Sikiliza

“Where does it hurt?”  it answered everywhere everywhere everywhere.   This powerful excerpt from Warsan Shire’s poem titled “What They Did Yesterday Afternoon” resonates deeply with how many activists  experiece this unequal, violent and unjust world. As an African feminist, my life has been a relentless journey for liberation and justice, battling against the numerous ways our bodies, minds, and spirits have been scarred by systemic oppression.    Yet, amid the protests, organizing, and the chaotic whirlwind of late nights and early mornings, a disquiet began to swell within me. Burnout loomed like a shadow, whispering that something essential was missing from my life and work.   The realization hit me like a wave: genuine transformative social justice cannot flourish if we neglect self-care and collective healing. We cannot pour from an empty cup, especially when the wounds of injustice run so deep.  The words of Audre Lorde, “Caring for myself is n...