »» Reduce the amount of liquid when cooking and avoid overcrowding the pot. Here’s to your health!

5. FOR A STRONGER STOMACH In today’s world of diets loaded with refined foods, strong acids, caffeine, medications, and numerous allergens, the lining that protects our stomach is constantly being weakened. This increases the risk of harmful bacteria sticking to the lining of the stomach and wreaking havoc on our health. The sticky nature of okra helps protect the stomach lining, preventing bacteria such as ulcer-causing H-pylori from attaching to it. 6. TO FIGHT FATIGUE Constantly feeling tired? Try some okra. Recent research suggests that okra seeds can help reduce the levels of lactic acid and urea in the bloodstream, helping the liver to better store glycogen, which the body uses for energy.

2018—volume 2

' LovelyLadies 4 AMAZING OKRA RECIPES — WHICH TO TRY FIRST?

Fingers

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

Shrimp & Okra Gumbo

recipes & photography by Gabriela Iancu

2018—volume 2

HEALTHY EATING

Okra Patties with Lemon-Basil Yogurt Dip Makes 16 appetizer-sized servings — These golden okra patties are pan fried with a crispy outside and spicy soft center. Crunchy and addicting, they pair perfectly with this refreshing lemon-basil yogurt dip, and will be readily devoured!

A perfect addition to any party!

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

OKRA PATTIES

NUTRITION FACTS

servings: 8

PER SERVING CALORIES

total fat

1.2g

saturated fat INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups okra slices 1 jalapeno, finely chopped 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper 1 clove garlic, minced 1 cup yellow cornmeal 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1/2 cup water Salt and pepper 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt Juice of 1/2 lemon Handful of basil leaves

% DAILY VALUE

0.3g

cholesterol

20mg

sodium

167mg

total carb dietary fiber sugars protein

15.2g

1.9g

2g 3.4g

total mineral vitamin d

2mcg

10%

calcium

51mg

iron

1mg

potassium

202mg

Daily percentage value based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Data analyzed from verywell.com

PREPARATION

1. Combine the cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. 2. Whisk together the egg and water, add to the cornmeal mixture, and stir together with a spatula. 3. Mix in the okra, jalapeno, red bell pepper, and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 4. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and fry each patty for about 3 minutes per side or until golden. 5. Mix the yogurt, lemon, and basil together in a blender and serve with the patties.

2018—volume 2

HEALTHY EATING

Okra & Shrimp Gumbo Serves 2 — Gumbo is an iconic dish that sits at the intersection of African, Native American, and European cultures, and its original base ingredients were okra and tomatoes. Our version of this well-loved dish begins with a roux and then gets packed with fresh okra and shrimp to make a classic stew.

INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

2 tablespoons grass-fed butter 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 onion, finely chopped 1 cup finely chopped green bell pepper 1/2 cup finely chopped celery 1 garlic clove, minced 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup diced tomatoes 1 1/2 cups okra (fresh or frozen), sliced into rounds 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 bay leaf 1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional) Hot cooked rice and finely chopped parsley to serve

1. Melt butter in a large cast iron pan over medium heat, then add the flour and cook until deep brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. 2. Add the onion, celery, bell peppers, and garlic, and cook over moderately low heat, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. 3. Stir in the thyme, salt, tomatoes, okra, broth, and bay leaf, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes. 4. Add shrimp and hot sauce, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or just until shrimp turns pink. 5. Remove and discard bay leaf. Serve over hot rice and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

OKRA & SHRIMP GUMBO

NUTRITION FACTS

servings: 2

PER SERVING CALORIES total fat saturated fat

% DAILY VALUE

480 14.5g

19%

7.4g

37%

cholesterol

312mg

104%

sodium

1871mg

81%

total carb dietary fiber sugars protein

45.8g

17%

6.7g

24%

9.3g 44g

total mineral vitamin d

0mcg

calcium

207mg

16%

iron

5mg

27%

potassium

757mg

16%

Daily percentage value based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Data analyzed from verywell.com

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HEALTHY EATING

̂Although plenty tasty on its own, shrimp adds an additional flavor and texture boost.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

OKRA SOUP

INGREDIENTS

Okra Soup Serves 2 — Okra provides a savory thickness to one-pot dishes. This rich okra soup, part of the cultural heritage of West Africa, embodies the authentic flavor of shellfish while being high in dietary fiber and low in calories.

PREPARATION

1. Roughly chop the onion, garlic, bell pepper, and scotch bonnet pepper and then blend to a coarse consistency using a food processor. 2. Heat the palm oil in a large cast iron pan over medium heat and sauté the vegetables and crayfish for about 1 to 2 minutes.

2 tablespoons red palm oil 1 medium onion 1 clove garlic 1 medium bell pepper 1 scotch bonnet pepper 2 tablespoons ground crayfish 3 cups chicken broth 2 cups chopped okra 1 cup chopped spinach 1 cup precooked, smoked chicken breast, cubed 1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined Salt and pepper to taste

NUTRITION FACTS

servings: 2

PER SERVING CALORIES

684

total fat

46.7g

saturated fat

3. Using the food processor, blend the okra to a coarse consistency and add it to the pan. 4. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add shrimp and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Finally, add the smoked chicken and spinach, stir for about 1 to 2 minutes, and serve warm with fufu.

% DAILY VALUE

60%

19.2g

96%

cholesterol

255mg

85%

sodium

913mg

40%

total carb dietary fiber sugars protein

23.3g

5.9g

21%

9g 38g

total mineral vitamin d

0mcg

calcium

224mg

17%

iron

2mg

13%

potassium

849mg

18%

Daily percentage value based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Data analyzed from verywell.com

2018—volume 2

HEALTHY EATING

NUTRITION FACTS

servings: 20

PER SERVING

% DAILY VALUE

CALORIES

116

total fat

6.2g

3.3g

17%

cholesterol

4mg

sodium

25mg

total carb

14.4g

dietary fiber

0.5g

sugars

11g

saturated fat

protein

1.3g

total mineral vitamin d

0mcg

calcium

39mg

iron

0mg

potassium

55mg

Daily percentage value based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Data analyzed from verywell.com

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

WHITE CHOCOLATE OKRA BARK

White Chocolate Bark with Okra, Raspberries, and Papaya Makes about 40 squares — This white chocolate bark is quick and easy to make, and has the perfect melt-in-your mouth texture. Smooth and chewy, with the fragrant flavor of okra and pops of sweetness from raspberries and papaya, this may be the perfect little homemade gift for the upcoming holiday season.

PREPARATION

INGREDIENTS

1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

20 ounces of 35 percent white chocolate enhanced with vanilla, tempered 1/2 cup dried okra slices 1/2 cup dried raspberries 3/4 cup candied papaya cubes 2 teaspoons flax seeds

2. Pour tempered white chocolate onto prepared baking sheet. Using an offset spatula, quickly spread the white chocolate into a thin, even layer. 3. Immediately sprinkle on the okra, flax seeds, crushed raspberries, and papaya cubes evenly over the white chocolate. Gently press toppings into the chocolate. Let the bark set completely. 4. You can cut the bark into strips or squares, or break it apart into small or medium-sized pieces. Store white chocolate bark in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 2 weeks. NOTE: Dried fruits or vegetables like the ones used in this recipe can be found at specialty stores or online. Alternatively, you can dry fruits and vegetables in the oven, with no need for a dehydrator. Just set the oven to 200° F and spread the fruit in an even layer on a baking sheet. Depending on the type of fruit and how thin it is sliced, the drying process can take anywhere from 1 to 8 hours.

TEMPERING WHITE CHOCOLATE

1. Place 80 percent of the white chocolate in a double boiler and reserve the rest for later. Stir occasionally until approximately two-thirds of the chocolate has melted. 2. Remove the pan from its pot, wipe off any excess water from the bottom of the pan, and add in the remaining chocolate. As it is stirred in, the unmelted chocolate will cool the melted chocolate to the proper temperature.

2018—volume 2

SECTION

fitness page 54.

RHABDO When excercise becomes too much of a good thing PAGE 58.

SPICE UP YOUR WORKOUT Don't let boredom derail your fitness goals PAGE 62.

BACKYARD OBSTACLE RACE WORKOUT This supercharged workout checks all the boxes

PAGE 66.

INTERVIEW KELECHI OKAFOR Teaching us that everything, including twerking, is possible

FITNESS

Rhabdomyolysis Exercising Yourself to Death WHEN EXERCISE BECOMES TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

IF THERE IS ONE THING that almost everyone

agrees on, it’s that exercise is good for you. You might exercise for weight loss, to tone up your arms or legs, or to flatten your belly, but the underlying reason that most people exercise is that it will improve their health. Exercise has been shown to: »» Lower blood pressure »» Decrease the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke »» Decrease the risk of certain cancers »» Help control blood glucose, lowering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes »» Improve mental function, such as memory and concentration »» Reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurological diseases »» Reduce stress »» Reduce the risk of developing anxiety and depression »» Increase quality of life »» Increase longevity In short, exercise is powerful medicine! But as beneficial as exercise is, it’s not without risks. Over the long term, exercise may increase joint wear and tear, potentially leading to osteoarthritis. However, regular exercise can also help strengthen the muscles that support the affected joints, and

exercisers tend to report less joint pain than nonexercisers, despite the additional exertion. In fact, if you have joint pain, most doctors will prescribe exercise to help control your symptoms. In the short term, exercise can result in muscle strains, joint sprains, heat exhaustion, and hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and can even trigger heart attacks in people with underlying medical issues. While it’s important to acknowledge that exercise risks do exist, it’s equally important to stress that the benefits of exercise are far greater and outweigh the risks by a considerable margin. It’s worth taking steps to minimize the risks, but there is no need to quit exercising unless your doctor specifically tells you do so. In most cases, modifying your workouts to reflect any underlying medical conditions, always warming up properly, increasing exercise intensity and duration gradually, and getting regular medical check-ups will reduce your risk of suffering an exercise-induced health issue. Another acute exercise risk you may have heard of is a condition called rhabdomyolysis, or rhabdo for short. Like the other short-term dangers of exercise, rhabdo is relatively rare, but occurrences are on the increase and are often reported in the media. Unfortunately, rhabdo can be very serious and even fatal. Because of this, it’s worth knowing a little more about rhabdo so that you can recognize and avoid the condition. What Is Rhabdomyolysis? When you exercise, skeletal muscle tissue is broken down in a process called catabolism.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

words by Patrick Dale photography by Isaac West model Chudier Dobuol

RHABDOMYOLYSIS

2018—volume 2

FITNESS

If the kidneys are unable to do their job and the rhabdomyolysis goes undiagnosed or is not treated quickly enough, it can cause permanent kidney damage and even death.

Catabolism occurs at a microscopic level and a very small scale. After sufficient rest and adequate food intake, your muscles grow back thicker and stronger than before in a process called anabolism. This is how and why regular exercise makes you more fit, and it also helps explain why rest and recovery are every bit as important as exercise. But very prolonged or unusually intense exercise has the potential to cause much more significant muscle breakdown. Marathon running and other extreme forms of exercise are the most common causes of this high degree of muscle damage. Large-scale breakdown causes the muscles to release a substance called myoglobin, which is the protein that stores oxygen in your blood. Myoglobin blocks the tiny tubes within the kidneys, leading to increased fluid retention and preventing normal blood flow. The kidneys are responsible for filtering your blood, so reduced kidney function will result in a buildup of toxic chemicals in your body. If the kidneys are unable to do their job and the rhabdomyolysis goes undiagnosed or is not treated quickly enough, it can cause permanent kidney damage and even death. Sensible, routine exercise is unlikely to trigger rhabdo unless there is an underlying medical condition that increases your risk. People with hypothyroidism, diabetic ketoacidosis, a carnitine deficiency, or who suffer from McArdle’s disease or muscular dystrophy are at increased risk. Statins, a cholesterol-lowering medication, may also increase the risk of rhabdo. Luckily, most people with these conditions are already aware of these risk factors and the dangers of rhabdo. Rhabdomyolysis is most frequently linked to very intense workouts such as CrossFit, where training sessions are often against the clock. The added pressure of time

means a lot of people exercise much harder than they would normally. Beginners and less-fit exercisers should downscale these types of workouts to reflect their current abilities and not jump straight into the advanced level of training. Rhabdo is also more common in extreme endurance events such as marathon running where dehydration, a precursor for rhabdo, is common. The symptoms of rhabdo include the following: »» Severe muscle weakness »» Muscle tenderness and bruising »» Fatigue, malaise, nausea, and vomiting »» Very dark, tea-colored urine »» Infrequent urination »» High fever »» Confusion »» Anxiety and agitation Rhabdo is normally diagnosed using blood and urine tests combined with physical examination of the muscles. If rhabdo is caught early, a person can usually make a full recovery with no permanent kidney damage, but the seriousness of untreated rhabdo means that time is of the essence. It is essential that you seek medical attention if you experience any of the symptoms listed above. Treatment generally involves bed rest, hospitalization, and intravenous fluids to flush out excess myoglobin. In the case of severe kidney damage, dialysis may also be necessary to remove toxins from the blood until the kidneys are able to do so again.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

How to Avoid Rhabdomyolysis While it’s important to be able recognize the symptoms of rhabdo, avoidance is always the best option. To minimize your risk of rhabdomyolysis, make sure to do the following: »» Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise to avoid dehydration. »» Avoid exercising when it’s very hot or in places that are not well ventilated. »» Increase workout intensity and duration gradually and avoid doing too much too soon. »» Do not wear “sauna suits” or neoprene wraps designed to increase sweating during exercise. »» Avoid performance-enhancing supplements such as pre-workout boosters and energy drinks that could allow you to exercise harder than normal. »» Stop exercising if you begin to feel unwell (e.g. if you are very overheated, stop sweating, or start to shiver even though you feel hot, or if your muscles start to hurt more than usual). Rhabdomyolysis is rare and relatively easy to avoid, but it’s undeniably serious and something that you should be aware of and able to recognize if you push your body beyond its limits. Speedy diagnosis and treatment can mean the difference between full recovery and tragedy. If you suspect you have rhabdo, make sure you seek medical attention as soon as possible.

RHABDOMYOLYSIS

The darkest hours are just before dawn. 2018—volume 2

FITNESS

Spice Up That Workout! DON’T LET BOREDOM DERAIL YOUR FITNESS GOALS

Exercise is good for your body, your mind, and your spirit. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins that make you feel great and help relieve stress. And everyone knows that exercise is vital for good health, toned muscles, and weight management. The bad news for our busy (and sometimes lazy) selves is that fitness can’t be stored. For your workouts to be effective, you need to do them regularly, and lengthy breaks from exercise will cause you to lose any benefits you’ve accrued. Experts often argue about what type of exercise is the best, but the truth is that the best workout is the one that you enjoy. If you find your workout boring or otherwise unenjoyable, you are much less likely to stick with it. Here are six new workouts that you can use to spice up your exercise routine.

They are all very different, but each one will improve your fitness, muscle tone, and health. Most important, they are fun! 1. Aerial Yoga Yoga is probably the oldest exercise system around, dating back thousands of years. There are many different types of yoga, ranging from the relatively gentle Yin yoga to the much more demanding Bikram or hot yoga. Aerial yoga is a new and very exciting form of exercise that involves performing yoga poses or asanas while suspended from a sort of hammock. This gives you more freedom to move, makes inversions easier, and helps develop balance and core strength. It can also help alleviate back and general joint pain. Aerial yoga is also known as anti-gravity yoga, and after a day of standing or sitting at your desk, it’s a great way to decompress your spine and eliminate stress.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

words by Patrick Dale

2. Pole Dancing Pole dancing might have originated as a form of entertainment in nightclubs, but it’s morphed into a legitimate workout and is even being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. Pole dancing involves performing various moves while holding onto a vertical pole, often with your body suspended in midair. Unlike many forms of group exercise, pole dancing workouts are endlessly progressive, as there is a never-ending list of moves to learn and master. Blending dance with gymnastics, pole dancing will develop your strength, your core, your flexibility, and your selfconfidence. Combined with a healthy diet, it can help you lose weight. Pole dancing is also a lot of fun, as you’ll get to work out with a group of like-minded women.

SPICE UP THAT WORKOUT

2018—volume 2

FITNESS

“You can make running more enjoyable and safer by joining a social running group. Running as part of a group increases exercise enjoyment and adherence while providing motivation and encouragement. ”

3. Capoeira Capoeira blends martial arts, acrobatics, and dance to create a truly unique workout. Combining kicks, punches, and spins, capoeira workouts are often set to live music and involve linking moves together to create a flowing routine. Skilled capoeira artists spend as much time balancing on their hands as they do on their feet, and routines are often performed facing an opponent to create the impression of a fight, though there is usually no contact. Capoeira offers a wide range of benefits, including improved cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, balance, strength, and coordination. It’s also great for weight loss, and the music is very cool too! 4. Obstacle Courses The rise of TV shows like American Ninja Warrior has created a lot of interest in obstacle course races. While you might not be ready for a full-on race just yet, there are an increasing number of classes designed to get you ready to scale high walls, climb ropes, scramble under cargo nets, and overcome a variety of other challenging obstacles. Obstacle course-based workouts will develop your strength, fitness, endurance, and confidence. You’ll also learn the skills and techniques required to master various obstacles. You don’t have to compete in obstacle course races to enjoy this sort of workout, but once you’ve cleared your first 10-foot (3-meter) wall, you’ll probably want to give one a try. There are lots of different races, some of which are completed in teams. Team races build camaraderie and longlasting friendships.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

Provided you don’t mind picking up a few bruises along the way, and maybe even ending up immersed in muddy water, obstacle courses are a fun, challenging way to develop allaround fitness. (For a step-by-step guide to setting up your own obstacle course, check out our companion piece, “The Backyard Obstacle Workout,” on page 62.) 5. Social Running Groups Running is arguably one of the most accessible forms of exercise around. You can run almost anywhere and anytime, and all you really need is a pair of running shoes. Regular running will tone and strengthen your legs, improve your fitness, and help you lose weight. Also, running is a workout that grows with you; as you get more fit, you’ll be able to run farther and faster, ensuring that your fitness continues to improve. But running alone can be kind of boring and potentially even dangerous. You can make running more enjoyable and safer by joining a social running group. Running as part of a group increases exercise enjoyment and adherence while providing motivation and encouragement. The time will pass more quickly as you mingle among your group and chat. You’ll also enjoy the supportive atmosphere of running in a group. Social running groups are noncompetitive. The aim is for the entire group to start and stay together for the entire planned run. This will help boost your confidence, another important factor for making exercise enjoyable and sustainable. You are also much less likely to skip a planned run if you are a member of a group. After all, your running buddies will miss you if you are a no-show.

SPICE UP THAT WORKOUT

If you cannot find a social running group to join, why not create your own? Reach out to friends and acquaintances via social media, plan a route, and then meet up for an enjoyable and rewarding workout. 6. High-Intensity Pool Training High-intensity interval training, HIIT for short, is very popular for both fitness and fat loss. However, it can also be hard on your joints, especially if you are overweight, out of shape, or over 40. Uncomfortable exercise is seldom enjoyable, and that’s the perfect excuse to not do it. High-intensity pool training involves doing HIIT in varying depths of water. This provides you with lots of calorie-burning resistance but also supports some of your body weight, reducing both impact and risk of injury.

Exercises like jumps and sprints, common causes of joint pain in traditional HIIT, are much more comfortable when performed in water, yet no less effective. Most high-intensity pool exercises require nothing more than your body weight, but you can also use foam weights and webbed gloves for extra resistance. You’ll find high-intensity pool training workouts at your local swimming pool, or you can create your own and do them by yourself. If your current workout is more of a chore than a treat, then it’s time to try something new. It really doesn’t matter how you exercise as long as you do it regularly, and it’s much easier to work out regularly when you’re having fun. So think outside the box and spice up that workout—your body will thank you!

2018—volume 2

FITNESS

The Backyard Obstacle Race Workout words by Patrick Dale

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

BACKYARD OBSTACLE WORKOUT

SHAPE FOR NOW, STRENGTH FOREVER!

FITNESS AND EXERCISE obstacle courses are a

hot new fitness trend and one of the fantastic exercise routines listed in this issue’s article “Spice Up That Workout!” (page 58). This type of workout can help you get stronger, burn fat, tone up, and get fit. Above all, they are a lot of fun! Most “professional” obstacle courses involve things like high walls, balance beams, overhead ladders, water-filled trenches, tunnels, cargo nets, and other obstacles to challenge you.

Needless to say, you probably don’t have ready access to things like this at home. The good news is you don’t need a whole lot of equipment to experience the benefits of an obstacle course workout. All you need is some clear space, such as a public park or your own backyard. You can even increase the fun (and motivation) factor by inviting friends or rounding up the kids for a family workout.

2018—volume 2

FITNESS

The Workout

WARM UP WITH five to 10 minutes

of easy jogging or skipping, and then storm around the following eightexercise circuit.

Use folded towels, rocks, or any other readily available markers to create a 10-meter by 10-meter box. Do the exercises in each corner of the box, according to your skill level. »» Beginner: Do three laps, resting 90 seconds between each one »» Intermediate: Do four laps, resting 60 seconds between each one »» Advanced: Do five laps, resting 30 seconds between each one

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

Exercise Descriptions 1. 30-meter sprint Starting in one corner, run out to the next corner, run back to the start, and then finally run out to the next corner again. This should total 30 meters. Keep your strides short and sharp, use your arms for extra momentum, and make sure you stay up on your toes. This is a sprint and not a jog! 2. 10 chinnies (per leg) Lie on the ground with your legs straight and hands on your temples. Sit up, bend one leg, and touch your knee to the opposite elbow. Your other leg should remain straight and resting on the ground. Lie back down and repeat on the other side.

BACKYARD OBSTACLE WORKOUT

3. 10-meter bear crawl Drop down onto all fours so your weight is on your hands and feet only. Keeping your core tight, walk like a bear to the next marker. 4. 10 power squat jumps Stand with your feet together and your hands by your sides. Jump your feet out to shoulder-width apart, bend your knees, and squat down. Stand back up, jumping your feet back together as you do so. That’s one rep—keep going! 5. 10-meter crab crawl Squat down and place your hands on the floor behind you so your weight is

supported on your hands and feet only. Keeping your butt off the floor, walk forward to the next marker. 6. 10 hill-climbers (per leg) Adopt the push-up position with your legs and arms straight, core braced tightly. Bend one leg and pull your knee up and under your body. Extend your leg and then do the same thing on the opposite side. Keep pumping your legs until you have completed 10 reps per side. 7. 10-meter walking lunges

your rearmost knee to within a couple of centimeters of the floor. Push off your back leg and step through into another rep. Keep going until you reach the next marker. 8. 10 push-ups Squat down and place your hands on the floor. Walk your legs back until they are straight. Bend your arms and lower your chest to within a couple of centimeters of the floor. Push back up and repeat. If you are unable to do full push-ups, bend your legs and rest your knees on the floor.

Stand with your feet together and your hands by your sides. Take a large step forward, bend your legs, and lower

2018—volume 2

images courtesy of Kelechi Okafor

KELECHI OKAFOR

Power in the Paradox

Kelechi Okafor’s Twerk as Therapy A LIBERATED SPIRIT EMPOWERING OTHERS TO BE FREE

words by Nikki Igbo

2018—volume 2

FITNESS

In 2014, when I first heard of Maya Angelou’s passing, I was sitting in the front parlor of our Enugu home wondering how much longer the oscillating fan would be powered by the state’s fickle electric current. I thought, “This poor generation. Do they even know who they’ve lost?” I did not know of Kelechi Okafor yet, nor that I would speak to this NigerianBritish fitness guru and artistic Jill-of-alltrades via Skype a mere four years later. But after talking shop with Kelechi on black womanhood, modern feminism, and the mechanics of butt-clapping, I was confident that Maya’s essence lives on and that generations to come are in very good hands. Armed with Wit and Courage “I think it happened, I want to say, by accident. But I don’t believe anything happens by accident when you set your intentions and you’re aware of who you are and what you want to achieve.” Kelechi Okafor wears a heather gray track suit, her fade flawless, her melanin poppin’ in the glow of the sun shining through the window over her right shoulder as she speaks into the camera broadcasting our Skype connection. I’ve just asked her how she came to be the UK’s authority on intersectionality and black womanist advocacy.

When Serena Williams was disrespected in a racist, sexist cartoon depiction, BBC Breakfast tapped Kelechi. When Cynthia Erivo was chosen to portray Harriet Tubman, The Independent looked to Kelechi to break down the implications. When The Guardian’s Danielle Dash investigated the ever-persistent angry black woman trope on reality television, she asked Kelechi to clarify. “It was only around 2009 that I started to find the vocabulary for the things I wanted to say. The issue with what we experience as black women in this world is that if we don’t have the words for it, society acts deliberately obtuse about the injustices that black women face. The only way to really combat that is to have the same vocabulary for these things as they do. Then they can’t feign ignorance. The more vocabulary I had, the more I could code-switch within environments to get my point across. “That was how it started to happen. I’ve been on Twitter since 2009. Initially it was like a small group of people, everyone’s having a laugh, but then the more I read, the more I learned. I started to see all of the problematic things that we're perpetuating. And I started to speak about those things and that started to garner an audience that just grew over time, but I almost didn’t see it happening. I was just doing my own thing.” A huge part of Kelechi’s “own thing” is a lot of everything. She’s a proven fitness

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

badass, a personal trainer, yogi, pole dancing instructor, and an aficionado of the fine art of twerking. In London, you can receive her dance and fitness guidance at her studio Kelechnekoff, or you can sample what she’s serving on her YouTube page from anywhere. Add acting, directing, and podcasting to that mix and you can see why I have dubbed her an artistic Proteus of sorts. What I love most about this literal mover and shaker is the unapologetically liberated spirit with which she does it all. “We literally don’t need anyone’s permission to breathe. We’ve been conditioned as black women, as black girls to have our existence validated by other people, whether it’s a father, an uncle, a brother, a mother, an aunt, a sister—someone needs to tell us that it’s okay for us to exist. Without realizing it, every person that we interact with, every workplace, every relationship, whatever it might be, we’re looking at those people to confirm that we have a right to be here, that we have a right to exist. And we don’t need anybody’s permission. We don’t.” Kelechi is living life on her own terms today because she is painfully familiar with the converse of such an existence. “When we work from that place of waiting for validation, waiting for permission to live and exist, what’s happening is that all the power we could possibly have has gone to other people and we’re just waiting to live. As someone who suffered sexual abuse as a child, I spent years from the age of 7

KELECHI OKAFOR ‹‹

Kelechi is a personal trainer, yogi, pole dancing instructor, and an aficionado of the fine art of twerking.

to about 18 not really living. I was excelling, I was functioning academically, but if you look to any of my report cards in school, it was ‘Kelechi’s really talented but she’s so moody’ or ‘Kelechi’s really good but she’s so withdrawn.’ “When I look back on those reports, it’s heartbreaking because that was clear evidence of someone who is not living life but just participating in as much as they can. There are so many black girls who are having the same experience. Our childhoods aren’t really seen as childhood because we’re asked to be women so quickly. And it’s about cherishing those things. Cherishing childhood and existing in that space where anything is possible. When you cherish that space, when you grow up, everything remains possible. I had to re-access that childlike perception of the world — that I could do anything and then go ahead and do it.” In this moment, I am reminded of Maya Angelou, the similar trauma she suffered and overcame, and the words of her poem “In All Ways A Woman”: The struggle for equality continues unabated, and the woman warrior who is armed with wit and courage will be among the first to celebrate victory. Benz Punani Womanism When I ask Kelechi what a “Benz Punani womanist” is, she throws back her head and laughs from her gut. “It’s a phrase that I coined because everything I’d read about feminism and womanism was all really academic. As much as I love academia, I also have an insane love for dancehall music— Afrobeats, but specifically dancehall music [like] Vybz Kartel. Now, some would say that’s problematic. How can you love these things and be a feminist? That’s the point, isn’t it? We don’t exist in a vacuum. We’re all going through a process and navigating what our womanhood means to us as individuals. “The same way that blackness is not a monolith, womanhood is not a monolith. Black womanhood

definitely, then, cannot be a monolith. Being a Benz Punani womanist is my way of saying I love all that there is to love about womanism, but at the same time, I love all of these other things as well. It’s just allowing for space, because so many young girls are intimidated by the idea of feminism. They think it means they have to be a particular sort of way, and this phrase lets them know that it’s about choice. The fun isn’t sucked out of your life because you realize that you need to live equitably with mankind.” As a woman who values both profanity and good Biblical verses all while despising sexism and adoring Snoop Doggy Dogg’s complete discography, I get it. And I go full-fledged fan girl when Kelechi explains how she, a sexual abuse survivor, is delighted to teach pole dancing and twerking. “There’s power in the paradox. We have been brought up to believe in false binaries, false dichotomies. The virgin and the whore complex. Either you’re chaste or you’re an absolute jezebel. Those things are only enforced on women. It’s a violence specifically for women in order to control us and dictate how we go about living our lives. “All those earlier years of my life I mentioned, I was disconnected from my body because it was a site of shame, violence, and abuse. That limited my creativity. I was still getting things done. I was the lead in all of the school plays. I still ran for my region in 100-meter sprint. I still did all of the things that my body was expected to do, but I did not have a relationship with my body. And I think true power only comes when all of you is connected, when you have a relationship with the entirety of yourself. “We should think of the brain not only as a noun but as a verb. If you think of the brain as action and something that is happening, there are many layers to it happening. And it cannot continue to happen if you’re blocking off so many facets of it. Knowing the way that sexuality and sensuality is dictated to women by people who aren’t women, I started to see the same way that the love I should have for my body wasn’t there because it had been dictated to me by other people how my body should be used.”

2018—volume 2

FITNESS

There was no way that I could live and not give that experience to other women and not facilitate a space where other women could experience that as well. 70

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

KELECHI OKAFOR ‹‹

Kelechi demonstrates a bit of twerk technique as she directs a class at her London studio Kelechnekoff.

Kelechi’s personal recovery began with reconnecting with every aspect of herself through lots of reading and introspection. She wasn’t interested in making any superficial links or reacting in the extreme opposite to somehow balance her trauma. Instead she engaged in an “honest communion” with herself. She practiced self-forgiveness. She gave herself permission to grow. And after achieving a truly unburdened version of herself, she danced and she wanted to spread the love. “It opened up life to me in such a way that I could be happy. There was no way that I could live and not give that experience to other women and not facilitate a space where other women could experience that as well. “So many women—young women, older women—are carrying around a lot of pain that has been normalized within black communities because we’re taught from a very young age that we must endure. We’re there as service providers and homemakers and all of this stuff. We already start carrying baggage from a young age. We start disassociating from our bodies. I don’t want us to think that’s normal. Our power is in order of the things they tell us we should stay away from.” Say Your Mind Maya Angelou says, in her poem “Still I Rise”: Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Kelechi advises me that the secret to making my rear cheeks make an audible clap was to

move the outside of my heel in and out, in and out, sharply. I practice in the mirror each morning after my shower, taking the time to admire the strength and wonder of my postbaby body and laughing at how determined I am to achieve this feat, even if I only ultimately perform it for myself. Before Kelechi and I end our Skype chat, I want to know if she’ll host some classes in this hemisphere, perhaps within the confines of Metro Atlanta. She says there may be a strong possibility. I keep my fingers crossed. In the meantime, Kelechi continues to expand her reach and broadcast her message beyond the dance floor. “I’m trying to do a documentary with BBC about Nigerian house girls. There’s a conversation across the diaspora about #metoo, and one of the things that happens is that young people in Nigeria are living with families, working for families, and they are not being heard.” Additionally, there’s Kelechi’s SYM (Say Your Mind) podcast. “My weekly podcast is a year-long project that finishes on December 8th. I’ve spent the past year documenting how much I love my black womanhood and how much I love black women and black people and all of the things I see in the world reminding us that we’re all going to be okay. We made it this far; we’re going to make it all the way.” To spice up your workout with pole dancing, twerking, or any Benz Punani womanist dance in between, visit Kelechi’s fitness studio at kelechnekoff.com.

2018—volume 2

What does womanhood mean to you? My womanhood means selfless love.

Photography Donte Maurice Photography by by Donte Maurice

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features

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ROS GOLD-ONWUDE Holding it down, from hoops to scoops

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THAT THING BETWEEN YOUR LEGS Saving future generations from FGM

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INTERVIEW COMFORT MOMOH Offering hope and healing to FGM survivors

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INTERVIEW SOLA FAGORUSI Harnessing local efforts to end FGM

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IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD Women warring against gender barriers

photography by Ahmad Barber styled by Ray C'Mone make-up by Christine Vasquez hair by Andy Buckmire

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE

From B-Ball to Broadcast Booth

Ros Gold-Onwude For the Win

THE MAKING OF A REAL-LIFE #GIRLBOSS

by Ngozi Ekeledo

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, a certain phrase has become pretty popular to describe an ambitious, career-oriented woman killing it

in the workplace while also inspiring those around her: girl boss. It’s become a popular hashtag on social media, spawned conferences and podcasts, and been plastered on plenty of millennial-pink merchandise (I’m guilty of owning my own #girlboss coffee mug).

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is in part It All Began with Basketball aspirational, because it means that you’ve got your stuff together—or at least you give off Born in Queens, New York, to a Russian-Jewish the appearance that you do. This aesthetic is mother and Nigerian father, Ros had her far from easy when life’s other responsibilities basketball foundation laid at the tender age of (whether family, relationships, community four by the most influential woman in her life: commitments, or even side hustles in this gig her mother, Patricia Gold. economy) are constantly tugging. It’s why I hate that infamous question in so many interviews “Everything good in my life I can trace back to when the subject, inevitably a woman, is asked: my mom’s efforts,” Ros says. “There are heroes “How do you balance it all?” Men are rarely (if that we read about like Oprah [and] Beyonce ever) asked this question, and the answer, even if — real superstars — but my mom was like an it placates a few, still induces stress because the everyday, regular crusader. I really admire her. truth we all know is this: women are expected She never played sports. She’s actually really to be multitasking, magical creatures who get quiet. She’s not so fierce in personality, but when everything done a la “girl boss” mode, often at she was younger and women were fighting for the price of neglecting themselves. opportunities in sports, she used to go for her school in college and write about them.” Here’s the question I would love to see instead: How do we, as women, build our own girl-boss After noticing a lack of girls’ basketball teams recipe? Most of us would likely include a dash in their neighborhood, Ros’ mother, known of sisterhood in the mix, because behind every affectionately as “Miss Pat” to her Rego Park great woman is usually another great woman community, put her creative savvy to use. She or a female “hype crew” that’s served as an designed homemade flyers on Microsoft inspiration or paved the way. So maybe the Paint and plastered them on light poles in the ultimate sign of being a girl boss is when the neighborhood announcing tryouts for a new team. day comes that you become a positive influence Her rationale was simple. for other women. “I think she just was like, ‘There’s a lot of power Even trickier? Becoming a girl boss in a room that comes from opportunity in sport, and I’d like full of men, especially when you’re a woman of my daughter and other young girls to have an color. That’s why Rosalyn “Ros” Gold-Onwude opportunity to be exposed to it,’” Ros says fondly. is such a force. As one of the few women on “It was a really interesting little group…black girls, Turner Sports’ illustrious broadcasting roster, Indian girls, Spanish girls — [it was a] lot of the Nigerian-American sports broadcaster has different minority groups and their moms.” taken the basketball world by storm, first as a star hooper at Stanford, followed by a spot on Along with her younger sister, Annie, Ros and the Nigerian national team, and now as one of her new teammates played on a makeshift floor the most high-profile women of color covering in an auditorium where they taped down lines the league. To the outside world, Ros has to form their own court. Miss Pat, of course, experienced a glow-up of major proportions over was there enthusiastically cheering on the girls the past few years, but what is more remarkable every step of the way, with a few game day is the journey it took for her to even get to this rituals to boot. point. The joy and smiles you see when she reports on television come from a backstory of “She was super superstitious,” Ros says with a immense challenges, doubts, and roadblocks. laugh. “She took a sip of her coffee every time we went to the free throw line and took a shot. So what’s the secret to her girl-boss recipe? Then in close games, she had a Vaseline, [and] she rubbed [it] on her lips to give us good luck.” Resiliency of epic proportions. Basketball gradually became Ros’ life and a way THE MAKING OF A GIRL BOSS

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ROS GOLD-ONWUDE

Crushed velvet suit by Brunello Cucinelli Earrings by Madewell

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FEATURES

to bond with her mother. The game took the family all over the country for tournaments, and when the time came for college, Ros earned a scholarship to Stanford to play for one of the most storied women’s basketball programs under Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer.

still couldn’t fight the itch she had to pursue her passion, so she left Tesla and started moonlighting as a broadcaster. The transition wasn’t easy by any means.

“Broadcasting was really hard to get into. It’s super competitive,” she says. She landed a few For her father, Austin Onwude, as with most television gigs with ESPNU covering women’s immigrant parents, his child’s academics came college basketball and worked for Stanford’s first. At Stanford, Ros not only excelled on digital and recruiting websites, but none of the the court — with two national championship opportunities paid much. To make ends meet, appearances, three straight trips to the NCAA she started teaching public speaking courses Final Four and a Pac-10 (now Pac-12) Co- and even coached her landlord’s daughter’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2010 — basketball team “to get half off the rent,” all but succeeded in the classroom as well, earning while telling herself she was chasing the dream. both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the top-tier university. It’s an achievement “A lot of the jobs I was getting were the leftovers that would make any parent proud, particularly that people didn’t want or couldn’t get to,” she a Nigerian parent. says. “I literally had no idea how much money I was going to make for the year. We’re talking But while her accolades at Stanford spelled victory, life after But the fact that I literally had to get it done because college presented Ros with some there was no other option...helped propel me on this path. of the biggest challenges of her life, and suddenly she was thrust into scenarios that game plays, training, or a about scraping together hopefully $20,000 and pregame speech couldn’t fix. then trying to live off of that and rent. There were definitely many moments of insecurity “I left this cushy life of being taken care of on a where I was like, ‘I have two whole degrees college basketball team to suddenly the whole from Stanford.’” During those moments of real world really slapped me in the face,” she doubt, Ros often thought, “What am I doing?” says.“And it was hard and frightening.” Pulling Strength from Adversity Overcoming the Obstacles Then life threw her an even bigger challenge. For many college graduates, there’s that fork in Thousands of miles away, back home in New the road and the question “Now what do I do York, Ros’ family had been experiencing its with my life?” own escalating set of problems. Her father had moved back to Nigeria, her sister was Basketball was all Ros had ever known, but the struggling with mental health issues, and her idea of playing in the WNBA or overseas didn’t mother couldn’t keep a job. With no source seem in the cards. Something else did, though— of income, the family was heavily in debt and broadcasting. She’d studied communications ended up losing their apartment, rendering during undergrad, so it made sense, but there them homeless. was still a part of her that was hesitant. During graduate school, Ros had also built up her The blows kept coming. Patricia bounced business and marketing skills, and Tesla was from shelter to shelter, her behavior becoming recruiting heavily from Stanford at that time. increasingly unusual and perplexing to The offer from the young company seemed a her daughters, until doctors delivered the safer option. devastating diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s and dementia. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to jump into a real job and make some money. I wasn’t sure if I wanted “I would say the hardest year of my life was 22. I to pursue broadcasting [or continue to play didn’t have many answers. I had more questions. basketball], so at first I tried to do it all,” she I had no money. I had no home. Everybody was says. “Tesla allowed me at first to go play for the sick. I didn’t know how to do anything,” Ros Nigerian national team, and once I was done says. “I felt embarrassed, too, because I was they let me come back.” thinking, ‘Am I making the right choices? Am I being too selfish?’ But even with the security of her job, Ros

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“In that moment of probably my really low point, I decided I either had to really take a real job — it would have been a fine job in marketing somewhere, and I would have a nice life — but I decided to stick with [broadcasting] for a little more and give it one more try, and in that low moment, I came out with determination and I said, ‘I’m going to create my own digital show.’” That show became “The Pink Room,” a women’s college basketball show she started with a friend. They would pull all-nighters putting the show together in California, and by day she would juggle phone calls with social services in New York to find solutions for her mom’s care in Queens. It was the epitome of bicoastal stress. Her show, however, started to gain a small following online, and from there, timing was everything. With the impending Pac-12 Networks set to launch, Ros reached out to a contact she knew from the conference and pitched the idea of the show. At this point, she felt she had nothing to lose. “They were like, ‘Oh this is cool. Can you do this for us? We can’t pay you, but it would be worth its weight in gold,’” she says. “I was like, ‘Shoot, yes.’” Dress by Halston Heritage

Ros and her friend turned The Pink Room into a weekly digital show for the conference’s website, and when the network did launch, the Pac-12 gave her some good news — they wanted to give her a contract. “That was the first time I was like, ‘Okay, broadcasting can be a career. I have a salary,’” she says. From there her freelance gigs started to open up, not just digitally but also on TV. She landed a rare color commentator role for a men’s professional league with the NBA G-League’s Santa Cruz Warriors and became the color commentator for the WNBA’s New York Liberty on MSG Network. Her resume also grew to include men’s college basketball coverage.

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ROS GOLD-ONWUDE

Back home, things were also starting to turn a corner for her family. With help from Ros’ cousin Suzy Schneider, Patricia started to get the help she needed, and Annie was back on her feet, excelling in life and in the classroom. She serves as one of Ros’ daily inspirations, along with younger sister Amanosi. As Ros reflects on those tough times now, she sees how those battle scars became an integral piece of her future alignment. “The adversity I faced coming out of school and suddenly being thrust into [a] caretaker [role], the lack of options — like not having a home — and the ambiguity, like ‘Yo, I need to figure out what I’m trying to do with my life,’ actually put a fire under my butt in a really positive way,” she says. “Perhaps if I was more comfortable I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now. But the fact that I literally had to get it done because there was no other option I think helped propel me on this path.” Bay Area Broadcasting and Beyond After chasing freelance gigs for so long, Ros had a welcome surprise in 2014: a full-time opportunity right in her Cali backyard. NBC Sports Bay Area was looking for a local sideline reporter to cover the Warriors.

local sports television, I can tell you this: it’s intimidating, and as one of only a few females in a male-dominated industry, your credentials get questioned a lot. It’s a constant battle of proving yourself and earning trust, not just from your colleagues but from the players. Ros’ days on the court gave her the perfect tools to break through the infamous “athlete speak” and provide viewers with a unique perspective during broadcasts. “Having played the game is very much a confidence boost, and I think that helps me especially when I’m covering men in the NBA. It’s a common ground. I don’t try to lead with anything else but my knowledge and preparation,” she says. “I think game recognizes game, especially as a female in a male world like the NBA. I haven’t met any real jerks yet. Mostly I’ve met a lot of men that see I know the game [or] have even said, ‘Oh I remember when you played,’ or will even ask me a question about my thoughts on a game or on a team or in a situation. I try to make sure I come correct.”

“Watching preparation turn into success is also gratifying when the people around you are also riding their own wave of positive results.”

Watching preparation turn into success is also gratifying when the people around you are also riding their own wave of positive results. During Ros’ first season covering the Warriors, the team won its first NBA championship in nearly 40 years. Since that 2015 title, Golden State has become the NBA’s powerhouse, with trips to every NBA Finals since, while collecting back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.

Looking back, it seems somehow fitting that Ros joined the crew, because the team’s trajectory matched her own at the time. Nobody could have predicted what was to come for that young core of talent. Players “Everything was special and exciting, and I like Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay didn’t even realize how many people were Thompson became virtual All-Star locks, and watching. If you liked basketball you were Ros herself stole the show. She became an watching the Warriors. I’m so thankful for that instant magnet of personality for the viewers, stage and that opportunity,” Ros says. “I’m very and her rapport with the fans and players aware of how much of a blessing that was in helped her become a favorite in the Bay Area, my career.” to the point where it was clear that when Ros was on-air, you had to pay attention—not just As Ros’ popularity grew, celebrities started because of her smarts, but because she made to notice. She went to the BET Awards with basketball fun. fellow Stanford alum and music artist Jidenna and started a podcast, #BallGirlMagic, with “Game day as a broadcaster still sometimes “Insecure” actress (and past Radiant cover feels like game day as a player,” she says. “In my star) Yvonne Orji. The blessings didn’t stop prayer before the game I’ll say, ‘Lord, please there. There was an Instagram photo taken give me the confidence. Please let me bring with Drake in 2015 that put her on to rap the joy and enthusiasm to the broadcast and fans, and later the two attended the 2017 try to have fun.’ Hopefully that’s contagious to NBA Awards together. From that moment on, whoever I’m talking to because I know none entertainment outlets were clamoring to find of this has to be this way. At the end of the day, out—who exactly was Ros Gold-Onwude? what about this can scare me when I’ve actually looked the streets in the eye or seen what my “Drake is a big basketball fan. We met [at] the mother and sister have overcome?” Warriors games, and he would be there all the time, so just being with the Warriors allowed Having that confidence is easier said than done. me the opportunity to meet these people. As someone who’s worked on live network and And then these become friendships and you

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remember they’re human beings and you stay up with each other,” she says. “If it’s Drake sending a text in-game like ‘Ah, I love seeing you on the screen,’ or ‘Good luck with the interview with LeBron,’ the respect is mutual, and for the most part, people are happy for each other’s success, so they’ll reach out.” Leading by Example During her three-year run with the Warriors, Ros finally experienced security in her career for the first time, and with it came some pretty sweet perks. She traveled and dined with the team on the road, where they ate at places like Prime 112 and stayed at the Four Seasons. But Ros remained humble; while the players pulled up to the private airport in fancy cars, she still showed up in an old Jeep Wrangler with “a seat belt buckle [that] was so rugged it would ruin the clothes I wore,” she laughs. She’s since upgraded to a Lexus nicknamed “Yoncé” after Beyoncé to symbolize where she’s “hoping to be” as her climb continues. “I remind myself that this is special, and I’m fortunate and thankful to be here and I’m not going to waste any time being nervous or too hard on myself,” she says. “I need to come into this and kick ass.” That she’s done. Years after playing for the Nigerian national team that fell short in qualifying for the 2012 Olympics, Ros made her return to the biggest international sports stage as a part of the NBC Sports men’s basketball broadcast team at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio. It was a career mark she recalls proudly as an “incredible” professional highlight and one that she believes “was a moment where maybe my colleagues saw me more seriously.” That same summer she also struck her own personal gold, winning a Northern California Emmy Award for her work with the Warriors broadcast team, and in 2017 she truly hit #girlboss status with promotion to the national stage with an offer from Turner Sports to join the network’s famed NBA on TNT and NBA TV coverage. She had gone from someone who could barely scrounge together freelance gigs to becoming a prominent voice alongside names like Ernie Johnson, David Aldridge, and Charles Barkley. As Ros’ visibility has grown, so has her impact, and she’s earned another position that she takes very seriously: role model.

Top by Fendi Earrings by Anthropologie

“I think a few years ago it shocked me. I would hear things when I was doing the Warriors broadcast, and parents would come up to me or kids would come up to me and say, ‘Oh my God, my daughter loves you,’ or ‘We love watching you or pointing you out to our girls’ team,’” she says.

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ROS GOLD-ONWUDE

Headwrap by JIDE Gear Top by Dries Van Noten

“At first I was so surprised and humbled. It through fashion. To her, presentation all things I’m aware [of] and purposefully was a nice wake-up call too, like, ‘Oh my means representation, and it’s a big way trying to display because I know every God, people are watching, so make sure she can put on for her culture while time I step on TV, I don’t come there you’re walking with a purpose. Make sure remaining authentic in an industry where alone. I represent for many, whether that’s one little black girl watching me on TV or you are leading by example,’ and I think appearance is a major component. every woman.” that’s something basketball has always taught me — especially as a point guard. I “Sometimes I’ll mix in ankara or patterns understand the responsibility that comes or colors just to basically represent for my You could perceive this as branding, but with this platform, and I don’t shy from African-American and my African culture, for Ros it’s genuine. She’s made it a point it, and I’m excited about it. That’s why to show that these styles and designs are to never use “reporter voice,” and when especially when taking this job with Turner professional and beautiful and acceptable she’s on-air she maintains the aura that I really wanted to represent.” anywhere, and certainly on a television what she says is “actually how I exist in setting,” she says. everyday [life].” Representing Her Heritage “Same thing with my hair. Whether it’s “For black women in general there’s always If you see Ros on TV, she is often natural or curly, or in a fro, or in twists the burden of thinking of all the things we wearing bright colors and her hairstyle or braids or cornrows — these protective want to make sure people think or don’t game is ever-changing. She credits her styles, these beautiful styles, are regal think about us,” she says. “I’m not gonna godmother, Sharon McLeod, who taught or deserve to be in the bright lights and shy away from being myself, from being her about attention to color, pattern, don’t need to be [hidden] under more a woman, from being a curvy woman, and texture when expressing herself Westernized visions of beauty. These are from being an African-American woman,

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“I think Naija is a really big movement, especially around here with Nigerians who are proud and excited about their culture... ” from being a vibrant, joyful, smiley, happy woman. I’m not going to hide my personality so that you feel more comfortable because you want me to be serious. “I think that translates and people relate to you as more than just ‘reporter Ros’ — you’re a human being.”

“[I’m] just trying to find ways to be a voice, to lend a hand and help people take steps forward in a career that obviously I can speak from experience is really hard to succeed in,” she says. Naija Magic

The Sisterhood

A few years ago during its annual convention, the National Association of Black Journalists held a special panel titled For women in the sports broadcasting world, there’s “The Double Minority,” which focused on black women in a certain sisterhood that can serve as a lifeline when it the sports industry. During the discussion, women shared comes to navigating the industry. For Ros, a basketball their struggles with acceptance in a world dominated by career that started with roots planted by her mother white men who primarily covered black athletes. Many of flourished through inspiration from some pretty these prominent women had faced discrimination and were influential women in the game. The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill doubted and unfairly questioned during their careers. They and ESPN’s Cari Champion and Sage Steele have all were told to shape-shift and code-switch, all to appease reached out, while other big hoops names like Stephanie their white counterparts. Ready and LaChina Robinson have also been in her corner. Ros’ biggest endorsement, though, comes from It is a tale that’s sadly too common for minorities in the the OG herself, Doris Burke. media industry, let alone the country as a whole. We’ve historically been underfunded or told that our work isn’t as “She’s dope. She is [a] top-notch pioneer in this business, and valuable or as salable to white audiences. One major event a wonderful person,” Ros says. “She’s always got positivity in 2018 that changed — no, shattered — many of those and encouragement for me.” During her Stanford playing tired arguments and perceptions as it swept the world was days, Ros brought her resume to the Final Four and told the release of “Black Panther.” Burke she wanted to do what she was doing one day. The legendary ESPN broadcaster took her under her wing “Black culture and African culture is the wave right now. It’s and let Ros shadow her during the 2010 NBA Finals, a funny because everybody wants to trace their roots to being moment that Ros still seems awed by when describing it to African or something now, and everybody’s doing their me. “Can you believe it?” she says with a big smile. 23andMe, and my dad predicted this,” Ros says with a laugh. “He would say things like, ‘Your peers that you go to school “I have a lot of people looking out for me, and I feel with, one day they’ll be paying money to find out where more love than I do hate, so I pay that forward. I try to they’re from, and you will know where you’re from. You’ll take as many phone calls and texts as I can from young know you’re Nigerian.’” ladies,” Ros says. We saw this same swell of recognition spill over In the spirit of what Doris did for her, Ros has hosted during the recent FIFA World Cup. Casual fans found a number of young women over the years, providing themselves rooting for Nigeria’s national team as the opportunities to meet and shadow her during the NBA Super Eagles became the stars of the tournament from a season. In addition to mentoring, she’s also given back consumer standpoint. each summer through New Heights, a sports-based youth nonprofit in New York focused on life, basketball skills, “I think Naija is a really big movement, especially around and women’s empowerment opportunities. She also has a here with Nigerians who are proud and excited about their YellowBrick scholarship program for students interested culture, and you see that it’s contagious,” Ros says. “You in pursuing careers in creative fields. saw the Nigerian soccer kits for World Cup and how they

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ROS GOLD-ONWUDE

flew off the shelves. That wasn’t only Nigerians buying it. That was people worldwide.” For Ros, her Nigerian heritage is a point of immense pride. She felt extremely honored and privileged to represent Nigeria as an athlete on the women’s national team and now looks to do the same in her current role with the NBA. She was a part of the league’s NBA AFRICA Basketball Without Borders initiative these past two summers in South Africa and has expressed how much she wants to be a part of the NBA’s efforts to grow its influence throughout the continent. “I want to be an ambassador for them as they continue to expand into Africa and create better facilities and better infrastructure and give opportunity to all these youth with talent but [who] need some development through basketball,” she says. “This is a family. These aren’t just small stops or cool moments with Nigeria. This is a lifetime of commitment.” Her basketball roots connect Ros to her Nigerian bloodline on an even deeper level. It’s been a way for her to bond with her father and become a part of a Naija force that goes beyond just immediate family. “Nigerian is a form of unity; there’s so many people that I feel like family with simply because we’re Nigerian. With my [former Stanford] teammates Nneka Ogwumike or her little sister Chiney … or when I first met Yvonne Orji — the first time we spoke on the phone, we were on the phone for two hours cracking up sharing stories about our Nigerian parents and sharing experiences. It’s a bonding point,” she says. “We don’t have to know each other to love each other.”

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Bringing that warm, authentic attitude day in and day out is what makes Ros so unique. It’s helped her inspire those who watch her and served as a source of strength when life presented her with some almost unsurmountable challenges. It’s what ultimately makes her a girl boss, and even as she continues to skyrocket in the spotlight, like any good point guard she’s still conscious of delivering a stellar assist. “I take everybody and every influence in my life with me on every single thing that I do, and I think that’s a mindset that came just from how I was raised,” she says. “You always hold your people down, and when one of us wins, everyone wins.”

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FUNMI* WAS ABOUT SIX YEARS OLD when she was

lined up with other girls in a courtyard during Oro Festival, a traditional event in her native town, known for masquerades and female genital mutilation (FGM). Families would volunteer their daughters who were old enough for circumcision, and one by one they would be cut—usually by the same hand, with the same blade.

FGM

That Thing Between Your Legs

Putting an End to the Cruelest Tradition by Temitayo Olofinula The World Health Organization (WHO) defines female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) as “the total or partial removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genitals for cultural or any other nontherapeutic reasons.” Funmi did not know it was called FGM when she was cut; she only felt strong arms grab her and force her thighs apart. She struggled, but the more she struggled, the more tired she became. There, on a mat in the open yard, her clitoris was cut. Some traditional medicine was applied to the site to reduce bleeding. Then a rag was placed between her thighs to soak up the blood. For about a week, she endured searing pain in her private parts and walked with a limp. Several decades later, after a doctor’s examination, she realized that the cut in the yard was the source of some of her marital challenges. FGM is practiced across economic classes and faiths, even though no holy book decrees its

use. Nigeria accounts for 21.6 million of the more than 200 million girls and women who have been mutilated worldwide. According to the Population Reference Bureau, more than half a million women and girls in the US are at risk of FGM, either on US soil or abroad. In a 2017 report, NHS Digital indicates that 5,391 cases of FGM were reported in England during 2016-17 and that of these, 57 cases were carried out in the UK. Despite experts’ warnings that it poses several health risks throughout a woman’s life, the practice continues. This is because of the silence around sexual health issues, says Blessing TimidiDigha, a sexual health and reproductive rights expert in Nigeria. “No one talks about sexuality. So, those who have been circumcised are not talking about it. Those who are at risk of being circumcised also keep mum.” Blessing says that this makes it difficult to discover and track down cases of FGM. She recounts a 2016 incident in which the act was prevented in

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a community in Ondo State following a cry for help on Twitter. After repeated phone calls to the girl’s father, educating him on the dangers of the act — dangers of which he was unaware, despite being a lecturer — he acquiesced and agreed that the girl would not be cut. The Damage Done Funmi was cut by an oloola — a member of a family that specializes in cuttings such as traditional marks and male circumcision — but the practice is also performed by midwives. According to the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), traditional agents perform most of the female circumcisions in Nigeria, with many of them using the same crude implements on large number of girls in unsterile environments, risking the spread of infections, including HIV. FGM has also been connected to other reproductive health complications, including vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) and infertility. In addition, many survivors of FGM must undergo caesarean sections after experiencing complications with natural deliveries.

WHO Classification of FGM TYPE 1 (CLITORIDECTOMY): Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce. TYPE 2 (EXCISION): Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora. TYPE 3 (INFIBULATION): Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and appositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris. TYPE 4 (UNCLASSIFIED): All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, and cauterisation. »

̂ See Fig. 1

“After the cut, there is a scar which does not allow the female sexual organs to expand easily during labor,” explains Funmi, who now works as a nurse at a local public health center. She has assisted with the labors of several women who have been cut, and knows that it is more difficult for them. In recent times, there has been an increase in the medicalization of FGM, with traditional cutters, nurses, and medical doctors carrying out the procedure using modern medical equipment. This still does not make it right, however; Blessing Timidi-Digha maintains that whatever is being cut off has a purpose. And the medicalization of FGM does nothing to prevent the scars of the psyche. Funmi says she does not derive any pleasure from sex. In fact, sex came with pain, which led her to a medical doctor. “I am like a log of wood during lovemaking,” she says. “The pleasure that should come from the clitoris is gone.” And some girls do not survive FGM at all, bleeding continuously until succumbing to shock and eventual death. In Funmi’s community, these tales spread quickly from ear to ear. “Such girls were said to be possessed,” she says, “and to have returned to their spirit friends.”

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

Why Cut? Despite the dangers associated with the practice, FGM continues in many communities, with many of its supporters giving several reasons for it. Some associate it with culture, while others believe it to be in obeisance to a spiritual directive, while still others consider it beneficial to the woman. “If you do not cut a girl, she will go around like a dog looking for sex,” says Adunni,* a woman in her fifties. She believes that FGM is a way of controlling a woman’s sexual pleasure so that she does not become promiscuous. A woman’s virtue is connected to her family’s, which is also connected to the community’s. Some justifications for FGM thrive on superstitions, such as if a newborn baby’s head touches the clitoris, the baby will die. This explains why in some communities FGM is carried out during pregnancy, usually before the woman gives birth to her first child. On the other hand, the Ijebu people of Yorubaland do not circumcise their women, with no resulting increase in maternal mortality.

FGM

TYPE 1

TYPE 2

TYPE 3

Fig. 1 Some practitioners believe that FGM is a spiritual injunction, yet no part of any holy book supports female circumcision. However, both Islam and Christian communities continue to circumcise their daughters, believing it will cleanse or purify the girl, ensure that she remains sexually chaste, and prevent her from cheating on her future husband. The Legal Battle to Stop FGM In order to end FGM, different countries have established laws proscribing the act, yet still it continues. FGM is banned in several African countries, including Gambia, Egypt, and Nigeria. In Nigeria, even though different states have laws against FGM, the 2015 Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act was the first federal law to criminalize it. Section 6 of the VAPP criminalizes parents,

mutilators, and other supporters of FGM. Anyone who carries out FGM or engages another to carry it out can be convicted and imprisoned for more than four years or liable to a fine not exceeding n200,000.00, or both. Those who aid in the offense can also be sentenced to prison or asked to pay fines. There have been no prosecutions to date. FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985, and a federal law made the practice illegal in the US in 1996. In 2013, the law was amended to make it illegal to transport a girl out of the US for vacation cuttings, in which girls are knowingly taken on holiday to be cut. It was not until 2017 that the US made its first FGM prosecution for a case that charged two doctors and a medical office manager in Detroit for allegedly mutilating two 7-year-old girls.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promise to leave no one behind, specifically making 2030, 12 short years from now, the target year to the end FGM. But for the SDGs to differ from previous statutes, conventions, and goals, all hands must be on deck—from parents who hold dearly to harmful traditions, to professional cutters who make a living from it, to traditional leaders who uphold local traditions, to the civilized society that will carry the anti-FGM campaign to these communities. Blessing Timidi-Digha emphasizes the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach that involves young people, custodians of the culture, circumcisers, mothers, grandmothers, teachers, and more, stressing that we must continue to be vocal and advocate for the health and rights of women and girls. *Not her real name.

2018—volume 2

FGM Spotlight: Female Genital Mutilation in the United Kingdom

Comfort Momoh

Comfort Momoh A Life Devoted to Ending FGM OFFERING HOPE AND HEALING TO SURVIVORS OF FGM

COMFORT MOMOH GREW UP in Nigeria.

In 1984, she traveled to the UK, where she started her career in nursing. She spent many years working with survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) and founded the African Well Woman’s Clinic at the Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Foundation Trust in London, which provides information, advice, and support for FGM survivors.

Comfort has received several awards for her work, including the national honor of being appointed a Member of the Order of British Empire (MBE) for her work toward improving women’s health. Now retired, she speaks with Radiant Health about FGM and why it is important to put a stop to the act with the current generation. RADIANT HEALTH When was the first time you heard about FGM? COMFORT MOMOH In 1981, I had many

friends who told me about FGM — about how their cousins died due to hemorrhage, excessive loss of blood. I asked my grandma what FGM was all about, but she didn’t have a clue; she didn’t know what I was talking about. I always thought my grandma was the wise old woman with answers to almost everything. I was disappointed. So that pushed me into doing research about FGM…to know why people perform FGM on their daughters. When I came to England as well, I did a lot of research as to why people perform it — cultural issues and traditions.

by Temitayo Olofinula

“How dare you talk about our culture and tradition?” They will throw stones and the UK? eggs at you. Now, we have been able to sensitize the community. We have talked to CM You know, when people come to the the community and religious leaders about UK or to the West, they bring their culture the damage associated with FGM — the and traditions, and if these people truly psychological and physical damage it does believe that they have to perform this on to women and girls. their daughtter in order to marry well, or because it is their culture, they do it. So, coming here does not mean they have Now things are changing, especially forgotten their culture. So for this reason, among young people who are saying they they still do it. will never do it to their children. There are also cases of survivors speaking about their RH When did you move to the UK, and experiences. Initially they are shy to talk comparing it to now, can you say that about it, particularly when they consider the trend is lessening? the consequences within the community. It has taken us about 30 years to get to this CM I came in 1984, immediately after I stage in the UK. We must begin to be more finished at LUTH [Lagos University realistic; changing attitudes and mindsets Teaching Hospital]. I worked in Cambridge, will surely take a while. then came to London for my midwifery and did my Bachelor of Science and then RH How did you overcome the initial master’s. When I was working in the UK, challenges that you faced? we had a Somali group, and I was fortunate to be attached to this group, and I had a CM You know, when you go into the doctor that came from Sudan. In Sudan, communities, you are not going to start by FGM is 90 percent prevalent. He had saying, “I want to talk to you about FGM.” come to do his elective practice and I was Nobody would listen to you. So when you able to ask him more questions. I was able go in there, you talk to them about the learn from him how to do the operation to importance of well-being generally. You reverse the circumcision. check their breasts for lumps and all of that, making sure they know what their breasts I later set up a clinic to support women look like so that if there is any change, they and girls who have been through FGM, can easily come for a checkup. Then you to provide counseling and support. When begin to talk about the legal implications we started about 20 years ago, it was like of FGM, because here in the UK, FGM a no-go area. You can’t even go to the is illegal, and it is also illegal in Nigeria as community. They will look at you and say, well. You have to approach it holistically. RH Why do people still practice FGM in

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RH How many people have been mutilated due to FGM? CM Here in the UK, in my clinic we see about 500 cases every year that had their FGM done in Nigeria, Malaysia, or Sudan before they came here. We see a lot of women, the pregnant and the nonpregnant. The nonpregnant ones come here sometimes because they have issues with their menstrual flow, severe pain, or urinary tract infections.

The pregnant women, obviously if their labia are closed and the clitoris has been removed, everything is stitched together leaving a very tiny opening, which we try to open before they have their baby. It is called “deinfibulation.” Some time ago, one woman, a Somali, came to the clinic and she was like, “Do you remember me, Ma?” I said no. She said I deinfibulated her about 10 years ago. She came with another friend of hers for that same process. And they are both student midwives. RH How common is FGM?

Worldwide, there are about 200 million women who have gone through FGM. In the UK we have about 130,000, but at the moment we have only been able to identify about 66,000. At the moment, we do what we call mandatory recording. This means that all the doctors, nurses, midwives, we record disclosures. So once we get a lot of data, we will then be able to have more robust data on FGM in the UK. CM

Like I said, nobody will tell you that their FGM was performed in the UK. They will only tell you it was performed before they moved to the UK. RH What does deinfibulation entail? CM We can only deinfibulate type 3 FGM, the one that has been closed. For types 1 and 2, unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it. Deinfibulation is a surgical intervention to cut open the closed area. It is very important that we give the woman or girl pain relief to minimize pain and flashback memories, because if we do not do that, it can easily bring back memories.

So after that, we palpate the area to see if there is still a clitoris there. Yes, in type 3 FGM, some of the women don’t have a clitoris at all. We carefully [expose] the clitoris and avoid causing any damage so that the women can now begin to have some sexual sensitivity around the area. So,

when we open, we sew the edges so that it doesn’t close up again. We stress personal hygiene to help the healing of the wound. We tell them to stay away from sex for at least three weeks. RH Tell us about opening the first FGM clinic

in the UK in 1997.

CM That decision was made by the hospital I was working for, Guy’s and St. Thomas’. Before I started there, they had a multi-agency group of doctors, nurses, pediatricians, and GPs who came together because there were lots of women coming to different departments with FGMrelated problems. At one point they said, “Let’s have a clinic for these women and let’s employ somebody that will look after these women.” That is how I started this. The post was advertised and I got the job after some rigorous interviews. RH There are some women who say that despite the fact they were cut, nothing has happened to them. They had children without any troubles. They even have great sex. “So what is bad about FGM?” they usually ask. CM You know why they always think they are fine? Because they have not been challenged. You know, if you are cut, almost everybody within the community is cut too. So if you are having problems with your period, everybody around you is likely having the same issues as well, so there is no difference at all, not until you move away from that community. Then it becomes obvious that you have been having FGM-related issues. The issue here and almost around the world is this: women have been conditioned not to question almost anything.

You also hear them say we do this so that the girl/ woman won’t be promiscuous, to secure a better future, and so on. One will always argue that if God wants this thing cut off, he would have done it even before we arrived in this world. Why are you cutting it off? It creates a lot of problems for women. Some of the women, because they already have it removed, they don’t enjoy sexual intercourse, so we have to refer them for psychosexual counseling. RH What is the worst condition caused by FGM that you have ever seen? CM That would have to be the cyst. It is like a

boil sitting on the private parts. I have seen so many, but the worst ever seen is one that was as big as a baby’s head. Such a big boil sitting there, and it impairs your mobility. It is very painful. It

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FGM

One will always argue that if God wants this thing cut off, he would have done it even before we arrived in this world. Why are you cutting it off?

gets inflamed, and you are always in pain. So I saw this woman with this and we took her immediately to the [operating] theater to have it removed. She was circumcised when she was 10; she came to see us when she was 20. So you can imagine someone having a big cyst growing for about 10 years. That’s the worst scenario that I have seen ever. RH So what are you most proud of about your work?

I really enjoy both delivery and deinfibulation. For delivery, you are helping someone to bring a soul into this world, and for deinfibulation, you are helping to bring a woman back to life as she was. I really enjoy what I do, and that is why I encourage my students. I empower women around me to challenge harmful traditional practices. CM

RH You are a lecturer, a retired midwife,

a mother, the editor of a book on FGM — how do you do all this? CM Well I think I am a bit crazy...I just get

up and do everything. I also travel a lot to train people, not only in the UK but all over the world. RH What do you have to say about

medicalization of FGM and summer trips for FGM to be carried out?

CM According to WHO [World Health Organization], there is no room for medicalization because that means you are encouraging FGM. About the summer trips, we know that here in the West, because of that strong [traditional] belief, some people still take their children back home for FGM. Because of the long nature of the holidays, by the time they are returning after they have been cut, the area would be healed, no questions asked.

But now we have the extraterritorial impact, meaning as a UK national, if you take your child out of here, you are liable to whatever happens to them, and in fact there is a jail term of 14 years for such things. This is why it is so important that we educate the FGM-practicing communities in the UK about the law, because some of them are still not aware that it is illegal. And if you take it out of here, if you go and do it and then come back, it is 14 years imprisonment.

on ground in terms of safety — we don’t have anything. And I remember asking the police about FGM in Nigeria. I recall him saying, “Madam, we ended FGM in Nigeria about 20 years ago!” I said, “Really?” Fortunately for me, I had two young girls with me who were circumcised just 18 months before my visit; I brought them out and asked them to speak to the commissioner. He was so surprised because to him we do not have cases of FGM again in Nigeria. I also think we need to end FGM with one generation, and that is the younger generation, because they are the future generation. They are the future husbands and the wives, so we need to educate them now. RH How did you feel when you were awarded the MBE?

CM I really can’t describe it. It’s like, “Oh … really?” You know, I was shocked. So it’s RH Now there is a law in Nigeria, but kind of a feeling that you can’t describe, nobody has been prosecuted. In your and you are also grateful.

view, what do you think could be done?

CM A lot needs to be done. We have got

a law, but how many people are aware of it? Do we go to the villages to educate the villagers about the law? No, we don’t. I remember last year when I came to Nigeria, we went to see the commissioner of police in Abuja. I wanted to find out what was

RH What is the kindest feedback you ever got for your work? CM That I am very approachable. This comes

particularly from my clients and students.

This interview was lightly edited for clarity.

2018—volume 2

FGM Spotlight: Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria

Sola Fagorusi Using the Media to End FGM, One Community at a Time by Temitayo Olofinula

genital mutilation (FGM) is illegal in Nigeria, it continues to be practiced in various parts of the country. Sola Fagorusi is the program manager for OneLife Initiative for Human Development, which utilizes media engagement, sensitization campaigns, and social media to educate Nigerians on the need to end FGM. In this interview, we discuss OneLife’s work to stop the practice of FGM, particularly among young Nigerians.

ALTHOUGH FEMALE

RADIANT HEALTH The first time you studied FGM in the field, what was the strangest thing that you heard or saw? SOLA FAGORUSI The

strangest thing I saw was a girl being examined ahead of an FGM “exercise” in the North. People walked by casually, as if it was a normal thing there. The girl, who was about a year old, was brought by her parents on

a bike. She was screaming. Her eyes were looking at me directly. I was also helpless. I was looking at the father, trying to wink at him, that perhaps he could stop it. There was nothing I could do in that sense other than to capture what was happening and see how we could put feet on the ground, put words on-air, and make sure that this does not happen to other girls. The baby was examined. I later understood that they were trying to check the Bartholin’s glands [two lubricantproducing glands located on either side of the vaginal opening], whether they were infected. This is usually done once a girl starts to itch or they notice anything unusual from her private parts. He was dipping his bare hands into her private parts for some 10 or 15 minutes. After his examination, she was supposed to take some traditional medicine and then it

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

would be decided whether something else still needed to be done to the girl. RH People keep using religion to push FGM, yet there is no evidence in either Christianity or Islam to support it. Why does the religious narrative keep getting stronger? SF Religion is the easiest way to sell anything to people. So, in those days when culture had a strong hold, our parents would think up reasons why we should not whistle at night. They would say things like, “If you whistle at night, this will happen.” They would say, “Don’t sweep at night,” and truly, you should not sweep at night because people are sleeping. However, they would put a cultural narrative to it.

I strongly believe that as culture began to

Sola Fagorusi

waken, thanks to globalization, the internet, that girl, that woman. after a radio program. She wanted to and all of that, it was also easy to switch to know what to do afterward: If she finds the religion narrative, even when it cannot And in terms of being realistic, as well, out that she is mutilated, what should she be clearly articulated from the religious for communities where there are no do? Where should she go? Who should books. I remember once someone called conversations, we raise awareness on the she talk to? She saw us as a reliable on a radio program. He said that he was an subject. We are open to people saying repository of information around sexual imam and the Quran says that one should “Don’t ever come here again to talk about education. She was just 20. mutilate the girl child. The presenter asked, this.” We had a case like that in Kwara “What verse of the Quran?” And he could State, where the community leader told In a generation where most young people not remember. our representative that we cannot go into get information from their peers, you the community to have that conversation. don’t want to undermine the kind of People will believe the words of a pastor They believe that it is an injunction that impact that that may have. One of our or an imam more than any custodian of they actually have to execute as Muslims. future ambitions as an organization is to culture. However, we should merely allow That experience will help us to re-strategize. have a toll-free line that young people can both to hold their places. In places like So, perhaps next time we will be thinking call to ask questions. We feel that it will Northern Nigeria, where it is even difficult of a dance group to go there and do some raise awareness. to say “This is our cultural identity,” theater for development. everything has become “This is what our From one of the billboards we put out, we religion dictates.” The same community cannot stop its received a call from a man who said, “I saw members from listening to the radio. And your billboard about FGM, and I have RH When it comes to matters of sexuality, that is why we use the media. The radio been trying to explain to my wife that our no one talks about it. Even if people is the last mile, and it is a leveler when it daughter does not need to be cut. She says have issues post-FGM concerning their comes to social stratification. You are rich that it has to be done.” We offered to come sexual health, no one wants to talk. How and in your car — you can listen to the to visit him with an imam since he was a do you navigate these murky waters of radio. You are poor and on your farm — Muslim, but he was not disposed to it. silence around sexual health in Nigeria you can listen to the radio. It is the same while shining a light on FGM? thing that the rich and the poor will hear, if There are several others who have seen it they are on the same frequency. and did not call, which makes behaviorSF That is true; however, we hope that change evaluation difficult. Yes, we we can end this practice in a generation. We also use social media to reach out to put out the billboards, but how do you So, by the time the SDGs [World Health the upwardly mobile young people so that measure that behaviors have changed? Organization Sustainable Development wherever you go, you hear the message. One advantage we have is that we have Goals] actually end, which is in 12 years, We have put information on billboards young people all around us, and they can we should be able to say that the next and buses as well. We hope that we don’t think of new ways that resonate with this generation of mothers should not be have to do this for long. We hope that generation of young people. thinking about it. We have been targeting very soon, perhaps when the next NDHS the strongholds of FGM. We cannot target is released in 2018, the level of awareness RH What are some of the reasons young the entire Oyo State, for instance. So, will have risen, that the number of young people give on why FGM should continue? OneLife has worked in about 12 states in people against FGM will have risen. There Nigeria, and we have not been working are also several organizations working SF For most young people, it is indifference across the entire states. on this. There is also a global awareness — “Okay, what is that?” — and for others it with the SDG three and five [target goals] is, “It is normal now, you mean they did not Our work has been data-driven to a very which are to protect the health of young do it for you?” In many Nigerian societies, large extent. We are thankful for the NDHS girls and women. when you give birth, your mother or your [Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey] husband’s mother is there helping you. She Report, the Multiple Indicator Cluster RH You work with the media on the has been helping you and you can see the Survey from the Ministry of Health, and ground. What do consider the most child growing. The child was coughing; reports from groups like 28TooMany and effective way to reach your audience? Grandma did something and the child UNICEF. All these help us in our planning stopped coughing. The child had a cold; when thinking: Which community should SF It is a combination of platforms. Grandma did something and the cold ended. we be visiting? Which radio station should Through the radio, we ensure that we And then Grandma said, “We need to cut we be speaking on? We have done jingles are on call-in programs. People can this child.” You don’t want to say no. This is in Ijaw, Efik, Pidgin, Yoruba, and English, speak to us while the shows are on-air. the dilemma that the average young person just to make sure that we reach people in We also drop our phone numbers so that of reproductive age faces. their local languages. We try to make sure after the programs, people can call back. that, at the end of the day, we reach out to I remember a particular girl who called For the younger ones, they cannot even

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ask questions around it. This was why we did the poster art competition. The idea was: How do we use a subtle approach to start conversations about it? People only change things that they understand. They would be disposed to hear more about something when there is a conversation going on around it. So, how do we ensure that FGM becomes a subject as popular as politics, as sports? How do we ensure that when couples go for marriage counseling, the clerics can talk about FGM? We sent out letters to some clerics and politicians. We hope that they can start that conversation during the counseling for intending couples, so that once they get married and if they have a girl child, they will not mutilate the child. We are also asking them that when they go for naming ceremonies, they should push that as part of their sermon, so the couple can say that the pastor or the imam said this, that the girl does not need to be cut. No single method works on its own. Other approaches feed into it. RH Are there plans to target people

in the rural areas who are not on social media?

SF We are part of a digital project targeted at young people across the country. One of the things that we encourage is for corp [National Youth Service Corps]* members to keep a blog and tell people about what is happening in their communities. We work with different groups and people across different communities in Nigeria. We are currently working with a lecturer in Kogi State to look at the Ogorimagogo Festival, which is similar to the fattening room in Cross River.

I think corps members are better positioned to speak to the different communities. You need to experience the many seasons in the communities [because] to work around any issue, you need to know facts. There is no point going into any community if there are no feet on the ground. So, if you go to a place like Ijebu-Ode, you will not see a single billboard on FGM. It is not a prevailing culture there. We would love to work with corps members on this. Maybe get people to go to all

the camps and talk with extensive information materials on it. Our estimation is that we have about 2,000 corps members that we can talk to, multiplied by at least 20 locations. If we have a system where we can get feedback from them, that could work. Corps members are the last mile set of humans across Nigeria, because for every community you have a corps member. RH If a girl finds out that she was mutilated, what is the next line of action? SF We educate her on the several issues around FGM and its effects on sexual and reproductive health. We wish to do more. One of our intentions is to have a center partnered with a hospital, with someone with some gynecology experience focused on FGM. We hope that on specific days, women and girls can come in to be examined there.

We also see a future where sex therapists can talk to girls and women about other things that they can do. A doctor could assess them quickly and know beforehand if they could be better prepared during delivery, if we have willing hospitals to partner with us. The maternal mortality due to bleeding is high. Bleeding during childbirth and VVF [vesicovaginal fistula] have been connected with FGM. There are other issues: Do we have a shelter house? Do we have a culture where, if a woman says she wants to leave a marriage because her child would be cut, many would say, “Oh you want to leave because of this small child?” Again, in the name of their marriage, some women sacrifice the well-being of their child, and oftentimes the women are so dependent on their husbands. It will take a while but I think that the major step is to get the information out there so that people will know that it is not female circumcision but mutilation. It is important for people to know that FG is not “federal government.” There was a case where a police officer asked, “My children what is wrong? What has the federal government done to you that you are holding a street rally?” [The initials FG, commonly used

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FGM

to refer to the federal government, are similar to the acronym FGM.] RH What about the medicalization of FGM? SF It is not an option, because it is like saying, “Don’t steal, but if you are a police officer with a gun, you can.” It does not mean that because you have been licensed to carry out surgeries, you should cut what you are not supposed to cut. In medical college, they are not taught how to do this. Same with nurses. The professional bodies think you do not deserve this knowledge.

It is part of the schedule for the male child, not for the female child. There is no medical practitioner that can proudly say that they do it. Medicalization is real. It happens in several communities. Even FGM practitioners will tell you that they use sterilized cutting sets for their work. They use a new kit for each child. Yet it does not make it right. RH What has been the harshest feedback? SF Once we went on radio — it was a Yoruba

radio station. We had done 30 minutes of interview. We got about nine callers and all of them went all hard on us. This was from Kajola Local Government; it has the highest rates of FGM in Nigeria. It was also one of the LGAs [local government areas] where our posters were destroyed. All the calls were pro-FGM advocates. I knew that it was a community we had to come in to work in another way. We had a recent case of a king who was saying that this is not our business, that government should not be concerned with what happens in people’s bedrooms. RH What is the kindest feedback you have received? SF The case we had in Ondo State with a couple that were about to cut their daughter during Christmas period. Eventually we got someone to speak with them on the ground and to take a gift for the child. She was three months old. The father eventually decided not to cut her because he did some more research on it. For us, we believe that this is something doable. I am really looking forward to seeing the NDHS, which is one of the biggest surveys into health in Nigeria.

* The National Youth Service Corps is a mandatory nonmilitary service program for Nigerian university graduates. Corps members are deployed to serve for one year in communities across the country. More information on the work being done by OneLife Initiative can be found at ONELIFEINITIATIVE.ORG. This interview was lightly edited for clarity.

2018—volume 2

“Trust yourself. Think for yourself. Act for yourself. Speak for yourself. Be yourself. Imitation is suicide.” Marva Collins

illustration by Bianca Kipp

IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD

It’s a Woman’s World When Women Lead, Slay, and Break Through words by Manseen Logan

TOWARD A WOMEN’S RENAISSANCE

AMOS

TUTUOLA.

CHINUA

ACHEBE.

BAI

MOORE. These men introduced me to classic

West African literature of the 1950s and ’60s. Notice, I didn’t mention any women, even though Bessie Head and Flora Nwapa existed during that same era. The fact remains, men dominated the writing industry. Even today, Amazon’s bestselling African literature list does not include women from the ’50s or ’60s. Men had a lock on the writing world and they still hold the keys to many

professional industries today. Yet even without these invisible keys, women have somehow managed to access traditional male professions and excel beyond measure. As I pursue my professional writing career, I observe ambitious African women who work in male-dominated spaces. I know that any woman can do anything, but all of the women I’ve seen demolish gender barriers have one thing in common. Boldness. »

2018—volume 1

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FEATURES

Growing up in a family full of African women who laugh loudly, carve their own paths, and don’t wait for permission taught me that I can be anything. At the same time, walking a self-carved path means the traveler does not need to stand out in a crowd. Hence, I never learned how to shine. Instead, my family taught me what most religious African families teach their daughters — modesty. But for my personal and professional growth, modesty hasn’t always worked, especially when it has conditioned me to suppress certain thoughts and expressions. All hope isn’t lost, though. I’ve watched the matriarchs in my family evolve. They inspire me, along with my growing list of African women whose boldness has broken down malemade barriers. When Women Lead “Watching preparation turn into success is also gratifying when the people around you are also riding their own wave of positive results.”

Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has a top spot on my list. Her 2005 election can be described in one word: powerful. I remember the victory announcement because that event altered my ideas about womanhood. At age 68, that ol’ Ma gave Africa its first elected female president and gave me an entirely new perception about becoming an older woman. African culture respects age and the wisdom that comes with it. At the same time, society places extra pressure on women to accomplish major milestones in a short timespan. Get married young. Have children young. Work or raise a family young. Sirleaf gave me a “Grow old, gain wisdom, and run the world” attitude. She showed me that in addition to fulfilling traditional roles, women can start new major ventures at any time. We can become whole presidents, and we have no expiration dates. Another African female leader, Malawian Chief Theresa Kachindamoto, popped up in the news a few years ago. It’s one thing to be a woman in a powerful position; it’s another to use that power to create better situations for future women. Chief Kachindamoto did both. She reversed more than 850 child marriages in her community of Monkey Bay and enacted laws to end sexual initiations that were taking place with children as young as 7 years old. People threatened her life, but she didn’t let that faze her.

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There goes that boldness. My heart smiled when I learned about the annulled marriages and the children she sent back to school. Chief Kachindamoto showed me that women in traditional male professions have a responsibility to change systems that hinder other women. She intensifies my “Who made up these rules?” sensibility and encourages me to defy useless traditions. Women can do more than enter male spaces. We can reconstruct the entire room. When Women Slay Now, on to the slayage. I had to add women who slay to my list because wondering how people perceive my physical appearance has been a challenge. After all, women and beauty go hand in hand, but not in the way society promotes. I had to learn this from Cameroonian drag performer Bebe Zara Benet. Before I watched her win Rupaul’s Drag Race, I did not feel comfortable wearing makeup. In fact, I would try to be as plain as I could because God forbid I attract the wrong attention. I had to remain modest because women shouldn’t use looks to get ahead. Imbued with the idea that “brains over beauty” meant I had to bury all my attractive physical features, I focused only on marketing my mind. Benet, in all her animal print and African fabric fierceness, brought out the gorgeous in me. I sat and watched a person who society deemed a man transform into who she perceived a woman to be. Confident. Adorned. Ultra-expressive. Aside from these bold characteristics, it was her carefree “What you think of me is none of my business” vibe that inspired me the most. It unburdened me. Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o sits on the other end of the beauty spectrum. She portrays a more natural look and leaves an effortless impression. Despite working in a ruthless, male-dominated industry, Nyong’o goes against Hollywood’s superficial beauty standards. I admire how she rocks a natural hairstyle, flexes her astounding dark brown complexion and stays red carpet ready. Her ability to embrace and enhance what she deems beautiful reaffirms what Benet taught me. Women can celebrate our physical attributes and we shouldn’t feel guilty for standing out.

IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD

Growing up in a family full of African women who laugh loudly, carve their own paths, and don’t wait for permission taught me that I can be anything.

After Nyong’o shared her Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment experience, she shined even more on my list. I don’t think beautiful women in male-controlled industries should expect unwanted sexual advances, yet Nyong’o had been told “This is the way it is.” Her courage to come forward, along with all the other Hollywood actresses, will help change “the way it is.” I’ve learned that women should not leave their physical attributes behind to make men less accountable. Shine, Sis! When Women Break Through While adding to my list, I also learned about some audacious Nigerian women who have broken through into male-dominated professions. Take female pilots, for instance. Like koala bears, I still haven’t seen one in person, but I know they exist. Chinyere Kalu, Hassana and Huseina Edili-Ogaji, Imoleayo Adebule, and many other African women in aviation encourage me to pursue outcomes I haven’t seen. Kalu stands out because she was the first Nigerian woman to pilot a commercial

plane. As senior officers, the Edili-Ogaji twins hold an impressive rank in aviation. Finally, Adebule, who started her aviation career at 22 years of age, forces me to step my game up and not waste time. This impressive group has persistently defied the odds, and they give me a “Don’t believe me, just watch me” determination. Sandra Aguebor, Nigeria’s first female mechanic, also stands out among my growing list. Aguebor muscled her way into a male-only industry and convinced everyone that she could be great — not just good. I’ve noticed that “breakthrough women” can’t be mediocre. They trust themselves and have this internal compass that directs them through unchartered territory. When they trust themselves, a new world opens up for future women. Aguebor’s accomplishment has given more than 17,000 girls access to mechanical engineering. Through her Lady Mechanic Initiative program, which started in 2004, she’s diversifying how Nigerian mechanics look. It just takes one woman to change what the world deems possible for all women.

In the past, women could not enter the military. Now, Nigeria has deployed women to defend the country against some of its biggest threats. A January 2018 Twitter video from Sahara Reporters shows an all-female Nigerian troop celebrating their deployment to the country’s northeast. They sang and danced in their uniforms with weapons hoisted as they prepared to take on terrorist group Boko Haram. I couldn’t help dancing along with them. I felt the pride and sense of accomplishment that they must have been feeling. The world has come a long way. Even looking at the literary field, women have affirmed their position. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Helene Cooper, Wayetu Moore and many other women make up my contemporary West African literature list. Female African writers are listed as Amazon bestsellers along with their male counterparts. Women have proven themselves in traditional male-only roles, forcing society to get with the program. I’m excited to tap into my own boldness and keep the change going.

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health & wellness

page 106.

VAGINAL HEALTH Q&A You asked, we answered

page 108.

WE ARE ALL HORMONAL The most important hormone to watch may surprise you

page 112.

CATCHING YOUR FLOW IN THE 21ST CENTURY Period products from old school to high tech

WE ALL HAVE THOSE sensitive issues that we’re too embarrassed to discuss with our partners, our

friends, even our physicians. But Radiant Health has you covered! We asked you, our readers, what questions you had about your vaginas but were too embarrassed to ask, and then we took those questions to the experts. Dr. Nneka Nwokolo, a consultant physician in sexual health and HIV medicine, and psychosexual therapist Remziye Kunelaki, both of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in the UK, reviewed your questions, and here is what they had to say. by Chinyere Amobi ilustrations by Jokotade

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Q: Can I train my body to have an orgasm from

penetration without clitoral stimulation? A: Yes, it is possible. Sometimes we can condition

ourselves on how our orgasms will happen, and we are not “open” to other possibilities. During penetration, try to remain with the sensations. What is it that you are enjoying and how does it feel to be experiencing that specific sensation?

Ask Us Anything Vaginal Health Q&A

YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED!

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Once you keep open the possibility, you will be surprised with where your experience can take you. And the goal of penetration does not need to be the orgasm; there are lots of feelings and sensations that could provide an equally satisfactory sexual experience. Q: How do I get rid of vaginal odor? A: Vaginal odor is completely normal and most

women will notice a smell from time to time. Odors can be caused by many things; for example, during a period, many women notice a change in vaginal odor, and the smell is often different at different times of the menstrual cycle. In the same way that all women are different, vaginal odor differs from one woman to the next, and what is normal for one person may not be for someone else.

Vaginal odors may also be caused by certain infections such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis, and very commonly by a forgotten tampon! If you’re worried that your odor might be abnormal, a visit to a sexual health clinic should be able to give you the answers you need, including a course of treatment if an infection is found. Q: How do I stop my vagina from “farting” during sex? A: “Farting” from the vagina is caused by trapped air being expelled, usually during sex.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

ASK US ANYTHING

Under normal circumstances, there is no space between the vaginal walls, but during sexual penetration, the walls move apart. When they come back together again, any air that has entered the vagina is forced out, which may cause a sound. This is completely normal, and although it may be a bit embarrassing (it shouldn’t be!), it can’t be prevented. Sometimes this can also happen when a person is exercising or stretching. Q: No matter what, I never get “wet” before sex. What should I do to correct this problem? A: You might want to focus a bit more on your foreplay. Sometimes we think we are ready for sex but our bodies might not be. Prolong the sexual play and foreplay with your partner. Maybe even consider a sex toy that can enhance your sexual arousal. You could keep a good lubricant nearby to top up during sex, but it’s best to rely on maintaining your natural lubrication with the right stimulation for you.

Q: Does coconut oil help maintain vaginal pH balance? A: No, coconut oil doesn’t help with vaginal pH balance. The vagina

is naturally acidic (and self-cleansing) because it contains bacteria called lactobacilli (good bacteria) that produce lactic acid. An acidic vaginal pH suppresses harmful bacteria and keeps the vagina healthy.

Practices that change the pH of the vagina allow the growth of bacteria that are normally suppressed and may be associated with conditions such as bacterial vaginosis, which may increase the risk of catching HIV. For this reason, we recommend that people don’t use feminine cleansing products or put other substances in the vagina, as they may disrupt the normal balance.

Q: I have attempted to have sex several times but the penis just won’t go in. Neither will a finger. Can a vagina be too tight? A: We all have a unique anatomy and that can affect our sex life. Sometimes, the anticipation of the insertion of a finger or other Q: How do I know when I’m properly Kegeling? penetration may provoke feelings of fear and anxiety. It is only A: Kegel exercises could be very helpful in toning your pelvic floor natural that the body tries to protect itself from pain and, so to speak, muscles. Like any other muscle in our body, in order to tone them “closes up.” and recognize them, you need to practice regularly. Usually the best way to identify this muscle is when you are about to pass I would suggest that you take your time with any insertion attempt urine and you have to stop mid-stream. The sensation is similar and not rush it. It might be worthwhile to try with your own finger to the one used to stop the urine where you squeeze and lift. Once first, and with the help of lubrication explore your vagina and how you identify the muscles, you can gradually add counts between you feel touching yourself. Mindfulness meditation is a practice squeezing and lifting. that is proven to help with painful intercourse in women. Maybe give it a go. Q: Every time I have sex, I get a yeast infection. How do I have sex without getting a yeast infection? Q: Why do we use made-up terms to describe vaginas? A: Yeast infections are not sexually transmitted. People may have A: In many societies, sex and the genitals are regarded as things of itching and irritation after sex if they already have a yeast infection, shame and talking about them is frowned upon. Because of this, or sex can cause itching and irritation in the presence of other some parents are uncomfortable using the biological terms for the conditions which people might mistake for a yeast infection, but sex genitals when speaking to their children and either make up their does not actually cause yeast infections. Improperly cleaned genitals own names or use colloquial names. or any foreign objects introduced during sex can, however, trigger a yeast infection. Unfortunately, this perpetuates much of the stigma associated with sex and the genitals because people continue to associate The most common symptoms of a yeast infection (also called them with shame. Being able to say the word vagina with the thrush) are itching and a thick, white, cheesy or curd-like discharge. same ease as we refer to arms and legs removes the mystery Where itching and an increased discharge happen frequently, it’s from it, and in my view helps us to see the genitals as just really important to have tests to confirm the diagnosis because there another body part. are many other causes of genital itching, including skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis and other infections. Q: How can we start encouraging women to talk about their vaginas? Many women with skin problems assume that they have thrush A: By making a conscious decision to use the anatomical names when in fact they have something else. Women who have frequent for body parts, such as vagina, penis, etc., and correcting people episodes of confirmed thrush should be investigated for diabetes and when they use colloquial names. The more people use the right conditions that affect the immune system, such as HIV infection, as names, the easier it becomes! thrush may be more common with these.

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We Are All Hormonal Now

(But Is There One You’re Forgetting?)

IN MANY WAYS, hormones are associated with negative energy. Well, women’s hormones, at any rate. While it is likely that more true negativity is carried out by those who are, shall we say, hormonal with a capital “T” as in testosterone (just saying), when we hear negative phrasing about hormones, it is usually in the form of “Ignore it — she just has PMS” or “She’s hormonal, it will pass” or some other implication that a woman’s justified anger, indignation, or just plain annoyance is only about hormone levels.

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RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

by Zora DeGrandpre, MS, ND ilustrations by Jokotade

ALL HORMONES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL

WE ARE ALL HORMONAL

(TRUE STORY)

Man says to woman, “You have PMS.” Woman says to man, “No, you just piss me off every 28 days!” THE TRUTH IS WE ARE ALL hormonal creatures

and we are all controlled to some extent by our hormone levels. Still, no one gets negative about your thyroid hormone levels or cortisol levels, or if you have diabetes and your insulin levels are off. But you do hear negativity over reproductive hormones — or at least, women’s reproductive hormones.

In contrast, a higher level of testosterone (in men, at least) is considered a measure of virility, even though high levels of testosterone are associated with male breast enlargement, acne, decreased testicle size, decreased sperm counts, decreased empathy, and according to an article in Scientific American, a greater tendency toward social dominance, various forms of aggression, and sometimes violence. A low testosterone level can also pose problems, and is associated with reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, decreased bone mass, and (ahem) mood changes. Yet this isn’t considered negative energy — for men, it’s a call for medical intervention! An Overview of Hormones Hormones are produced by specific glands and send a chemical message via the bloodstream to other organs. Control of this network of hormones is regulated in several ways, with many hormone levels controlling the levels of other hormones. Some hormones are steadily secreted, others are cyclic, and still others are secreted after a specific stimulus, such as eating a sugar-rich meal, waking up, or when the body needs an energy boost. Hormones control growth and development, maintain the body’s internal chemical balance and energy levels, regulate reproduction, and control the reaction to any kind of stimulus — physical, mental, or emotional. Some Hormones Don’t Get the Respect They Deserve Many hormones are underappreciated. Certainly female reproductive hormones don’t get the respect they deserve. Hormones that control appetite and hunger also don’t get enough recognition — this may be because scientists keep discovering more of them, or simply because some of them have odd names like ghrelin (lenomorelin), adiponectin, leptin, amylin, oxyntomodulin, and so on!

One hormone in particular that doesn’t always get enough respect is insulin. We have known about insulin for years, and about diabetes for millennia, but we are just now teasing out the details of how diabetes develops. While we have known for a long time how to use diet and nutrition to reduce the risk of diabetes, we are now beginning to learn the whys and hows of preventing and treating diabetes at its earliest stages. Insulin Resistance Diabetes in women of African descent has been appropriately termed an epidemic. Women of African descent have almost twice the prevalence of diabetes compared to white women, as well as twice the risk of end-stage kidney disease, vision impairment, amputation, and death from diabetes. Women of African descent also have an increased risk of prediabetes, also known as insulin resistance. These are disheartening facts. But they don’t have to stay disheartening, because it all starts with insulin resistance, which can be controlled with diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Not always easy to do, but let’s be blunt — it is better than the alternative! What Insulin Does When we eat, our body breaks down the carbohydrates in our food into simpler sugar molecules. Sugar is our main source of energy, and when blood sugar levels reach a certain threshold, the pancreas sends out insulin. Insulin’s job is to shove all that sugar into the body’s cells, where the energy can be extracted from the sugar. Insulin binds to receptors on the cells. This process is commonly depicted with a picture of a lock and key; the insulin is the key, and when it binds to the cell’s receptor (the lock), a series of biochemical reactions occur that signal the sugar receptors on the cells to take up the sugar floating around in the blood. What Is Insulin Resistance? Insulin resistance occurs when the cells don’t respond very well to the signal from the insulin. The insulin lock or key may be defective, or the glucose lock or key may be defective, or some signaling reaction between these locks and keys may be defective. It’s not a simple problem, but the

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first step in the process actually is pretty simple. It appears that when the body is flooded with high levels of blood sugar, it reacts by starting to ignore the sugar by resisting the insulin signal. It’s like having too much of a good thing. Maybe that good thing is a vacation and you end up being bored and working anyway. Or the good thing is a favorite food and you end up overindulging and never wanting to eat it again. Or it’s like flooding an engine with too much gas; the only thing to do is to let the gas drain (in other words, lower the blood sugar levels) and then try again, allowing the engine just a bit of gas at a time—like giving your body sugar, but in the form of complex carbohydrates. How Insulin Resistance Can Lead to Diabetes Insulin resistance is a bit of a silent stalker, with no definitive symptoms, but it does have some risk factors: »» A diet composed of sugary foods and beverages, fast food, fried foods, and processed foods. This is the reason naturopaths and other physicians recommend a diet full of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, and high-quality protein like fish and lean meat or poultry. These whole foods contain complex carbohydrates which take longer to digest, so the sugars are released much more slowly than, shall we say, a frosted brownie or a piece of cake. »» A family history of diabetes. If a close relative has diabetes, your risk of insulin resistance (and diabetes) is increased. »» Ethnic background. The risk is higher for those of Hispanic, African, Native American, or Asian descent. »» Being overweight or obese. »» Lack of exercise. Women of African descent, especially those over the age of about 40, are also at higher risk of a condition called metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of obesity, insulin resistance, high

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blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol levels. Testing and Treatment Insulin resistance can be tested for by measuring fasting blood sugars and insulin levels and performing a glucose tolerance test. The condition is mainly treated by switching to a diet like the one previously described, increasing your level of physical activity, and staying away from sugary foods. While insulin resistance can be controlled, it can take quite a bit of discipline and determination to start eating differently than the people around you and to exercise more. The basic idea is to stay away from all refined, junk, fried, or processed foods. One phrase to remember is “If it’s white, don’t bite.” This refers to white bread, white rice, and white potatoes, as well as cakes, cookies, pastries, and pies, which all use white, refined, processed flour and are the most sugary foods around. Junk food and fried foods have added sugar too. Get used to reading labels. If more than 5 grams of sugar are added, stay away. Less than 5 grams is even better, but setting a goal of 5 grams at first may be helpful. Remember that eating this way can help prevent metabolic syndrome and other conditions associated with insulin resistance, including fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, fertility issues, and skin conditions like skin tags and acanthosis nigricans (a condition that causes darker, velvety patches of skin in the armpits, groin, and neck). Your Body Is Telling You Something Insulin resistance is your body’s way of warning you that it is not reacting to sugar as it should. But it doesn’t mean that you are destined for diabetes! What it does signal is that it is time for you to listen to your body, to begin to feed it healthy and nutritious foods, and to move like you were meant to move. Any kind of increased physical activity will help. Dance a little. Take a walk or a hike. Get into aerobics, tai chi, karate, or any other activity you prefer. You can take back control! What are you waiting for?

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES TAKE LONGER THAN SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATES TO BREAK DOWN, BUT BOTH PROVIDE THE BODY WITH SUGAR — JUST AT DIFFERENT RATES. SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATES PROVIDE SUGAR IN A LARGE “SPIKE” FOLLOWED BY A DEEP “TROUGH.” COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES, ON THE OTHER HAND, RELEASE SUGARS IN A LONGER, SMOOTHER PROCESS WITHOUT ANY HIGH PEAKS OR DEEP TROUGHS.

This business of womanhood is a heavy burden. Tsitsi Dangarembga

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Catching Your Flow in the 21st Century IT'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD I CAN STILL REMEMBER my first encounter

with a tampon. Poor planning led to a 16-year-old me, cramped in a sandy beach restroom, fearfully trying to figure out how to fit a giant wad of cotton borrowed from my cousin into you-know-where.

Since then, my knowledge of and comfort with menstrual products has advanced, but admittedly not that much. Like many women, I’ve only ever tried or considered two options: sanitary pads, which sound like you’re changing a diaper from the other side of the restroom door, and tampons (see above). But ladies, it’s 2018, the world’s much bigger than that sandy restroom, and we have so many options! Ongoing research shows that many of the traditional menstrual products we’ve been putting in or against our bodies are not only criminally uncomfortable, but may also come with unintended consequences,

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including exposure to toxins, changes in menstrual frequency and intensity, and conditions such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease. On top of that, the disposable products many of us use create a shocking amount of waste over time. According to Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley, menstruating individuals create on average 250 to 300 pounds of period-related waste in their lifetimes. While your current faves may still end up working best for you, here’s a rundown of some alternatives that may spare both your wallet and your health while leaving a lighter footprint on the earth. Menstrual Cups When my former roommate first told me about her Diva Cup, a reusable menstrual cup that you insert to catch your flow and

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

by Chinyere Amobi ilustrations by Jokotade

then empty and wash before the next use, I was skeptical. First, how do you fit it in there; second, how do you trust it not to leak; and third, how do you remove it without making your bathroom resemble a murder scene? As it turns out, menstrual cups are quite common and trusted by women around the world as a cost-effective, comfortable, and environmentally friendly alternative to tampons and pads. “I always encourage women to seek out a menstrual cup, where income permits, for their monthly cycle,” says certified sexual health educator Angelica Lindsay-Ali. “While the cost is higher at the outset, the residual economic effect is far less than mainstream menstrual products like pads and tampons.” She also prefers menstrual cups because they can help you monitor your flow. “When emptying, it is very easy to detect clotting, changes in color, and volume,” she explains.

CATCHING YOUR FLOW

There’s definitely a learning curve to figuring out how to insert and remove the cup, but there are lots of video tutorials online that can help, both on YouTube and through manufacturer websites. The brand of menstrual cup you choose depends on your individual preferences, such as which cup shape feels best in your body or which brand provides the least amount of leakage. Those looking for no-mess period sex might even try the disposable SoftCup, which some women say has the ability to hold menstrual blood even while you’re having penetrative sex, though the product’s manufacturer has not recommended it for this use. Other well-known menstrual cup brands include Lunette and Lena. Free-Bleeding Period Panties You can’t scroll through Facebook these days without seeing an advertisement for THINX panties. As you gaze at the happy, artfully posed models enjoying their day in nothing but a tank top and panties, you can’t help but wonder how you can trust this simple pair of underwear to keep your period from laying waste to your car seat, office chair, and bedsheets. However, some women swear by them. Free-bleeding panties are reusable and can be thrown in the washing machine with the rest of your clothes. Depending on your flow level, you may feel comfortable using these panties on their own, only on light days, or as backup for a cup or tampon. “As an early adopter of new technology, I find them fascinating, comfortable, and surprisingly undetectable,” says Angelica Lindsay-Ali. “The introduction of these undergarments can go a long way toward staving off the stigma of leakage during one’s cycle.” As free-bleeding period underwear gain in popularity, you can now even find products in a variety of colors and styles, such as sporty and high-waisted. Reusable Pads Reusable pads such as GladRags can offer a more environmentally friendly way to stick to your traditional menstrual habits. These pads consist of a holder that attaches to your underwear and inserts that you can use to tailor the product to your flow on any given day. These pads can be just as absorbent as disposable products, but without the plastic and chemicals.

Sold on reusable pads? There are actually Facebook groups such as Sewing Cloth Menstrual Pads and C.R.A.M.P.S. (Cups Reusables and Menstrual Pad Social) devoted entirely to trading tips on how to create your own pads using cotton and other breathable materials. Owning Your Menstrual Experience There’s nothing wrong with choosing to stay with disposable pads and tampons, but Angelica Lindsay-Ali suggests proceeding with a little extra care. “The reproductive system is incredibly complex and sensitive,” she advises. “The use of products with absorbable chemicals, such as those from bleached cotton or fiberbased tampons and pads, should be limited. If a woman prefers these traditional products, I recommend using organic, unbleached pad and tampon options.” It’s 2018 and we’re taking ownership of talking about and customizing our menstrual experiences. While there’s nothing wrong with sticking to what you know, be sure to consider whether your current product choices are based on actual performance or just convenience. Don’t be afraid to branch out and try products that may be better for your health and your wallet. You just might learn more about your body and cycle in the process.

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Period Partners

1. Shethinx Period-Proof Underwear $34 2. Lena Cup $25 3. GladRags Night Pad Reusable Pads $20 4. Lola 100% Organic Cotton Tampons $10

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RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

RADIANT FINDS

That time of the month is inevitable. When it's time to let Mother Nature do her thing, every woman wants to be prepared and protected. We have come a long way from basic feminine products like pads and tampons with modern period products that make that time of the month a little easier and a bit more flexible. Check out our list of "Period Partners" to help keep your flow in check.

P R E M I U M O L I V E O I L S A N D AG E D B A L S A M I C S

cultivatedtree.com

What does womanhood mean to you? My womanhood means accepting myself, flaws and all.

Photography by Donte Maurice

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Photography by Ahmad Barber

style

page 120.

DEFINING YOUR PERSONAL STYLE One fashionista's get-real style guide

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INTERVIEW JOY EGBEJIMBA Have bag, will travel (and do good too!)

STYLE

Defining Your Personal Style A 21st Century Guide to Fashion Realness OUR TIMELESS FASCINATION WITH FASHION

words by Emily Rubin OKAY, LET’S BE REAL for a minute here. Whether you’re a catwalk-watching, style magazine-guzzling fashionista or a DIY outfitter, any woman with a love of fashion has a style story to tell. But when does staying current move away from a gentle intersection with personal style and veer toward complete and total eclipse?

Moncler See, Monique L’Hullier Do It begins with repetition and the natural inclination toward observing patterns. We see fringe trim on a blog, midriff cutouts on the red carpet, chromatic yellow everything on the streets around us, and just like that, we take it in. Suddenly we go from noting something pretty to craving it. That subtle, industry-led shift from “want” to “need” is underway, and before

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we know it, we’re part of the trend. Did we like it initially or were we conditioned to like it? The age-old chicken and egg debate returns and we scratch our heads wondering if our style even deserves the modifier “personal.” But where does this cycle truly begin? Who pioneers the looks that many accept as gospel or slowly succumb to over time? A Lady in the Streets, An Unknowing Icon in the Style Pages The glamorized trends originate from the true fashion renegades — those confident dressers who make no apologies for what, when, or where they adorn their favorite items. These authentic street-style gurus and style influencers wear their garments proudly, as they get photographed and plucked

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

up by the style declarers behind the true trade secrets, the trend forecasters. These styles are picked up and sold en masse to the fashion houses (or scooped up by in-house forecasting teams) and the silhouettes, colors, and trims du jour prepare for their moments in the sun. That spotlight shines brightest on major stages across the world during fashion weeks, where we see the trends stake their claims on the runways. Next comes the second round of forecasts, this iteration picking up on the plentiful trends that seem to have truly sunk their teeth into many shows (and ideally on a few “it girl” models). Here’s where the info trickles down to the fashion pages, the style sites, the blogs, and the retailers who go to work bringing the latest and greatest to the trendiest and sleekest.

DEFINING YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

My Way or the Runway So if personal style is actually the driver of the prevailing vogue, then what goes into landing yourself at the front end of the trend life cycle? The main building block of the industry, of course — confidence! Wearing something proudly tells a malleable room of fashion followers that you know something they don’t.

photography by Prince Akachi

is likely inspired, inspiring, and equivalent for another clothing aficionado or beauty addict.

We can accept that on one day we may wear the look that hails from the latest movie opening, that was conceived of after New York Fashion Week, or that was designed after a series of shots taken two summers prior on the crowded streets of Tokyo. On another day, our uninspired pairing of Birkenstocks, ripped jeans, Dress and style for yourself while following and a men’s Hanes V-neck may very well have some guidelines that keep you looking your played into the exceptionally unexceptional forever best. Always flatter your form, match “normcore” trend of the early 2010s. colors to your skin tone, avoid horizontal stripes like the plague, less is always more, a good Yes, there is a cycle in place, but the start/ lipstick is a woman’s best friend, and of course, stop point is ours to reinvent daily. Personal remember that rules are made to be broken. style is about deciding for yourself. It’s about following the trends, starting the trends, and My Closet’s Nobody’s Closet but Mine having the bravery to outright admit you don’t always understand them. Accept what you like, But with limited genres of garments to pair reject what you don’t, and always wear what and with most of us shopping in the same retail you feel best in. spots, how does one curate a sense of personal style? It all comes down to the details. It’s the The Only Constant Is Changing Rooms way you half tuck your shirt or the decision to button up to the very top. It’s the deliberate With the speed of fast fashion and the ability messiness of the ponytail or the striking of bloggers to make a statement in a quick juxtaposition of your mixed prints. moment’s time, the pathways to fashion continue to clog and our lines continue to Even within the broader style categorizations — blur. The vintage market has rebranded to the boxes to which we self-subscribe — we are “preloved” and is attempting to slow the roll our own unique blends. We are never just glam of a quick-churn industry. Green fabrics and or grunge any more than someone is just a lawyer ethical production are demanding more of the or a dentist. We make our own style decisions consumer dollar, and the unknown emerging every time we walk to our wardrobes, and rarely designer is gaining clout over the industry does that decision involve a complete carbon tycoons. It’s a time of change in which the only copy of someone else’s morning selection. thing that’s sure to stick around is the love of fashion as a true art form. Yes, we borrow, we adapt, and we often become enchanted by that which we see on every screen Where mode is manufactured, battered, and we plug into, but it’s how we reinterpret the rebuilt by ample influencers on any given day, trends that sets us apart. We may not rewrite the claiming style as your own is more relevant themes, but we can still curate our own stories. than ever before. The task becomes much greater to stay in the know than to decide for Beg, Borrow, and Steal (the Show) yourself what you’d like to know. Tuck away the worry of what to follow, or whether you If we can accept the notion that personal style follow too much, and rest assured that the doesn’t have to mean being a true original at common theme in your wardrobe will always every dressing occasion, we can paint a much be you, and that can only be classified as one more vivid style persona. We can embrace thing — personal style. that every piece of every look we ever put on

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photography by Patrick Tak

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RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

JOY EGBEJIMBA

Joy Egbejimba The Power of the Purse THE INEFFABLE ALLURE OF THE HANDBAG

words by Nikki Igbo

The lady’s handbag is an integral part of the feminine armor. No other article can simultaneously sneak goodies into a movie and carry wet wipes and spare nylons, all while completing a head-to-toe look. Men have tried to duplicate it with their wannabe knapsacks and so-called “man bags,” but the pocketbook remains a proud female domain. No one understands this better than Joy Egbejimba, the Nigerian-born, Seattle-based founder and CEO of Nuciano Luxury Handbags. Radiant recently caught Joy amidst her daily grind of handbag design and philanthropy to discuss the exquisite appeal of Nuciano.

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1. Aurene Handbag in Pebble Grain Leather $360 2. Ophelia Handbag in Pebble Leather $297 3. Nylah Handbag in Saffiano Leather $380

A Passion Carried Since Childhood A simple envelope bag for an evening out. A colorful clutch for an exclusive cocktail party. A hobo bag for a hustling day of travel. A smart tote for a tour of the shops. Every girl has been schooled in the fine art of matching handbag to occasion by a mother, an aunt, an elder sister. For Joy Egbejimba, her trusted tutor was her grandmother Nnukachiano. “I saw my grandmother and the way she was with her handbags,” Joy explains with a smile in her voice. “She used to go from cooking to putting on her head wrap and picking up her handbag and

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not looking like the same woman who had been in the kitchen. I saw how the handbag transformed her. Depending on the handbag she chose, I’d know the kind of place or event she was going to. She’d always tells me, ‘People will see you and your handbag, and that will indicate to them who you are.’” Back then, Joy was the only daughter in a household full of boys, so her parents agreed to let her go live with her grandparents to begin her tutelage in womanhood. “My grandmother had a very high influence on me. I was growing up with

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

four brothers initially by myself, and my grandparents felt that I would be one of those girls who wouldn’t know how to do things. I went to live with them in the village beginning in the third grade and up until seventh grade.” Joy learned much in the ways of femininity from her grandmother during those formative years. Those early lessons clung to her like a crossbody satchel and developed into a full-blown infatuation with designer handbags. “I was one of those people who was ingrained with name labels. Everybody at Nordstrom knows my name. Like seriously.”

JOY EGBEJIMBA

Though Joy appreciates the high-end “My goal was to make bags so that women quality and styling of those luxury brands, wouldn’t have to break the bank and the exorbitant pricing made no sense to spend so much money just to buy a goodthe avid purse collector. looking handbag.” “I’d usually buy my handbags on sale at the end of summer and toward the Christmas season sales. Folks would hand over thousands of dollars to buy these bags, and three months later, it’s as cheap as every other handbag you’d buy from the mall. At the end of the day, what was the point of paying thousands of dollars for them?” That’s when Joy decided to convert her lifelong purse obsession into a handbag business that would offer high-end fashion at affordable prices.

Borrowing (and shortening) her grandmother’s name for the brand’s moniker, Joy unveiled Nuciano Luxury Handbags in 2014. And get this—the name Nnukachiano literally means “together you are greater than four gods,” also loosely translated as “women standing and sticking together.” Within Every Nuciano Bag When shopping for a handbag, we simply choose what works for our individual needs, pay the price, and sport our new

purchase without further consideration. But the journey from design concept to shelf is as weathered as that one beloved old handbag in your closet that you refuse to toss. Joy personally chooses every handbag design for each of her three leather collections and bespoke crystal offerings. Working with China-based factories, she produces mockups, crafts paper designs, and chooses materials along with each element that goes into the finished product. She travels to China before and after production to guarantee excellence in every facet of each bag, from the leather to the construction to the closures and clasps.

Each handbag Joy crafts is inspired by environment, memories, culture and a sincere appreciation of pocketbooks. photography by Kariba Jack

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“I aim to get better with every collection. I educate myself on the best leather out there so that I can make a quality handbag, especially on the Continent where it is hard to find a good leather handbag like the Fendis and the Guccis.” Joy has certainly walked her talk, even returning to school to get her MBA to further sharpen her business acumen.

Raise a Girl, Raise a Village When Joy Egbejimba launched Nuciano, she did so with the intention of doing more than just collecting a paycheck.

“Our brand is socially conscious of what is happening around us. We believe as women that we have the Yet before any design, first comes inspiration. Joy looks power to be able to change things around us. We don’t to her surroundings, culture, and memories to stir have to depend on the government. We don’t have to her creativity. The green environs of Seattle. African depend on anybody. We can make things happen.” folktales shared by her grandmother. The many proverbs imparted by her grandfather. Five percent of all annual Nuciano sales goes to the Nuciano Scholars program, which provides “I remember my grandparents going to a party. My educational financial aid to young women in Nigeria. grandmother liked to take drinks home but didn’t want The inspiration for this program can also be traced any of the guys to see her taking drinks because it was back to Joy’s childhood. considered unladylike for her to carry the drinks in her hand. So what she did was bring a handbag with a cover “When I left the village to move back to the city in that allowed her to conceal the drink while still being seventh grade and visited the village again during able to hold a conversation and appear elegant without Christmas, a lot of my friends were not there anymore. anyone knowing what she carried. One of the handbags I’d make new friends, come back the next year, and I designed was inspired by that.” those friends would be gone too. I kept wondering what was going on. I’d thought maybe they’d moved to It’s exactly that sort of attention to detail and the city the way I had.” thoughtfulness that recently earned Joy’s handbags the 2018 Accessories Magazine Audience Fan Favorite On one fateful visit back to the village, Joy learned Award during the Independent Handbag Designer the truth. Her mother received a visit from a lady who Awards. Moreover, the list of proud Nuciano handbag tearfully reported the death of her daughter. owners includes such luminaries as famed lady rapper MC Lyte and American media mogul Oprah Winfrey. “The girl passed away during childbirth at the age of Take a look at the inventory on the brand’s website and 16,” recounts Joy. it’s easy to see why. We’re talking sleek, classic designs in gorgeous colors—all the grace and sophistication of Joy came to realize that many of the girls were being mid-century sensibility paired with modern flair and married off in order to financially benefit their families. attention-grabbing gusto. “The dowry price they get ... if you are the first daughter Yves Saint who? of the family then your father keeps the dowry price for

People are beginning to see that girls are very important. When you raise a girl, you raise an entire village.

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JOY EGBEJIMBA

Seattle Autumn Clutch $1300

himself. If you are the second daughter of the family, 12-month residential recovery program that specifically your brother or first son of the family uses the dowry helps women and children victimized by abuse and price to start a business. This kept going on. These girls substance addiction. had been married off. Some were so young that they had stillbirths or died off.” “My kids are from Seattle, so Seattle is also home for me. We help wherever we are, wherever we can. We are also Intent on giving these families an alternative to trying to partner with a cancer awareness program and “mortgaging” their daughters, Joy began Nuciano Scholars. are designing a tote where 100 percent of the proceeds go to this program.” “People are beginning to see that girls are very important. When you raise a girl, you raise an entire village. Our At this point in the conversation, Joy’s passion for being program targets girls from low income families that and doing her absolute best in all things really shines, would not have education if it wasn’t for us. Instead of and her words radiate over the phone line. getting married off, they will be able to go to college and achieve a degree.” “How many shoes do you need? How many houses? How many cars can you drive? After a while, it becomes Nuciano’s philanthropic endeavors are not just limited empty. In as much as we are trying to secure our to West Africa. In Seattle, Joy has seen fit to make a immediate family, we must also look out for the world difference wherever possible as well. Early last year, and create a better world because we are indeed leaving Nuciano donated several handbags to Hope Place, a it to our children. Together we can make that happen.”

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Holiday Sparkle in

1. Sassy Bee Brooch Set $27 2. Mahogany Clutch $55 3. Rochinda Bib $48 4. Brina Ear Cuffs $25

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RADIANT FINDS

Sassy Jones Opulent Accessories

Safiyah Purse $60

Step into the room and let the compliments roll in. Meet Safiya, the exquisite, well crafted keepsake featuring bold colors of red, green, white, and gold ceramic detail. Much heavier than it looks, this high quality purse will be a generational gift for decades ahead. Stand out from the crowd with the eccentric pieces that get you noticed. shopsassyjones.com

Photography by Donte Maurice

sis· ter· hood /'sist r'hood/ noun: sisterhood; plural noun: sisterhoods; noun: Sisterhood 1. The relationship between sisters. 2. The feeling of kinship with and closeness to a group of women or all women. e

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MY CROWNING GLORY These strands have a story

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INTERVIEW SUSY OLUDELE Rise of the purple unicorn

My Crowning Glory

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LESSONS I LEARNED FROM MY LOCS

words by Nikki Igbo

I am not my hair. However, my hair is most certainly a reflection of who I am. My curls and kinks are reddish-brown curiosities in defiance of gravity, bucking convention and the status quo in favor of ferocious individuality. Each strand dances in its own direction, unafraid to embrace the power in its own diversity. When united with its sisters, my hair is steadfast in its collective identity. Proud and unmovable. Staunch. Unwavering.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

MY CROWNING GLORY

LIKE ME, MY HAIR COMMANDS attention and

speaks volumes without uttering a single syllable. It attracts and amazes. Mystifies and intrigues. My hair has strength in its softness, beauty in its fragility. My hair is quite literally my crowning glory. Something like Sampson

Someone once said that hair is the ultimate accessory, but I have never quite agreed with that comparison. I tend to believe — as my ancestors did before me — that my hair, unlike baubles and bracelets, has a distinct spiritual quality that is representative of the power that flows within me. If neglected, abused, ignored, or mistreated, my hair withdraws into itself, shrinking in shame and self-protection. When pushed to unreasonable limits, it snaps. Though it does continue to grow, it does so cautiously and conservatively, never quite realizing its true potential. But when my hair receives quality time and self-care, when it is lovingly touched and carefully maintained, when it is properly cleansed and given healthful nutrition, its inherent beauty knows no bounds. It can transform into any shape or style. It is able to stretch and expand, adapt and adjust as if imbued with otherworldly magic. My hair never allows me to forget that I am meant to have more and be more. It forces me to slow down and make time for selfexamination. As I look in the mirror to care for and maintain my crown, I am reminded to pay

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I remember the indescribable horror of waking up to clumps of hair on my pillow.

close attention to my roots—to always love and recognize the source from which my beauty flows. If I am neglectful in this responsibility to self, then my head will be both literally and figuratively a hot mess. And we all know a hot mess is never a good look. My Hair Journey My hair has been worn in just about every style imaginable. As a girl I wore cornrows, which were braided into my hair as I slept across my mother’s lap. I remember the sizzle of the hot comb and holding my ears as my hair was straightened to showcase my “Sunday best”— as if my normal kinks somehow weren’t good enough for the Lord. During the week, my hair was sectioned into four quadrants of two-strand twisted ponytails adorned with colorful hair bands and barrettes. I got my first perm when I was 12 years old, and much of my hair fell out as the result of receiving a touch-up with an expired home perm. I remember the indescribable horror of waking up to clumps of hair on my pillow. It was then that I learned what my African ancestors had known long before: any kind of intricate hair care service beyond daily maintenance should only be performed by a trusted expert. My mother found a beautician named LaQuan who carefully undid the damage my older sister

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had done. And when LaQuan moved to another city, I relied on Cynthia and then Tracy until I graduated from high school. It was Tracy who gave me the extended curly ponytail I wore with a short white halter dress to my junior prom, and the coveted Anita Baker/ Halle Berry cut I rocked with a long golden sweetheart-neck gown at my senior prom. Before I moved to New Orleans for undergrad, I could not bear the thought of anyone doing my hair but Tracy, so I found an African hair braider downtown who braided my hair in just under three hours and used a candle to tie off each individual box braid. I fooled myself into thinking I could keep those braids for the first four months of college. I purchased a spray bottle of braid cleaner and African Pride hair grease for my scalp to pull off this impossible protective styling feat. My roots grew three inches in a little under a month, and I cut my braids out to find a stranger atop my head, a funky mix of natural kinks and relaxed strands. I began to perm my own hair, making sure to check the expiration date and follow the directions carefully, but I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. At university, however, I was exposed to a whole new world of hair possibilities. I saw fellow classmates with long locs and cropped cuts and

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

MY CROWNING GLORY

bouncing afros completely free of chemicals, and I wanted to be down but I was fearful. I was afraid of my own hair! I’d only known a perm for so long. I didn’t know how to French braid or cornrow. I’d never known a beautician who specialized in natural hair. And as a member of the tribe lost to the Middle Passage, I’d long been separated from the traditions of the Zande, Mende, Wolof, Ugogo, Fante, Fulani, or Igbo. I bided my time as I thought about my next hair move. Taking the Plunge I ended up relocating to Los Angeles to finish my degree in political science. With the little money I was making as a fulltime student, I decided to go natural by doing the big chop and getting a monthly $20 haircut. Man. That boy cut changed my life. I never knew such freedom. The pure bliss of warm shower water on my scalp every morning. The absence of the need for a variety of combs and bands and clips and pins. The ability to change my hair color every month from deep red to neon blonde to electric purple. I was so cute that no one could hit me in the ass with a red apple. The only reason I initially grew locs is because my barber wasn’t dependable and I was tired of searching for a new one in metro Los Angeles. West Coast locticians were rare in those days, and I didn’t have the money for their services anyway. Whenever I encountered the rare individual with long, healthy looking locs, I asked them what they used on their hair. After a couple of months of surveying strangers and wrestling with my evergrowing afro, I purchased a container of yellow beeswax and a carton of eggs and haphazardly twisted my hair while watching a marathon of SpongeBob SquarePants. Miraculously, I grew those very unkempt locs for six years. When I found myself living in the arid climate of the Las Vegas Valley, I realized why locs are more popular in the Caribbean. Moisture is a huge necessity for natural hair, and locs thrive only when properly watered. My scalp became tortured by the style. The weight of my hair from the steady diet of heavy beeswax didn’t help. I went three months without twisting my roots, cut off my locked tresses, and returned to a perm, which I insisted on having applied by a licensed cosmetologist who worked in a salon at the nearest JCPenney. It was not until I moved to Atlanta, with its increased humidity and abundance of all things black, that I again saw all of the options available to me to be free of a relaxer. Though I toyed with a boy-cut style off and on between forays into afro-dom, I took the time to re-educate myself on loc care. I found a loctician to do my initial installation and have been enjoying the journey ever since.

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“I chose locs because I’m into them and they look good on me. ”

In Appreciation of My Tresses In no way is this confession meant to be a commercial for natural hair or locs. I firmly believe that every woman should embrace the style and hair care process that works best for her hair and her lifestyle. I chose locs because I didn’t want a relaxer or the frenzied search for a reliable beautician or the myriad monthly appointments that go along with it. I chose locs because I am a mother of two toddlers and my hair thrives quite effortlessly with very basic daily maintenance and the occasional extended attention needed with this style. I chose locs because I’m into them and they look good on me. I would never begrudge any woman who prefers relaxers or texturizers or press and curls or wigs or weaves or braids or any other style. If your style works for you and makes you feel good inside and out, then I love it too. Still, recently I have lamented the loss of African hair traditions. Though I value the communion and camaraderie that we as women experience when we visit our local

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hair salons, I can’t help but wonder how much richer those experiences would be if they were more tempered by tribal hair practices than based on Western ideals of beauty. I never enjoyed the uneasiness of viewing my hair as unpredictable or unmanageable. It felt as though I was missing out on an important aspect of myself—as if I were allowing someone else to know me better than I knew myself. Therefore, I can’t help but wonder what magic more women of color would unlock within themselves if they took the time to experience the hair they were born with. I am not my hair, but my hair is a reflection of me. On good hair days and bad hair days, I’ve had to face myself and my hair and still love both. On good hair days and bad hair days, I’ve had to celebrate and embrace myself, forgive and uplift myself. On good hair days and bad hair days, I’ve had to understand that every single day is truly good and great. I appreciate my hair because it has been a sort of spirit guide—always close by, always reminding me of how good it is to live this woman’s life.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

SUSAN OLUDELE

Susan Oludele

Rise of the Purple Unicorn

Words by Nikki Igbo

THE SAVOIR FAIRE OF TRIBAL HAIR UNICORNS REPRESENT the feminine energy, purity, and grace that nurtures all and wields the

power of divine truth. Mythical and fantastic, unicorns possess vibrant imaginations and boundless creativity. Impossible to catch or tame, these legendary beings are, of course, rare and precious wonders. Therefore, when Susan "Susy" Oludele, famed braiding aficionado and natural hair artisan, discovered and embraced the unicorn within, she happened upon a magic that is quickly propelling her toward a headful of possibilities.

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...that strong desire and need to leave a beautiful mark on the world always arises from coping with the sort of pain that is best mitigated through creativity. Hair Is Everything If you scroll through the Instagram feed of Susy the Purple Unicorn, you’ll find a digital diary capturing and celebrating the many facets of black hair. Explosive kinks clipped on the sides to form a cloudy crown. Mysterious lengths protectively styled into cascading multicolored box braids. Pressed and curled tresses layer cut and parted to the left. Intricately coiffed updos fit for red carpet affairs. And in the midst of this portfolio, you’d find Susy herself, rocking all of these looks and more, with a genuine and infectious grin. Susy’s got a lot to smile about. The young stylist has gone from dabbling in hair on the side while working as a home health aide, to braving homelessness, to purchasing her own hair studio in Brooklyn, to creating the now globally recognized braided style Beyoncé (yes, that Beyoncé) wore in Lemonade. That’s the very definition of a come up. It’s as if Susy possesses some sort of potent sorcery, the kind of supernatural sauce that clung to Sampson’s mane and set Rapunzel free. So, as I chatted with her on a Monday night, I had to know why she is known as the “Purple Unicorn.” She giggled at my question before she replied, “My favorite color is purple because it represents love and royalty and life. And I always used to wear purple hair. Long, 30-inch purple braids ... and everybody was like, ‘Oh, that’s the purple unicorn.’ I referred to myself as a unicorn before that and everyone else just picked it up. A lot of people call me that and ‘African Creature.’ Both just stuck.” Susy’s tendency to proudly sport colorful hair came from her mother.

That same appreciation for braiding and hairstyling experimentation grew into a hairstyling obsession by the time Susy turned 9 years old. Adventures in hairstyling along Susy’s life journey, including an experience with the behind-the-scenes styling frenzy of New York Fashion Week, sealed the hair artist’s fate. “They were doing updos with natural hair and that’s exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to do natural hair and just be freakish with my brand, using cowrie shells, plastic beads, other things, just to make a statement.” The statement she’s made, and continues to make, is bouncing around the hair and fashion world, influencing and inspiring a deep appreciation for the boundless style potential that comes with a kinky head of curls. More importantly, Susy is doing her part to contribute to the revival of African and Afrocentric styling traditions and the existential verve that comes with it. As Susy put it quite simply, “Hair is what you stand for, your identity. Hair is everything.” The Dark Side Anyone who has tried to braid perfectly equidistant, identical cornrows has an idea of how much skill is required. To take that skill set a step further by creating never-beforeseen braided styles with the same pristine attention to detail is nothing to scoff at—which is why Solange Knowles first called Susy to set an appointment in the first place. Artistry recognizes artistry. Just as with every artist, however, that strong desire and need to leave a beautiful mark on the world always arises from coping with the sort of pain that is best mitigated through creativity. Susy knows this firsthand.

“My mom would braid my hair into natural styles, cornrows, a crown. She’d put wiring all “I speak at schools and try to give back to the throughout my hair. A lot of that same tribal youth as much as possible because I remember magic you see today. That was always the time how it was when I was 15, 16 years old. How when she’d me sit between her legs and lay my depressed I was. The thoughts I had. Even head on her lap and start braiding my hair. After, though [my problems] might not have been my hair always looked so beautiful and inspiring.” so serious, it felt crazy to me at that age. I understand how it feels as a young kid. Suicide Though other kids and fellow classmates often has always been something I struggled with ridiculed Susy for her “weird” and colorful while growing up. I struggled with depression styles, Susy loved her mother’s embrace of and a lot of anxiety, so I understand and I thank natural hair creativity and African identity. God that I overcame that part of my life.”

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Photography by Travis Matthews Hair by Susy Oludele Makeup by Kamate Styled by Brea

Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself. — Alice Walker.

SUSAN OLUDELE

Just as Susy shows off her beautiful styling creations on Instagram, she also shares very personal posts. In these posts, she acts as her very own cheerleader and motivational coach, willing herself through spoken word to get up, stand tall, run on, take flight.

just because of where you work. If someone has long, straight hair or hair you might call ‘safe,’ it doesn’t mean that they somehow do their job better than you. I just want to bring attention to that. It all comes down to knowing yourself and knowing who you are. We need to start taking ownership of our identity before anyone and everyone else does.”

“You have to. Who else is going to cheer you up? No one else. You have to! It [depression] doesn’t just go away. It’s something you work on—on a Hence, the question is this: If we don’t first daily basis. I’ve seen a lot of suicide happening embrace natural hair and the myriad styling and I realized that people are really out here techniques that go with caring for it, then how suffering from depression, worries, and anxiety. can we expect others to do so? In championing They may think they’re not good enough and support for natural hair, Susy donned her they’re looking at social media. I thank God literary cap and authored a book. now that I have a place to live and I am able to do all of these things, but it’s very important “The book is called Lady and it celebrates women. that we talk about the dark side.” It includes [everything from] quotes and stories to recognizing women and innovators in the This Goes Out to All the Ladies industry who are paving the way for natural hair and natural hair beauty, particularly for women Cornrows. Twists. Afro Puffs. Braids. All in the workplace. It’s all about them never around the world (and particularly in the giving up and always loving self.” West), the hairstyles in which Susy specializes were viewed for far too long as unprofessional As I wrapped up my conversation with Susy, she or inappropriate for school or the workplace. shared something that pretty much proved my While some still hold fast to this fallacy, time belief that she is, in fact, a unicorn in the flesh. and circumstances are changing hearts and minds. When I asked Susy to weigh in on the “One day a while ago, I walked into a bookstore war on natural hair, it became evident that she and saw your magazine. You featured Asiyami. has employed her #BlackGirlMagic to take a I saw her piece in your book and thought, firm stand on the front line. ‘Wow, this is so beautiful. One day I’m going to be in this.’ And here we are. That is why I’m “For a lot of the clients that come into our shop such an advocate when it comes to believing who don’t wear natural hair, they say they can’t in yourself and believing you can do whatever really do it because of their jobs. But you don’t you set your mind to.” have to censor yourself or cancel your identity

SUSY’S BOOK LADY IS AVAILABLE IN BOOKSTORES NOW.

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culture page 154.

INTERVIEW ISHA SESAY Delivering the raw, unvarnished truth

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CULTURE ON THE GO Cultural events with a focus on the female

CULTURE

And Now aWord from Isha Sesay

words by Nikki Igbo Photography by Cathrine White

NEWS FLASH: THE MESSENGER IS ALSO THE MESSAGE

Wouldn’t the news be so much more engaging if it were all bluntly and unapologetically reported by women of color? If broadcast media was anything like the conversation Radiant had with former CNN anchor and correspondent Isha Sesay, we’d all stay tuned. Though Isha’s long, deadline-driven day of travel had started well before sunrise, the charismatic storyteller gave us nothing but real talk on her career trajectory, her up-and-coming projects, and her deep admiration for black womanhood.

Brace Yourself, World In democratic-leaning locales outside of America, one can turn on the news and feast on a smorgasbord of stories covering the breadth of social, economic, and political events throughout the world. But in the United States, the news is currently dominated by the tanning-bed-addicted individual presently occupying the White House. To withstand this single-subject litany, hefty media breaks and good wine are necessary. But when current American news cannot be avoided, one can tune the television to a number of black women journalists all continuing to forge ahead in pursuit of truth. For those of us viewers who occasionally wonder what they’re really thinking, we never wonder long. We see the looks on their faces. Specifically, the look. The one that anyone with a mother of African descent knows far too well. Before Isha Sesay declared that she’d had enough of the Trump parade, she too had

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worn the look: “Some nights I did better than others at hiding it, and other nights I just failed. I was like, ‘This can’t be happening to me.’” She recalled reaching a breaking point at the end of a show one day. The ridiculousness of it all literally made her want to holler— so she did. “I was with the crew and I was screaming like a mad person, saying, ‘I didn’t pack my life up in the UK and move to America to cover Trump day in and day out when there are children dying in Yemen and bombs falling in Syria and the DRC has one of the largest displacements on earth. And we’re talking about Trump?’ I felt like I was having a psychotic break. I just wanted to let it out. It just got to the point where I felt like I physically could not do it anymore.” Thus, in early August, she bid farewell to CNN, though her days of presenting important facts and weaving comprehensive stories are far from over.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

What exactly will she cover now? “A lot more unvarnished truth. Brace yourself, world,” Isha professed. She will be producing projects across various networks and already has a couple of female-focused shows in development. “I’m going to be like Ryan Murphy, a multihyphenate. Produce, write, be on camera. All of it will involve women, minorities, and voices of marginalized people who are often unheard.” It’s very clear that Isha was destined to deliver this much-needed supplement to Western media during a time when a reality television mindset seems to have possessed broadcast journalism. “I’ve been very fortunate to move between different parts of the world and different spaces. I was born in England and I moved back to Sierra Leone when I was 7. I lived there until I was 16 and then I moved back to England. My job, my calling, my purpose is to serve as a bridge and help

ARTICLE NAME ARTICLE NAME

When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak. — Audre Lorde

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people understand and value our connection. I don’t think we have to eliminate difference to be able to make a connection; we can celebrate it.” Her mission of connectivity isn’t exclusive to the Western Hemisphere. A daughter of Africa through and through, Isha will be teaming up with former CNN colleague and Radiant covergirl, and African diasporan Zain Verjee to execute their brainchild, Rouse.

I’m Just Saying ... Once upon a time, teenage Isha Sesay wanted to be on the screen but not in a journalistic capacity. That being said, all dreams of aspiration are gorgeous, but some are meant to be adjusted.

“There was a reality check that came with getting an agent when I might have been 17 in England. And I looked at the data, if you will, and I just wasn’t getting auditions quite frankly. The roles “Rouse is a live event series that will bring together for women of color just weren’t there. I looked at Africa’s women to share, inspire, learn, and the landscape of television in the UK and there celebrate each other. Our first four capital cities were just roles for white girls and white women.” are Kigali, Nairobi, Accra, and Lagos. We’re very excited! I say it’s a live event experience because Let’s just say that Isha wasn’t down for being a I want to do something different, something that starving actress constantly in pursuit of “the does feel quite experiential.” big break,” especially in an industry that all but completely ignored women of color. As opposed to delivering an audience-andpresenter dynamic, Rouse is slated to turn the “I’d wanted to go to drama school, and maybe if concept of women’s empowerment conferences I had gone to drama school I would have gone on its head. down that road of suffering for my art, but I ended up applying for Cambridge.” “There will be one-on-one interviews and panels, but the DNA of Rouse is something Also, Isha has an African mother, and they are very different. It’s going to be a little bit rowdy, as notorious for path correction as they are for thought-provoking, funny, controversial, and the look. certainly unforgettable.” “The moment my mother heard that I had a shot Basically, those planning to attend Rouse can at getting into Cambridge, she was like, ‘You expect authentic African excellence. are putting your acting on hold for a minute. Whatever this is, you’re going to put it on hold

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ISHA SESAY

The unique magic of black womanhood...particularly captured and held her attention.

and go to Cambridge. And if you still want to act at the end of the three years, you can pick it up.’”

The unique magic of black womanhood throughout the world particularly captured and held her attention.

I just think we’re incredible beings. I’m not putting anyone else down. I’m just saying that we’re wonderful.”

After being accepted to Cambridge, “I’m just more impressed as I meet women Yes. We agree. she arrived on campus to discover a of color, regardless of their background or troubling culture. country of origin. We’re fashioned out of Lest We Forget difficulty. We’re born out of strife. A lot of “I went to Trinity College, Cambridge, the time because we’re dealing with the Tiye. Nzinga. Dona Beatrice. Yaa Asantewa. which is the largest of the Cambridge challenges we face, the expectations, and Julie Dogbadzi. Fauziya Kassindja. Omu colleges and has the biggest disparity how we’re supposed to carry ourselves. Okwei. Wangari Maathai. Coincoin. between male and female: 33 percent Black women. Brown women. We are These daughters of Africa and many who women. I got very disturbed at what I saw prized for our strength; it is our superpower. followed ought to be name-dropped as happening and the culture of the place. The But we’re also vilified for that very same much as Churchill, Washington, Anan, or way women had to slotter themselves into strength. And it is a difficult walk.” Jay Z. Yet outside of Africa (and sometimes roles of either being overtly oversexualized even there too), they tend to appear only as to be visible, acknowledged, and accepted, Isha, of course, is unafraid to share how footnotes in history, if at all. or retreating to their rooms to focus on this has been a personal experience in her their studies while having no place in own career. Forgetting who black women are, what college life.” they have done, and what they stand to do “I’ve been in various workplaces where is all too regular, too common. Isha Sesay is Recognizing the need for change, Isha the workload assigned to me is double determined to change that, and two facets became quite active in student politics, and the workload assigned to my white of this mission are already underway. The her desire to act transformed into a pursuit counterparts, but the assumption is first is a nonprofit organization dedicated of journalism. Before landing a job at made that I can handle it and nobody’s to empowering the sheroes of the future. CNN, Isha interned for Robert Kilroy-Silk, worried about my tolerance or my level worked behind the scenes at BBC Scotland, of endurance because, as a black woman, “I was at the Women in the World and was an announcer for BBC Choice we’re known to be strong. Whereas I look conference in New York at a panel before presenting on shows across several at my counterparts and they’re worried called ‘The Other Malalas.’ It was an networks and becoming a sportscaster who about their fragility. extraordinary panel of remarkable young traveled with the Arsenal football team. girls who were talking about the changes “And this is borne out by data. There was they were bringing to their villages. But Along the way, Isha learned and a study recently that showed that black as I sat, I thought, ‘Where are we?’ I know experienced much to further inspire women are given less anesthesia during that we’re out there leading and doing her activism in the name of women and childbirth because the belief is that we remarkable things. I remember going back womanhood, which in turn drove her have a higher pain threshold. It’s been very to my hotel and thinking if the notion is desire to be unflinchingly candid. interesting for me to kind of walk and see that we’re not out there leading, then we some of that and see how our womanhood really need to bump up the numbers.” “First we need to acknowledge the is fashioned by those external forces and differences and experiences between the way we’re viewed. Following a couple of hours of women of color and white women. I wish brainstorming and a telephone call people would just acknowledge it and stop “At the same time, I’ve just been filled with with her mother, Isha developed a pretending. Between individuals of the an extraordinary admiration for the way we plan for launching W.E. Can Lead, an same color we have different experiences, push, for the way we continue to strive, for organization with a two-tiered program let alone between black and white. And the way we imagine our world and create designed to nurture and guide African people just need to own that. I don’t think even in the midst of difficulty. And how we girls toward personal, community, and it’s a bad thing to own it. We could then still find it within ourselves to celebrate governmental leadership. have a more honest conversation.” and be joyous and be supportive of others.

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“It takes girls all across Africa, starting in Sierra Leone Nigeria that has long been seized by Boko Haram and where we’re from, and brings them into a program is under a state of emergency. Their parents are poor, where we give them mentoring and experiences and uneducated. They don’t know how to use the media. They literally lead them by my example. I continue to be very can’t afford to leave their spaces to get out and meet the perturbed by how people refer to me as some kind of media to tell their story. outlier. I’m not an outlier in any way, shape, or form; it’s just my upbringing. The soil in which I was raised, “What you end up having is this amorphous blob of if you will. If you give every girl, that kind soil, that hundreds of girls missing, but without really a sense or nourishment, and that encouragement, she will bloom definition of who they are and who they were, what their into something special, and that’s what W.E. Can Lead is dreams were, and what they aspired to. That always made about.” There are over 600 girls participating in the W.E. me sad—very, very sad.” Can Lead program to date. In a news cycle dominated by Trump, did these girls even The second facet of Isha’s mission is a book dedicated to stand a chance? Have you heard about the missing black giving names and faces to the Chibok Girls. girls in Chicago or DC? Can you recall the name of any black girl who has ever gone missing? “The book is called Beneath the Tamarind Tree, and is first and foremost about humanizing the girls. They were “We can go back to the DC girls who had gone missing never humanized in the way that Natalee Holloway or but people said, ‘Did they really go missing or did they Jonbenet Ramsey were. It was easy to discard them. And run away?’ We know how, in the case of R. Kelly and I think it’s naturally easy for anyone to discard black and all those women he’d been abusing, if they had been brown women.” anything other than black or brown they would have gotten a different response. It’s easy to discard us. And I While at CNN, Isha had consistently worked to keep the quite frankly wrote this book in response to that—to use story of the Chibok girls and their abduction alive long this book as an opening to that. after #BringBackOurGirls stopped trending on social media. She challenged a minister with the Nigerian “I don’t expect that when my book comes out suddenly government, reported on the release of some of the they are going to re-appear, because it is more complicated girls, and followed up with activists who are continuing now. But it is a love letter to them and my way of saying to advocate for the return of those girls who still remain that I see them as sisters and my heart aches day after day missing to this day. for them and their families and how they were let down by not just their government, but the world.” “This is a very complicated story for various reasons which came together to allow a narrative to take hold. One of Beneath the Tamarind Tree: A Story of Bravery, Family, and the issues is that these girls come from an exceptionally the Lost School Girls of Boko Haram is due to be released poor background, from an exceptionally isolated part of in mid-2019. To learn more about W.E. Can Lead, visit WE-CANLEAD.ORG.

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You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas. Shirley Chisholm

Culture On The Go In addition to hipping you to the latest African Diaspora cultural fare across the globe, this issue’s Culture on the Go pays homage to female creators and asks you to join the fray wherever possible. GO WATCH (AND SUBMIT!)

World of Women Film Fair Middle East Dubai, UAE: March 6-8, 2019 With its theme of “Seeing the world through the eyes of women,” this short film fair is the first of its kind in the Arab world to uplift and honor the strength and expertise of women writers, producers, directors, editors, and cinematographers in the international film industry. filmfreeway.com

Equinox Women’s Film Festival Palmer, Arkansas: March 20, 2019 This is the fifth iteration of a festival that selects films exclusively directed and/or written by women. This year, festival producers have requested that submissions also highlight a woman’s story. How’s that for showcasing girl power? Sounds awesome to us.

GO BEHOLD

filmfreeway.com

UNVEILED: A One Woman Play Written and Performed by Rohina Malik Dallas, Texas: June 12-30, 2019 Written and performed by award-winning Chicago playwright Rohina Malik, this onewoman production actually features five Muslim women from around the globe and their personal stories of religion, culture, and persecution. watertowertheatre.org

Zeitz Mocca Museum: Five Bhobh—Painting at the End of an Era Cape Town, South Africa: Now through March 31, 2019 Zimbabwean artist Portia Zvavahera is known for producing ethereal yet heart-wrenching paintings portraying the realities of womanhood in her home country. In this exhibition, her work will be presented along with 29 others in a survey of Zimbabwean contemporary painting. zeitzmocaa.museum

Brad Cushman and Small Galleries: On Their Own Terms (19th-21st Century) Little Rock, Arkansas: January 17 through March 10, 2019 A featured installation at this exhibition is Delita Martin’s “The Dinner Table,” which showcases approximately 150 plates adorned with the faces of black girls and women of all ages positioned around an empty white table. The piece is a rousing and provocative look at feminism and its problematic intersection with race. ualr.edu/art/galleries

12th Annual International SWAN Day Global: March through April 2019 While Support Women Artists Now (SWAN) Day officially takes place on March 30, 2019, events showcasing the prowess of women artists are slated to happen all throughout March and April. If you know of a woman-led art exhibit, concert, art festival, reading, slam poetry jam, dance recital, or public art installation taking place, please feel free to submit it at the site below. staterafoundation.org/swan-calendar 160

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» STAY IN THE KNOW WITH THE LATEST IN ART AND CULTURE

GO READ

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan Now Available Voted an Amazon Best Book of September 2018 and long-listed for the 2018 Man Booker Prize, this riveting novel tells the story of an 11-year-old slave named Wash who lives each day at the mercy of a brutal Barbados master. But when Wash learns to read, adventure and intrigue abound. PENGUINRANDOMHOUSE.COM

I’m Telling the Truth, but I’m Lying: Essays by Bassey Ikpi Expected January 2019 Nigerian-American writer Bassey Ikpi holds nothing back in this collection of personal essays which reveal her experience of growing up in America after moving to Stillwater, Oklahoma, at the tender age of four. What she shares about coping with bipolar II and anxiety will capture your heart. basseyikpi.com

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America, edited by Ibi Zoboi Expected January 2019 Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, this collection of coming-of-age stories about the black teen experience in America features such talented authors as Renee Watson, Tracey Baptiste, Dhonielle Clayton, and Leah Henderson. harpercollins.com

GO LISTEN

International Africa Festival Wurzburg, Germany May 30 through June 2, 2019 Since 1989, the biggest and most senior celebration of African sounds and vibes in Europe has taken place in the heart of Germany. Boasting a running count of 2.5 million visitors and 7,000 performers and presenters from every African nation and the Caribbean, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience that should grace everyone’s bucket list. africafestival.org

Afro Beat Fridays at The Savoy Entertainment Center Inglewood, California If you need to perform a personally choreographed routine to your favorite Afrobeat song, this club will give you the space and the freedom to do just that, starting at 10:30 p.m. It touts itself as the hottest African night in LA, and many visitors attest to the good vibes, potent drinks, and awesome sounds. thesavoyentertainmentcenter.com

Lagos Jazz Festival Lagos, Nigeria: April 27-30, 2019 Freedom Park is the place for Nigeria’s premier jazz event, which attracts players of this musical art form from all over the globe. In addition to swinging tunes, the festival offers lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and educational 411, all promoting jazz and its appreciation. facebook.com/lagosjazzfest

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body&mind page 164.

RECLAIMING YOUR (PHENOMENAL!) WOMANHOOD Truth worth listening to

PAGE 170.

INTERVIEW PAMELA ADIE Blazing a trail for LGBTQ rights in Nigeria and beyond

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I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.

illustration by Bianca Kipp

from Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman”

RECLAIMING YOUR WOMANHOOD

Reclaiming Your (Phenomenal!) Womanhood WHAT WE KNOW AS WOMEN — TRUTH WORTH LISTENING TO

IT WAS A FULL MOON.

Wispy clouds cast a veil of mystery as nature’s spotlight shone on the two dancers below her. Strains of salsa and bachata wafted through the air as they gyrated to the beat. Barefoot on cobblestones, in a short floral dress, I twirled under the gentle yet firm guidance of my partner. I was on my menstrual period. As the moon beckoned, I felt at one with the universe and her ebbs and flows. The music was barely audible, but we didn’t care. My locs flew as we danced, a delicate balance between push and pull, faster, slower, nose to nose, at arm’s length—a silent language between us, telling stories older than time, of love, loss, yearning, forgiveness. I felt beautiful, powerful, whole, joyful, connected, and free. For the first time in my life, I felt like a woman. I was 42 years old. An Invitation to Womanhood I had waited my entire life for that moment under the full moon, and had worked hard on the excruciating, often traumatic journey to get there.

words by Yvonne Ibifuro Ator, MD, MPH

Only a few months earlier, during an intense six-hour training event, I was just about to give up when I saw a mental picture that would change my life. I envisioned endless lines of women carrying calabashes of water on their heads, with children on their backs. At that moment, I realized I had forgotten who I really was—that I was the product of all the women who came before me. According to science, mitochondrial DNA is passed through the mother. This means that in my cells is the DNA of all the women in my ancestral history. As Oprah often paraphrases from the poem “Our Grandmothers” by Maya Angelou, “I come as one, but I stand as ten thousand.” We as women are stronger, wiser, and more resilient that we realize. From the moment of my vision, I began feeling a deep stirring in my spirit. An invitation to rise up and reclaim my womanhood. An invitation to step into my power, to step up and no longer play small, to stand tall and no longer dim my light for the comfort of others. An invitation to remember who I am. Feeling more mature, wanting to dress more womanly, starting to walk differently, owning my power—not just for myself, but for those generations of women coming after me. I couldn’t quite articulate what I was feeling, but I surrendered to it and things began to unfold.

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The Traumas of Womanhood

Ain’t I a Woman?

Then the call came: “Yvonne, The next issue of Radiant is all about Womanhood.”

Trauma can make us feel stuck at the age we experienced it. No wonder it took me 42 years to finally feel like a woman, or that for most of my adult life I felt like an adolescent on the inside.

Heck, I was already neck deep into reclaiming and celebrating my womanhood, so this would be easy! Excited, I sat down at my computer to write. My topic would be “celebrating the identity, power, and joys of womanhood.” Hmm, celebrating womanhood ... I am a woman in my forties who has been married and divorced, has two kids, lived on three different continents, and earned a master’s and a doctorate at acclaimed institutions. I have lived many lives. This should be easy, I thought. Still no words. I decided to reflect on my life and how I celebrated my own rites of passage. But as I began to recall all of the milestones that traced my transition into womanhood, I realized that every single event was marked by trauma. Against the backdrop of the fight to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh amidst Dr. Christine Ford’s accusations of sexual assault (#IBelieveHer), I found myself triggered and ultimately paralyzed by my own memories of rape and went into fullblown writer’s block. I am not alone. For many, the path to becoming a woman is marked by emotional, physical, and mental trauma, including abuse, harassment, mutilation, stigma, oppression, discrimination, and alienation—only a few of the horrors women have endured for existing. And then it dawned on me—I had no clue what it even means to be a woman, or when I became one.

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When exactly do we become women, and what does it mean to be one? Let’s start with anatomy. If ovaries, a vagina, a clitoris, and labia make one a woman, they also provide the earliest exposure to the traumas of womanhood. Not only do we have cultures in which female babies are thrown away or killed for being female and thereby worthless, we have other cultures where female babies are mutilated. Female genital mutilation (FGM), the cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia, is commonly practiced in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. According to UNICEF, 200 million women living today in 27 African countries, Indonesia, Iraqi Kurdistan, and Yemen have undergone these procedures. FGM is usually done with a blade anywhere from days after birth to puberty and beyond, but typically before age 5. This practice is rooted in gender inequality, attempts to control a woman’s sexuality, and ideas around purity, modesty, and beauty. There are no health benefits but numerous complications with menstrual flow, urination, childbirth, recurrent infections, and so on. How about puberty? Breasts! Surely that’s a cause for celebration? I remember the moment I realized I was growing breasts. My cousin and I, both 11-year-old girls living in Nigeria, were so mortified at the idea of becoming women, we spent several hours beating our budding chests with traditional broom heads to delay our maturity for as long as we possibly could. To this day, I still remember the pain and inflammation of our self-flagellation.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

I don’t know where my cousin and I had gotten the message that our budding breasts and becoming women were something to be ashamed of—maybe it was from seeing how women were treated as second-class citizens in Nigeria. Statistics show that we were not alone. Breast ironing is a common practice of mutilating girls’ breasts to prevent sexual harassment, rape, or promiscuity. Four million girls around the world have undergone breast ironing, primarily those of Cameroonian descent, but also in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Benin, and Togo. Ok, maybe having a period makes one a woman? I thought back to when I first had my period, at 13. The first and only sex talk I received was “Don’t let anyone touch you.” I shudder at the memory of my teen years in boarding school in Nigeria, dreading the cramps, wearing sweaters around my waist for fear of the frequent leaks of blood onto my uniform from the inadequate supply of pads and the inadequate information about menstruation and sex. But again, I was not alone. Of the 1.8 billion women who menstruate around the world, many do not have access to sanitary products, either because they cannot afford them or because there is nowhere to buy them. Worse, many are prevented from participating in work or school due to the stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation. Maybe one is allowed to celebrate womanhood after her first sexual experience? Unfortunately I resonate with another statistic. One in three girls are sexually assaulted—molested or raped—by people they know, including friends and relatives. I thought I was the only one. I thought the recurrent assaults I experienced were my fault. As stories are starting to emerge in the era of the #MeToo movement, we are starting to learn just how pervasive and ubiquitous sexual assault is, and the shame and secrecy

RECLAIMING YOUR WOMANHOOD

But as I began to recall all of the milestones that traced my transition into womanhood, I realized that every single event was marked by trauma. that victims have to endure. For me, I first knew I had to get help when I found myself experiencing hypervigilance and new triggers when my daughters reached the age of my first sexual assault at 6 years old.

woman has to be twice as good as a man to be taken seriously, and when one adds in the intersectionality of being black and female, one must be four times as good to be considered competent.

Maybe womanhood happens at marriage? With divorce, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence, many women experience physical, mental, and emotional abuse and even death at the hands of the men who claim to love them. Honor killings are also a common occurrence for those women who dare to live independently of the dictates of the men in their lives.

Today I work as a coach for high-level professionals who are also moms. Many of their stories are strikingly similar. One client, a radiology physician who finds herself the only woman in a practice of 20 physicians, struggles with alienation and invisibility. She often shares about not being taken seriously and being judged for being “emotional” when she speaks up for herself.

Maybe becoming a woman is about becoming a mother? As we have learned Sometimes we as women also internalize from the traumatic births reported by these societal messages and give away Serena Williams, Beyoncé, and millions our own power. During medical school, I of less well-known women before them, remember deferring an elected position childbirth holds increased dangers for as a representative of my school to black women. And for many, fistulas a blond white man because I felt he resulting from traumatic childbirths due “looked the part” more than I did as a to early marriage and immature bodies dark-skinned immigrant woman with make for a sad reality. locs, even though I had the personality, skills, and experience for the position. While my daughters are the joys of my life, my first birthing experience was a traumatic 21 hours in which every Reclaiming Our Womanhood possible thing went wrong, ending with a C-section. Interestingly, though I still Being a woman can feel like being under didn’t feel like a woman then, I did feel siege. We are constantly being pressured like a mother. to modify our speech and actions based on societal constructs and expectations But the traumas of womanhood are not usually created by men, but also by only physical. Emotional and mental other women who have internalized the trauma is common and often more messages given them. It is clear that many pervasive, insidious, and damaging. The of the rites of womanhood are often also glass ceiling and workplace harassment used as deterrents to gender equality and are common realities for many female promote the discrimination, alienation, professionals regardless of background. A oppression, and marginalization of women.

Being a woman is often a source of shame and social stigma, anxiety, and discomfort. In our patriarchal society, feminine attributes are deemed less than, subpar, subservient, unworthy. Instead of embodying pride and power, our female characteristics are used as barriers against realizing our true potential. In earlier cultures, becoming a woman involved a beautiful series of rites of passage to celebrate. Our bodies are works of art that are specially designed with the extra super power to carry and bring life into the world. We may have higher thresholds for pain. We certainly are intuitive. And we are equals to men, as can be seen by glass ceilings shattering as increasing numbers of women become astronauts, presidents, CEOs, directors, and so on. Still, most of our roles and identities as women are centered around men and children. But being a good and dutiful wife or daughter or mother is only a minor part of the picture. Your identity as a woman has nothing to do with what men or women say you are. Your identity is discrete and intact on its own. It is who you are. What would it look like to own or reclaim your identity as a woman? What would it look like to own and harness your power, your voice, intuition, and femininity? What would it look like to then joyfully celebrate who you are as a woman? Before we can celebrate our womanhood, we have to reclaim our identities as women and heal from the traumas of womanhood.

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Healing the Wounds of Womanhood Here are 12 steps to help you begin your healing process: 1. Own Your Story — Before you can heal, you have to own your story. “But Yvonne, my story was not as severe as others’.” There is no such thing as comparative suffering. Pain is pain. Suffering is suffering. Get honest about your experiences. Get honest about your feelings. Own your anger. Acknowledge your shame, guilt, bitterness, frustration, humiliation, and embarrassment. 2. Get Help—If you have access to (and can afford) a therapist or coach, or even a safe priest or religious cleric, get in touch with one. Getting the support you need as you navigate your traumatic history can be the difference between life and death. 3. Tell Your Story —Find an emotionally safe, healthy, and empathetic friend or relative and share your story. Shame thrives in darkness and silence, but cannot survive being spoken. Sharing your story shines a light and combats shame. 4. Get Curious—Get curious about your story. Explore what happened. If possible, reality-check the story that you have been telling yourself about what happened. Journal about what happened. Explore the emotions and triggers around what happened. Ask someone who was around or connected to the event about what they thought happened. If you are in a position to do so, do some investigation around your experience. 5. Practice Self-compassion—RuPaul says, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an Amen?” Practicing selfcompassion means treating yourself like someone you love. So, love yourself! Be mindful. Pay attention to how you are treating yourself and what you are feeling, thinking, and saying about yourself. Judgment, shame and blame are common. Be kind to yourself in all you think, say, and do. Remember you are not alone. There are others who are going through and have been through what you have experienced. 6. Grieve—Take the time to really feel your emotions. Cry. Weep. Wail. Rage. The five stages of grief (denial and/or numbness, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) are nonlinear. You might find yourself on a roller-coaster of emotions and feel exhausted (see #9). Give yourself the time, space, resources, and support to grieve. Let it out. If in the presence of support (see #2), even better. 7. Forgive—Forgive yourself. Forgive the offending party, the perpetrator(s), the enablers who stood by and did nothing. You did nothing wrong. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t the length of skirt you were wearing, or the boldness of your personality. This was about power and control. You happened to be the target of someone’s attempt at power and control. Forgiveness is about letting go of

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the idea that something could have been different. It is allowing your expectation of what could have been to die. Let it die. 8. Get Creative—Use your creativity to process your grief and your experiences and what you are learning through this healing process. Creativity is using our hands to move wisdom from our heads to our hearts. We are all creative. So write poetry, sing, craft, take photographs, sew, draw, paint, weave. Create something. 9. Nurture Yourself—Self-care and nurturing are especially critical during the healing process. Rest. Sleep. Spend time in nature. Get hugs. Eat nutritious food. Get a massage. Exercise. Take long baths. Go to the spa. The process can be exhausting and draining. Healing takes energy and time. You are worth the investment. Make it! 10. Write a New Story—After you have owned, shared, explored, and grieved your story, it is time to let it go. It is time to write a new story. How do you define womanhood? What kind of woman do you aspire to be? Write a new story, a new ending. Own your truth, your voice, your creativity. Create the identity that embodies the truest and highest version of who you are. Live it. 11. Connect—Find strength in a tribe of strong, empathetic, and healthy women. Women are creatures of connection and community. Connect with a tribe of women you resonate with, who make you feel seen and heard; a tribe where you can flourish, bring the fullness of who you are, and be celebrated for who you are; a tribe that will challenge you to your best, truest, and highest self. There is something deeply healing about being seen, loved, and affirmed just as you are. Learn to ask for what you need and be willing to receive it graciously. 12. Serve—One of the most beautiful things about the human experience is that there is nothing really new under the sun. Others are going through or have gone through experiences similar to yours. Listen to others. Find ways to serve those who need your support. Being a source of empathy and support for others also has a deeply healing effect. Serve, but serve sustainably. Be mindful of your boundaries and taking time to rejuvenate with all the steps listed above. This is how we positively change the world. Not only do we owe it to ourselves to do the work of healing from our traumas. We owe it to our daughters and sons. We get to disrupt the toxic, dysfunctional, and traumatic narrative about womanhood for the next generation. Humanity depends on this! The night I danced with abandon under the moonlight, I understood for the first time that being a woman is not what you do, it is who you are. Own it. Live it. But first, heal it!

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Grab the broom of anger and drive off the beast of fear. Zora Neale Hurston

BODY & MIND

As you become more clear about who you really are, you’ll be better able to decide what is best for you – the first time around. — Oprah Winfrey 170

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PAMELA ADIE

Pamela Adie is an amazingly positive, loc-sporting young woman who also happens to be an out-of-thecloset lesbian living in Nigeria. That in and of itself is something worth admiring and celebrating, but Pamela also serves as the chief servant and executive director of the Equality Hub and is the creator of the forthcoming documentary Under the Rainbow. The human rights advocate and LGBTQ activist is as vocal about ensuring the freedoms of female sexual minorities as she is about cheering her beloved Manchester United. Despite our on-again, off-again WhatsApp connection, I was able to have an enlightening conversation with Pamela about topics ranging from female sexuality to the Nigerian LGBTQ experience to the slowly but surely improving landscape for sexual equality.

words by Nikki Igbo images courtesy of the Obama Foundation

RADIANT HEALTH Even before you came out to those around

you, you’ve described in your blog how you had to come out to yourself, despite the fact that you already were involved in a romantic relationship with another woman. You described this experience of self-discovery as shocking. To you, what does that say about how African women tend to approach their sexuality? PAMELA ADIE I was brought up pretty much to not talk about

it. We were raised to ignore issues of sexuality. That also stems from the fact that we as a culture believe that women are raised for the pleasure of men. We were raised to believe that, as a woman, your foremost duties are to meet the needs of a man. Imagine then speaking of yourself as not straight, as not meeting the needs of a man. It’s an abomination almost, and people frown on such things.

RADIANT WOMAN WATCH

Pamela Adie

As a whole, that is how we are socialized in terms of homosexuality—that is not a topic that people talk about here. Anything that is beyond straight is not acceptable. You have a lot of women who are bisexual or lesbian or queer and they don’t have any space. They just have to exist as they are. The only way they are respected is by being straight and being married to a man. Most are living double lives: being married for the sake of society and then having a relationship on the side. That’s what it’s like. RH Watching the trailer for your documentary Under the

Rainbow, the story you tell in this film feels very personal, much like the content you reveal in your blog. You talk about your mother and her refusal to accept who you are. You’ve also posted videos on Twitter of a political candidate/mother

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bemoaning the idea of her child being homosexual. Her child’s image had the potential to harm her and she could not abide it, never mind what her child faced or experienced. For me, this begs the question of womanhood and what ideals are expected of women. In a society like Nigeria, image is extremely important. I don’t think men have the same level of pressure that women do in that respect, and it seems as if women do a lot to impose these pressures on themselves. With that in mind, I wondered about your take on these types of self-imposed pressures women have. PA In Nigerian society there is a popular saying: “When

your child is good, you belong to your father. When your child is bad, it is the mother’s fault.” That stems from the notion that women are the caregivers of the family, and so the responsibility of raising the child or how the child turns out is based on the mother’s care. The political candidate about whom I was tweeting was saying that the worst possible thing a child could be is homosexual. That idea stems from the belief that homosexuality is a choice. She was treating homosexuality as a form of punishment [for bad parenting]. I have personally been affected by this. When I came out, my mother was the most vocal about her discontent. My dad, not so much. But then I also understood how she belonged to a church community and she was scared of what people would say. Also, other women who were outside of her immediate circle helped to promote this fear. It comes from a place of a lack of education. If people were to have the right narrative and information about homosexuality, then most of these misconceptions would be debunked. RH When you came out to your friends and family

as a lesbian, you could have just stopped there and lived your life as a quiet member of the global LGBTQ community, but you chose to employ your talents and education in communications and business to improve the Nigerian and global landscape for everyone. Why did you make that choice? PA I didn’t really make that choice. When I came out,

I came out for myself and my own personal reasons. Part of that reason was to be able to speak about my life publicly. The LGBTQ community is especially silent to maintain their safety, but I questioned why I should be

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silent about my life. I am a girl who cannot marry the person I love. Why should I be silent about the things that affect me and the way that I live my life? I started speaking up about those issues. I realized that being in the closet and hiding wasn’t really helping our cause. We were having these types of conversations within the community, but I felt that I was preaching to the choir. I felt the conversation needed to be expanded for other people outside of the community to hear so that I could enjoy the freedom of living my life without hiding, so that I could truly be free. I also felt that it would encourage other people to speak. RH Especially since Nigeria’s passage of the Same

Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2013, what has it been like for a person to live, work, and love in an environment that makes the claim that LGBTQ people are wrong or criminal for being who they are? PA The law does not say that coming out as LGBTQ

is a crime, but there is a lot misconception around it. Mostly people who have not read the law have the notion that being gay is a crime, when that is not actually the case; the law criminalizes marrying someone of the same sex. When someone talks about being homosexual, the first thing you hear is, “Forty years, forty years,” as if you’ll receive that punishment [jail time] simply for discussing homosexuality. There’s a lack of education of surrounding what the law actually says. You can’t walk down the street and hold your partner’s hand. We can’t have things like Pride [festivals]. We can’t have gay clubs. Our community has been pushing the boundaries by organizing public events, and so far there haven’t been any arrests, however mostly people just organize private parties at their house and that’s how the community gets together. It’s really hard to find someone who is not closeted here and is sort of open about their life. I know—I have been with people who are in the closet. For me already being out and being with someone who is hiding is like taking me back in the closet. That kind of situation comes with its own challenges. You cannot talk about your partner. You cannot post a picture of both you of together, even if you’re just eating ice cream. If you introduce them to

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

PAMELA ADIE

There is a tendency for people to be in multiple relationships without being aware of who is with who because you can’t talk about your relationship and they can’t talk about their relationship.

someone, you can’t say, “This is my girlfriend, this is my partner.” You have to say, “This is my friend.” It’s tough. My status as being out gets a lot of attention even from married women. They are still in the husband’s house but they want to have a relationship with me outside of the marriage. That’s not a thing that I do because it is very tough to be with someone who is married to someone else. There are also health concerns. If you’re married and you don’t really know the sexual activities of your partner, then you don’t want to have another partner on the side. Things can get complex and risky. I just avoid it. But I know that there are people who are in that situation who date married women but everything is hush-hush. Because everything is under the radar, there is a tendency for abuse to thrive. There is a tendency for people to be in multiple relationships without being aware of who is with who because you can’t talk about your relationship and they can’t talk about their relationship. It creates this really complex bubble. RH It seems like there are a lot of unnecessary complications

because of all this secrecy. Seems like it would be very beneficial for everyone to be honest and open about who they are and the lives they lead.

PA Exactly. There is also the issue of intimate partner violence.

A lot of women suffer violence from their partners but they continue to stay in these abusive relationships because they are closeted and don’t have anyone to talk to. If you’re closeted, how do you explain to someone that your lover is abusing you? That creates also a mental health component to the whole dynamic. RH I understand that the secrecy is for social and sometimes

physical protection. Still, the negativity and violence directed at others based on sexual orientation is so confusing, especially after reading some of your other blog posts where you discuss the “open secret” nature of sexuality in Nigeria. It seems that the fluidity of sexuality is accepted and almost celebrated behind closed doors when you consider things like the popularity of homosexual pornography or the practice of being in a heterosexual marriage but having a same-sex lover on the side. Even the brushing off of homosexuality as a “phase” suggests that it is not rare or even actually wrong. Why is being open about who you are and what you do so hard for so many to grasp and accept? PA The issue is very complex. On one hand, you have a lot of

young women who are financially dependent on their parents.

They fear that if they come out, they may be cut off, thrown out of their homes, and not receive any financial support. They fear they may be pulled out of school and scorned. Then there are also married women who are not straight or have same-sex relationships outside of the marriage. They cannot come out because what are people going to say? That’s number one. Most of these women have kids and they are also financially dependent on their husbands. There’s also the religious aspect. If you belong to a faith community, whether it is Christianity or Islam or another religion, there is all sorts of homophobia going on. And not just homophobia but also the subjugation and oppression of women in general. You have a situation where the church preaches that if you’re experiencing any sort of homosexual attraction then you are on your way to hell; you need to be prayed for and purified. In that setting, it is easy to internalize homophobia even though you have a same-sex relationship. Then there’s the just the other reality of being a woman in general. You’re expected to submit. In the house of God, you’re not expected to have a voice. So, if you’re already a woman and now you want to say that you are lesbian? It’s like a double whammy. All of these layers make it even more difficult for people to come out, not to mention the social stigmatization of coming out. People fear that their family might reject them, they may be fired, denied access to healthcare, and all sorts of other consequences. RH As the founder, chief servant, and executive director of

the Equality Hub, you advocate for female sexual minorities in Nigeria and abroad. You’ve said in the past that laws like the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2013 don’t just discriminate against members of the LGBTQ community but also adversely affect all Nigerians. Why is it so important for allies and fellow Africans who are not a female sexual minority or LGBTQ to participate in this advocacy? PA All of the complexities that can arise from living your life

in hiding and not being able to be honest about the way you are is not just something that solely impacts LGBTQ people; it affects everyone. We tend to look at LGBTQ issues as if they are separate, but they’re actually not. Just today, I received a message from a young man telling me that it is because of people like me that he hasn’t committed suicide. He’s a gay man married to a woman and he was telling me that his life experience is hell. Can you imagine the mental peril he must be going through? Not to mention the fact that he may be

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having a same-sex relationship which presents health issues. If something were to happen … I can only imagine. Also, in such a relationship, the woman—who I’m assuming is a straight woman—is also dealing with some level of rejection. It trickles down. It’s not just about family. These sorts of emotions also play out in the workplace and play out in the way we associate with friends and others. It’s a domino effect. We’re all living in this life together. The sooner we realize that we have more in common than not, the more people will begin to see how they have a personal stake in the way people are allowed to live their lives and enjoy their freedom. Discrimination is discrimination. Today it’s LGBTQ people. Tomorrow it might be people who have disabilities or Igbo people or Yoruba people. When you discriminate against people just because they are different, it comes from the same place as racism and all the other isms that hurt people based on differences. History has shown us the dangers of that. Here in America, black women of the LGBTQ community have been very instrumental both currently and historically about spearheading movements toward equality and social justice. Why is the LGBTQ activism in Nigeria so male-dominated? RH

PA If you go back to the history of LGBTQ

rights in Nigeria, it first started as a health issue with a focus on HIV/AIDS and gay men. All funding went toward HIV/AIDS prevention and management for gay men. That was the purpose for a very long time, and it ignored lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. One of the reasons why it took a while for female activism to rise was also the notion that women shouldn’t speak up and that woman are not as important. You, as a woman, should just stay in your own little corner and do your own little thing. What I’ve seen with the rise of female activists now, in the few that are doing this work, are people who have spent their formative years outside of the country and are not bogged down with some of these [restrictive] social norms

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and traditions. That also has influenced the way things have turned out. The fact that people got outside of the country and studied and then came back home—it gave them a whole different narrative and viewpoint. There are also women activists who are not as open or vocal. Again, I know that some of the issues that account for that are because these women are concerned about their families and any negative attention having an impact on their loved ones. Whether or not this is true is their story. From my experience, my parents are still alive and carrying on with their daily lives. [Laughs] RH Finally, and simply, are things getting better? PA Yes, things are getting better. Number one,

there is a lot more visibility of LGBTQ people. Whether people are doing it anonymously or not, there are more people who are speaking up, especially on social media like Facebook and Twitter. That’s a definite positive. There are people who have come out to their families. They’ve told me that I inspired them to come out, so I know that’s happening. We are also pushing the boundaries by organizing LGBTQ events publicly. In the past, we had to organize events at the embassy or somewhere private, but we’re really coming out. We’re renting move theaters just to premiere our film. There’s also a rise of LGBTQ rights organizations in Nigeria. I’m currently in a relationship with someone, and we’ve been doing this thing that is a radical act for the two of us. Out in social situations, we introduce each other by saying, “This is my girlfriend.” People are so shocked at how we exist so openly that they rarely behave badly. They rarely have negative responses. And we have been doing it, and it’s so funny [laughs], we’ve been doing it for about three months now. Pamela Adie’s documentary Under the Rainbow is slated to premier in Nigeria and a variety of global film festivals in early 2019.

RADIANT HEALTH № 12 The Womanhood Issue

A crown, if it hurts us, is not worth wearing. Pearl Bailey

But who made the law in our daughters? We women than anyone. Until we change which women will

that we should not hope subscribe to that law more this, it is still a man's world, always help to build. Buchi Emecheta

radianthealthmag.com

Radiant Health is the healthy living guide for today’s African woman. We began as Nigeria’s first women’s health magazine and have grown globally to reach African women on the Continent and across the diaspora as Africa’s leading health magazine. Radiant is dedicated to the discerning African woman and her journey to wellness through health, beauty and culture. We believe that actions speak louder than words, even when they're beautifully written and printed. To this end we have partnered with Mirabel Center Lagos and committed to donate a portion of our magazine sales to its mission. Your purchase of Radiant Health Magazine enables Mirabel, the only organization of its kind in Nigeria, to provide rape and sexual assault victims free forensic medical and counseling services.

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