It may not have been possible for us to talk about Minna Salami, without her Mother who laced her childhood with books based on feminism. Years later, MsAfropolitan has published one herself, Sensuous Knowledge: a black feminist approach for everyone

Minna Salami’s book is an in-depth resource about African and black feminism. It is a book about beauty, power, gender, globalisation, science and sexuality that is rooted in black feminism. This comes in handy, especially for people following all the rich snippets on her twitter feed or the more detailed msafropolitan the blog.

In Sensuous Knowledge, Minna Salami draws on Africa-centric, feminist-first and artistic traditions to help us rediscover inclusive and invigorating ways of experiencing the world afresh.

Sensuous Knowledge: Glorious, Essential, Imaginative, Astonishing, Captivating, Vital…

Sensuous Knowledge – A Black Feminist approach for everyone

Sensuous Knowledge (US Version)

Sensuous Knowledge (UK Version)

Initially titled: Sensuous Knowledge: A Radical Black Feminist Approach for Everyone, Minna Salami’s book was simultaneously published by Harper Collins in the US/ Canada and Zed Books in the UK.

In the book Minna Salami draws on Africa-centric, feminist-first and artistic traditions to help us rediscover inclusive and invigorating ways of experiencing the world afresh.

Sensuous Knowledge (United Kingdom)

In Sensuous Knowledge, Minna Salami draws on Africa-centric, feminist-first and artistic traditions to help us rediscover inclusive and invigorating ways of experiencing the world afresh.

Combining the playfulness of a storyteller with the insight of a social critic, the book pries apart the systems of power and privilege that have dominated ways of thinking for centuries – and which have led to so much division, prejudice and damage.

And it puts forward a new, sensuous, approach to knowledge: one grounded in a host of global perspectives – from Black Feminism to personal narrative, pop culture to high art, Western philosophy to African mythology – together comprising a vision of hope for a fragmented world riven by crisis.

Minna Salami – Nigerian, Finnish, and Swedish author, Sensuous Knowledge – Photographer- Ewelina Stechnij

Through the prism of this new knowledge, Salami offers fresh insights into the key cultural issues that affect women’s lives.

How are we to view Sisterhood, Motherhood or even Womanhood itself?

What is Power and why do we conceive of Beauty?

How does one achieve Liberation?

She asks women to break free of the prison made by ingrained male-centric biases, and build a house themselves – a home that can nurture us all.

Sensuous Knowledge confirms Minna Salami as one the most important spokespeople of today, and the arrival of a blistering new literary voice.

Minna Salami in discussion on Talking Africa about her life, blog and women in Africa

Minna Salami in discussion on Talking Africa about her life, blog and women in Africa

Sensuous Knowledge (United States)

Sensuous Knowledge (US) Front Cover

Sensuous Knowledge (US)Back Cover

Sensuous Knowledge weaves together a number of disciplines such as personal narrative, feminist theory, pop culture, spirituality and African philosophy in order to encourage a new understanding of knowledge that is nevertheless rooted in historical truths.

It explores universal topics such as beauty, power, gender, globalisation, science and sexuality from a black feminist and Africa-centred perspective in contrast to the male and/or Eurocentric perspective we are inundated with.

Sensuous Knowledge is a collection of thought provoking essays that explore questions central to how we see ourselves, our history, and our world.

What does it mean to be oppressed? What does it mean to be liberated? Why do women choose to follow authority even when they can be autonomous? What is the cost of compromising one’s true self? What narratives particularly subjugate women and people of African heritage? What kind of narrative can heal and empower?

Minna Salami -Nigerian, Finnish, and Swedish author, Sensuous Knowledge

As she considers these questions, Salami offers fresh insights on key cultural issues that impact women’s lives, including power, beauty, and knowledge. She also examines larger subjects, such as Afrofuturism, radical Black feminism, and gender politics, all with a historical outlook that is also future oriented.

Combining a storyteller’s narrative playfulness and a social critic’s intellectual rigor, Salami draws upon a range of traditions and ideologies, feminist theory, popular culture.

This includes insights from Ms. Lauryn Hill, Beyoncé, Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, and others―science, philosophy, African myths and origin stories, and her own bold personal narrative to establish a language for change and self-liberation.

Sensuous Knowledge inspires reflection and challenge us to formulate or own views. Using ancestral knowledge to steer us toward freedom, Salami reveals the ways that women have protested over the years in large and small ways―models that inspire and empower us to define our own sense of womanhood today.

Minna Salami MsAfropolitan – Sensuous Knowledge (Book Overview)

In this riveting meditation, Salami ask women to break free of the prison made by ingrained male centric biases, and build a house themselves―a home that can nurture us all.

The book pries apart the systems of power and privilege that have dominated ways of thinking for centuries – and which have led to so much division, prejudice and damage.

And it puts forward a new, sensuous, approach to knowledge: one grounded in a host of global perspectives – from Black Feminism to personal narrative, pop culture to high art, Western philosophy to African mythology – together comprising a vision of hope for a fragmented world riven by crisis.

Press on Sensuous Knowledge

Who is Minna Salami? – A Brief Bio.

The Guardian Nigeria Minna Salami- The time for women’s revolution is now

Minna Salami is a Nigerian, Finnish, and Swedish author, blogger, social critic, lecturer and international keynote speaker. She is the founder of the multiple award-winning blog, MsAfropolitan, which connects feminism with critical reflections on contemporary culture from an Africa-centered perspective.

Minna Salami, Nigerian-Finnish and Swedish writer, and the founder MsAfropolitan

Coincidentally, Minna was brought us by multi-religious parents, her father was a Muslim and her mother was a Christian. This gave Minna more insight as well as interest into African Spirituality.

Later on, Minna studied Political science and Gender Studies, further opening up her awareness of what it meant to be a woman, especially of African heritage.

Minna is the brains behind the internationally popular, multiple award-winning blog: MsAfropolitan. Her writing ranges from Africa-centered feminist sensibility to issues of racism and sexism, challenging our illusions about oppression and liberation and daring women to embrace their power.

To change the world, change your illusions | Minna Salami | TEDxBrixton

To change the world, change your illusions | Minna Salami | TEDxBrixton

MsAfropolitan – Minna Salami’s Popular Blog

Minna Salami is the founder of the MsAfropolitan blog, which covers Africa and the diaspora from a feminist perspective.

Whenever anyone talks about famous African women bloggers, Minna Salami’s name almost always comes up.

Obviously, this is based on the wealthy contribution of vast knowledge and experiences she has poured into her popular blog, Ms Afropolitan has impacted many people across the continent and beyond.

Litanies For Survival | Minna Salami (MsAfropolitan)

Litanies For Survival | Minna Salami (MsAfropolitan)

Minna Salami on the Guardian Books Network:

Besides writing on MsAfripolitan, Minna Salami has made major contributions to different publications including the guardian.

Minna is also part of the Guardian Books Network, launched in 2015 as a space curates a selection of favourite literary content from around the world. People submit literary sites or shares favourite works which are then featured on the network.

Many people assumed that most Africans only write about poverty, development, charity and village life. Through the Ms Afropolitan Blog, Minna helped break stereotypes about African women and what they blog about.

As a feminist, Minna Salami is also interested in how masculinity is portrayed in the arts. She defends Odenigbo – from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel Half of a Yellow Sun – as a romantic hero as impactful and lusted-after as Don Juan, Heathcliff and Romeo

Welcome to the Guardian books network | Books | The Guardian

Invite Minna Salami for your next Speaking Engagement:

Aside from writing and speaking, my work spans into many areas. Minna’s client list includes think tanks, museums, charities, media organisations, and governments.

She has spoken at hundreds of universities, cultural events and conferences in over five continents, and she has presented keynote talks at some of the world’s most prominent institutions such as the UN, EU, The Oxford Union, The Cambridge Union and The Singularity University at NASA.

Her work is published in numerous publications including the Guardian, Al Jazeera, the Royal Society for the Arts, Channel 4, Independent, BBC and CNN. She has consulted governments on how to tackle sexual harassment and she has curated events at The Victoria & Albert Museum.

Minna sits on the Advisory Board of The African Feminist Initiative at Pennsylvania State University and the Editorial Board of The Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of the Sahel. She currently hosts a philosophy book discussion group at the celebrated Waterstones bookshop in London. She lives in London and is regularly in Lagos, where she was raised.

Contact Minna Salami now to discuss how you can work together on any of the following and more:

gender, race and Africa related expertise

feminist and empowerment workshops

masterclasses

research and analysis

advising and strategy

media consultancy

project development and management

copywriting

social media and blogging

More About Minna Salami – Full Biography:

The Guardian Nigeria Minna | The Guardian Nigeria News

Minna Salami is a Nigerian, Finnish and Swedish writer and lecturer. She is the founder of the multiple award-winning blog, MsAfropolitan, which connects feminism with contemporary culture from an Africa-centred perspective.

Her first book, Sensuous Knowledge, was published in 2020 by Zed and Harper Collins. Translations of Sensuous Knowledge will be published by Schildts & Söderströms in Finland, Planeta de Libros in Spain and Verlag Matthes & Seitz Berlin in Germany. The book is also optioned by a Hollywood based production company.

Minna is listed alongside Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama as one of 12 women changing the world by ELLE Magazine. She is a contributor to the Guardian, BBC, CNN, The Independent, Al Jazeera, the New Internationalist and many other publications. She is a columnist for the Guardian Nigeria and the host of a monthly philosophy book club at Waterstones.

As a lecturer and keynote speaker, Minna has spoken at over 200 universities, cultural events and conferences, on five continents. She has presented talks at some of the world’s most prominent institutions such as the UN, EU, The Oxford Union, The Cambridge Union and The Singularity University at NASA, and discussed #MeToo with Germaine Greer, Afropolitanism with Paul Gilroy and global feminism with Nawal El Saadawi.

She has consulted governments on gender equality and she has curated events at The Victoria & Albert Museum in London. She is a guest commentator on the BBC, SKY, Al Jazeera and Channel 4. Minna has spoken at events in Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, China, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Gambia, The Netherlands, The UAE, The UK, and The USA.

Minna Salami aka MsAfropolitan, on Africa Utopia!

Minna Salami aka MsAfropolitan, on Africa Utopia!

Minna is a co-director of the feminist movement, Activate, she sits on the Advisory Board of The African Feminist Initiative at Pennsylvania State University, and the Editorial Board of The Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of the Sahel. She is a judge for the One World Media Awards and a nominator for The Prince Claus Fund and The Princess of Asturias Foundation. In 2016, Minna joined Friends of the Earth to work as a lead author on the BIG IDEAS project, which identified 30 Big Ideas to Change The World.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies (Distinction) with a focus on black feminisms from SOAS, University of London, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from The University of Lund, Sweden, as well as an Honorary Fellowship in Writing from The Hong Kong Baptist University.

Minna has lived in Nigeria, Sweden, Spain and New York and now lives in London, from where she is passionately committed to promoting feminist empowerment.

Contact Minna Salami Today:

For enquiries and bookings, email [email protected]

For rights and publishing inquiries, email Maria Cardona at Pontas Copyright Agency

Minna Salami – Nigerian-Finnish and Swedish writer, founder MsAfropolitan, Author – Sensuous Knowledge

Articles by Minna Salami on The Guardian:

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