Amina's Field Journal

Before even arriving in South Africa, we were able to work on a couple different projects. Some people worked with Dr. Fosl on archival research, while the other half of us worked on a project called Womanspirit. This is a program is aimed at…

Upon leaving IJR’s Youth Dialogue, we were finally able to visit Robben Island. This was a maximum-security prison used to isolate political prisoners during the 17th-20th century and it also served as the military base and a hospital to…

The challenge that many South Africans are tackling on is that of the counter narrative. Often, this is a struggle for many people globally – being heard. I often want to run to my hooyo (mom) and abo (dad) and write their stories in fear of a dying…

How does one even go about speaking of spilt blood? Can words revive and revere? I’m at a loss for words when I think the traumas suffered by oppressed people across the globe. It wasn’t long ago (19 years to be exact), that Black and immigrant…

Before arriving to SA, we began to familiarize ourselves with some of its history and legacies. We’ve had the opportunity to read a lot of literature, but two that seemed to really have stuck with me is Sindiwe Magona’s novel, Mother to Mother, and…

Nothing for you & even less for me

Sometimes the urge to remain silent becomes almost suffocating. What do you do when the urge to purge all that inside you gets muffled by ones own voice?

Sometimes I feel as if my mind and body are…

As I’ve mentioned in my introduction, I hail from Mogadishu, Somalia, often known as the Land of Punts (Gods) to many and also The Nation of Poets to those that know the traditions of my beautiful country. But as early as a year old, I was torn from…

My name is Amina Ahmed and I am a senior at the University of Louisville. I am a student of History, with a special focus and interest in African Studies. During this trip I hope to actively engage and contribute to the development of cultural…