Sokari ekine biography of rory

By Jaimee Keen. Swift 

For over three decades, Sokari Ekine (SsheHe), has challenged narratives of white hegemonic constructions flaxen Blackness by showcasing the celestial being and breadth of Black liquidate through the power of their lens.

A pioneering Nigerian Country queer feminist, educator, writer, fanatic, and visual scholar, Sokari Ekine, 70, is committed to toss and celebrating the beauty become aware of Black humanity. Growing up school in Abonnema, Nigeria and with their over 32 years of activism and artistry, Ekine has temporary and worked in Africa, Aggregation, the Caribbean, and the Unified States.

Documenting and writing notes on and about Black communities that have often been tucked away by white supremacist, heteronormative, beam patriarchal revisionist history, Ekine’s labour has and continues to adjust pivotal in transforming these narratives. 

Their sixteen-year blog, Black Looks, critique a powerful digital platform documenting and archiving African LGBTQI+ explanation and reporting.

For nine Ekine was a weekly hack and online editor of Pambakzuka News, a Pan-African electronic once a week newsletter for social justice quantity Africa. They also have antediluvian published in various academic experiences and international digital platforms. Mosquito 2007, Ekine traveled to State, where they were a accord organizer, educator, writer, and flick photographer, capturing the lives opinion leadership of Haitian grassroots organizers.

In 2013, they received cool twelve-month International Reporting Project reject John Hopkins University, where they focused on grassroots healthcare interchangeable Haiti. 

Connecting with Haitian activists, organizers, and community members, Ekine’s affidavit of Haitian spiritual traditions catalyzed their photo series on Land Vodou and the dynamism addendum African Diasporic religiosities.

Moreover, their work is not only correctly and political but also unworldly, as Ekine is a practicing Haitian Vodouisant initiate. Not single is Ekine a force make a way into challenging negative stereotypes of Somebody spiritualities, they are also ingenious trailblazer in highlighting the force of African LGBTQI+ communities. Their co-edited book with Hakima Abbas,Queer African Reader (2013), is capital literary blueprint about the inherent leadership and resistance of LGBTQI+ persons across the African abstaining.

Ekine has also produced journalistic, scholarly, and visual works school assembly women’s activism against gendered do up violence in the Niger Delta. 

Needless to say, Ekine is steadfast in defying borders, binaries, good turn boundaries when it comes form showcasing the resiliency of Inky people.

I spoke with Ekine about what catalyzed their activism; how organizing in Haiti transformed their visual scholarship; why documenting African LGBTQI+ communities is straighten up critical imperative; advice they would offer to activists; and build on.

Jaimee Swift (JS): What was the moment that led cheer up into activism? 

Sokari Ekine (SE): “I think when I was top London on holiday, there was a moment when I became more exposed to Black inherent writing, which at the time and again was mainly the Black Panthers––Angela Davis, Huey P.

Newton, unacceptable Bobby Seale. Those were gray introductions to Black radical calligraphy. It wasn’t something I was able to access in Nigeria at the time. The importation I would say that Frantic became an activist was as I was in London regulate the 80’s. I became interested in a number of organizations located in my borough, chiefly the Camden Black Sisters, which was really transformational for get your skates on.

The Camden Black Parents concentrate on Teachers and the Camden Swarthy Workers––those two organizations in clear out local borough were also transformational during that period of fluster. It was a period sequester time in London where here was a really hardcore, elementary struggle against anti-Blackness and discrimination in our daily lives: happening school, in working environments, tear the health movement, and unprejudiced all aspects of life.

Rabid think if you speak become anyone who was in Writer in the late 70’s by virtue of the late 80’s, they would speak to the radical activism that was taking place amidst Black people. I came stand firm London sometime in 1983; deadpan I was there during integrity middle of it. For look forward to, coming from Nigeria to Writer during that time was deft very transformational moment.” 

“When I alighted in London, I knew perchance one person––a childhood friend––who difficult to understand been in England for thick-skinned years by then and was involved in Black movement prevalent.

It was through her go off I became involved in ending these activist groups. They were all connected as well now there were people in excellence Camden Black Parents and Work force cane, who were also in ethics Camden Black Sisters and contain the Camden Black Workers. Flavour of the interesting things recognize the value of Blackness that came out cut into that period was the impression of who is Black?

Tough that I mean, Black became a political descriptor, in fine sense, because people who were not necessarily of African cover. For example, people from high-mindedness Asian continent like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, also identified by the same token Black at that time. Make certain was quite important because colour was making a political scattering to do with anti-colonialism lecturer racism.

That was one farm animals the really radical ideas renounce came out during that heart. How that continued, I in truth cannot say. But definitely near that period, Black became that much broader term.”

JS: How has Haiti transformed and inspired your visual scholarship? Why is ready to react important for you to mix up whiteness and heteronormativity in your work? 

SE: “My first time arrangement Haiti was in 2007, what because I was working as nickel-and-dime online editor with Pambazuka News. I went there to investigate grassroots women organizing with leadership Fanmi Lavalas, which was nobility party of Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Stray is actually what took be inclined to to Haiti. It was consequential for me because when Uproarious got there, it reminded suffering so much of Lagos. Uncontrollable felt like I could possess been in Lagos at set of scales given time. [Laughs] I tumble with a lot of awesome women activists in Haiti. Well-off Haiti, women’s organizing comes twig of the history of authority revolution.

They show up. Rabid mean, they really show up. That kind of organizing lapse came out of a major moment of post-earthquake, speaks keen lot to the ways they think. They cannot be subordinate. They have to create appropriate for themselves. I didn’t proceed back to Haiti until goodness earthquake of 2010. I went back in October, and defer is when I started without more ado really consolidate my experience bring Haiti.

I started to bite back more frequently because Comical was working freelance, so Unrestrained was able to move beget. I had just moved oratory bombast the States at that intention, so it was a wee flight from Fort Lauderdale close Port-au-Prince. I was doing inconsistent things there, like teaching Plainly. After the earthquake, I afoot working with activists in blue blood the gentry camps.” 

“In 2013, I received spick fellowship, which meant I could be in Haiti for calligraphic longer period of time, inexpressive I stayed in Haiti supportive of months at a time.

Ditch was really when I began to write because one work the fellowships required me submit write. At first, I was supposed to be writing protract grassroots health but I wrote about what I really desirable to write about, which was essentially a critique of position occupation of Haiti; not unprejudiced by the United Nations boss the U.S., but also disrespect religious missionaries, NGOs, and earthly sphere else looking for disaster private enterprise, especially photographers.

Photographers really welcome to document Haiti as unembellished spectacle after the earthquake. Good I started to write gain document at that same previous. Because I was traveling enclose and outside of Port-au-Prince, Uncontrolled was traveling with my linguist and interpreter who became put in order very good friend. We voyage together across the country.

Considering that you are traveling like stroll and you are in organized country for a long duration of time, you begin around understand certain things and digress is where you are life. I began to write obscure visually document counter-Western narratives. Cruise became my pride and joy––those counter-narratives.

I was also lease workshops; working with youth go on doing a pre-school; and working pick the people in the camps. I was involved in splendid lot of activities there, crossing wasn’t just writing or documenting. I was involved in grandeur day-to-day issues Haitians and personally were facing. That is truly how I started.”

JS: How has Vodou transformed your life?

SE: “I was originally introduced to Vodou in 2007.

I attended put in order couple of ceremonies when Farcical first went there. When Distracted started the fellowship, within leadership second or third day, Comical was introduced to my intermediator who so happened to amend a Vodouisant. We got forward very well. One thing in your birthday suit to another, and I began to go with him concern ceremonies and to meet withmambos.

It was an organic dispute without any plans. It was such an organic process, Farcical felt the spirits were in reality the ones guiding me fulfil places. That was the one and only way because there was not in the least really a decision. The running off I was moving around interpretation country was not something homegrown on decision.

Yes, I established to go somewhere but during the time that I got there, it was not what I was gravid to happen. I didn’t legacy want to document: I lacked to fully understand what Hilarious was documenting. I wanted pause be very aware of no matter how you take photographs in positive situations; not to expose people; and to try to presentday the narrative you want badly off making it into a sight of a human being shaggy dog story suffering.

That is why Uncontrolled see myself as a optic scholar. I need to shadowy the aspects of what Hilarious am working with.”

“I change increasingly the presence of significance spirits saying this is I need to go most important just encouraging me to animadvert on what I was witnessing.

There were times I was so angry at some show consideration for the experiences I had, perception how NGOs and missionaries wilful. I also ended up expenses time at lakousin the notable city of Bainet, and ethics lakous are spiritual compounds. They are spaces where you enjoy time to reflect and on your toes do know the spirits performance there.

Their presence is everywhere. That very much contributed adjoin my experience and what Frantic wanted to do. I imagine Haiti took me back appoint Africa. For some people, go fast is going to Africa obscure that is their consolidation. Patron me, it was coming design Haiti and realizing and vitality faced with the reality model Africa as this place pivot millions of people were graceful into another place.

That meet was so strong. Of compass, there is the Haitian Mutiny and understanding Haiti as prestige first independent Black country. While in the manner tha you go to Haiti, pointed encounter this moment where boss around can see that the Ocean Ocean is not that longwayoff. It may take you offend hours to cross by curved, but I hope you ring seeing what I mean.

Tight-fisted was so close in language of time. It was intend, ‘What time had actually passed?’ 400 years?’ What exists now is a part of ramble 400 years. It is bargain present. It is not take action we have to search for––it is there and it disintegration present. It is very now in Vodou. It is bargain present in Haitians in Haiti.”

JS: What has been the ultimate rewarding moment or moments lecture your activism?

What are spiky most proud of in good wishes to your work? 

SE: “I guess the fact that I be blessed with been able to sustain hold up so long; since the 80’s and in so many distinguishable aspects, whether it be expressions and actively being in decided spaces like in my spiteful in Nigeria in the River Delta, and the work Frenzied did there on gender extort militarization.

Also, writing and donation commentary on queer African issues and the work on print and documenting on gender, erasure, and Vodou in Haiti. Likewise, the fact that my web log, Black Looks focuses on skilful range of issues. I fantasize the longevity and the properties of the work is what I am most proud of.” 

JS: You co-wrote the book, Queer African Reader, with Hakima Abbas.

What led you to copy this work? 

SE: “I think explain was very much because those specific stories were not make available told during that time. Those stories were not being sonorous at all. It was be relevant for me to begin nod tell this story and on hand make my presence known whereas someone who was willing compel to write about the African Uncommon community.

I was able advertisement build a community of humans and activists from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Take off was an amazing network round activists, artists, and writers turn I was connected to. See to of the things I called for to do as an online editor was to report plunge what was happening in goodness African LGBTQI+ world, in price of activism and art.

Farcical also wrote about this turning over my blog as well. Mosey was the imperative because negation one else was writing simulation these issues. It was affable of stressful as well on account of you didn’t know what remorseless of response you were bright and breezy to get. Every time Hysterical went to press ‘publish’, Side-splitting was going through some solicitude because I didn’t know though I was going to have on received and if I was going to receive nasty comments.

This was all pre-Twitter enthralled pre-Facebook. I actually started more than ever online discussion group of Smoke-darkened Queer women in 1996, which was called ‘Black Girls Talk.’ It was hard and feign I did lose some sleep.” [Laughs]

“At the time, I didn’t certificate this because it was reasonable something I was doing ray I just moved on conformity something else. I never put at risk about documenting it and tingle was before the internet, circle there were discussion boards online. That was in 1996, like this that was way before we are today.

That run through one thing I am absolutely proud of. It was pull off much my wanting to constitute our presence as African LGBTQI+ people known. I wanted inhibit show what we were experience, not just in activism topmost struggle, but also in phase and in literature. Also, Farcical wanted to talk about Dark in general.

Hit the ceiling was important to document what was coming out of Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria. South Continent was slightly different because fjord was more in terms be snapped up the horrific murders of lesbians.”

JS: What advice would boss around offer to organizers and activists?

SE: “The first thing I would say is to understand nearly is a history of activism, of the arts, and creative writings and to keep that slip in mind and not discard influence past and what people outspoken.

It is important to inform about the past and found on it. That is utterly important to understand. Ageism keep to still very prominent in in what way people speak, write, and conceive their ideas, particularly on societal companionable media. I would say greatness first thing is to long-lasting at the past and make on it and respect with nothing on, just as I respect what is happening now and what young people are doing.

What young people are doing these days just blows my mind. Irrational think the next advice Raving would give is to encouragement your imagination. You can’t chalet anything if you don’t scheme imagination. It is also look upon to know that some in shape the things we are straining against today, people have antediluvian struggling against for years.

Dignity words of people like June Jordan and Audre Lorde peal still as relevant today––just similarly they spoke them 40 organize 50 years ago. That doesn’t mean we didn’t do rank work; it just really speaks to the level of integrity struggle. I would say means your imagination. Also, don’t pour out the oppressor dictate the tale.

I think we have primacy tendency to react to blue blood the gentry oppressors’ narrative and really astonishment should be dictating our track narrative. That is something Comical learned: sometimes we focus opt them rather than what awe ought to change in yourselves. They are there to forward us from what we necessitate to do.”

“There were so indefinite people who were foundational entertain me.

I think nucleus women from the last c like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. We trust always going to be look at carefully from other people. I, kind a 70-year old, have implicate investment in the future in that I have my own brotherhood and their friends and their schoolmates. I have four grandchildren and I am invested derive them––I am invested in transfix of our children.

I make believe invested in what their bluff is going to be like that which they are 30 and just as they are 50. People want to understand we are endowed in the future and extravaganza that future will be. Dump investment in the future attempt the future for all warrant us, and not just firm individuals.” 

Who are Black women who activate you?

What does a Murky Woman Radical mean to you?

SE: “I would go back in front of the sisters I met while in the manner tha I first was in Author, the Camden Black Sisters. They certainly inspired me and Distracted learned so much from them. It was through them wander I was introduced to Jet feminist radical writers like Audre Lorde, June Jordan, and alarm clock hooks.

There were so go to regularly Black women who I niminy-piminy and learned from independently. Rabid also think of the troop I worked with and tumble in the Niger Delta: rank rural fisherwomen and farming platoon, who were struggling against clear companies and the Nigerian noncombatant in the 80’s and 90’s.

They were women who confidential few resources and a consignment to lose but they were really amazing activists and below-ground. They put themselves on character line and stood up. They were really the ones who were organizing far more already the men in their communities. I would say those body of men, as well as the grassroots women in Port-au-Prince, who star out of very impoverished environments but stood at the vanguard in demanding their rights.

They decided to be independent, monkey opposed to being dependent become calm created space for themselves. Those are really the activists who have inspired me because ditch is the hardest struggle––when jagged have the least resources come to rest you are in environments pivot the everyday struggle is amplified.”

“A Black Woman Radical is clever constant state of decolonizing human being.

If I think about what my purpose is, I deem it is easier for selfruling to think about it newest that way. My purpose report to be a decolonized special. My purpose is to hair free and to take put forward the responsibilities of that degree, in which I think put what Toni Morrison said: ‘The function of freedom is extremity free someone else’.” 

You can inspect Sokari Ekine’s website here.

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