BLACK HISTORY MONTH PODCAST
For this Black History Month podcast episode, we brought together a group of women activists and writers to talk about sexual violence and body autonomy – and the role of slavery and colonialism.
In thinking about the past and present, they reflect on what this looks like in Scotland now, through their own experiences, writing and activism.
As a content warning, some of the themes discussed may cause distress as the conversation covers issues of sexual violence, which include rape, childhood sexual abuse, female genital mutilation and trafficking. A list of support organisations can be found below.
Host
Tomiwa Folorunso is a Nigerian-Scottish writer, cultural producer, and Cultural Studies MA student at KU Leuven. Her thesis explores the experience of contemporary Nigerian diaspora and their relationship with their homeland. In 2021 Tomiwa co-programmed ‘Welcome To’ at Glasgow Film Festival, a mixture of films and events challenging the belief that black people are not/can not be present in Scotland – temporally, metaphorically or ancestrally and ‘Welcome To The Afrofuture’ with Glasgow Film Theatre; an exploration of the alternative worlds that centre the many forms of Blackness. Tomiwa is currently producing a short film about Maud Sulter with Rhubaba Studio and Galleries (Scotland).Guests
Noon Salah Eldin is a spoken word artist, activist and (last but not least!) medic originally from Sudan. She now lives in rural Aberdeenshire and performs often in Aberdeen. Her poetry has been featured regularly on the Aberdeen-based culture website, Leopard arts.
Noon, who writes poetry in both Arabic and English, finds it as a way of expressing herself while away from home. Performing to her is a therapeutic act of liberation and empowerment as she shares her stories. Her writings explores human/women rights, mental health, therapy, sexual harassment, motherhood and self love.
Vicky Nyanga is a writer, poet and workshop facilitator. She has discussed Gender-Based Violence, FGM, Migration, Integration and Black Lives on BBC Radio Scotland. She has a particular interest in the issues and experiences of migrant women of African descent and their families and she is committed to empowering them. She has over 15 years mentoring adults through Church-related Community Work and whilst working with various Community Health Organisations in the UK and Germany. Her experience in the community lies mainly with people seeking asylum, refused asylum seekers, visa overstayers, undocumented migrants and refugees.
She is the founder of a non-profit organisation created to serve the Black community in Edinburgh Scotland and beyond. Through this organisation she mentors women through their self-development and self-transformation journey using various mediums. She prides herself on the use of poetry to influence change and impact women.
Yvonne Blake is a member of COP 26 coalition and instrumental in organising the Migrant bloc march on November 6 for the Global day for Climate justice. She is also the co-founder of MORE (Migrants Organising for Rights and Employment) a migrant-led grassroots organisation campaigning for asylum seeking people’s right to access employment, education, decent housing and dignity.
Her activism is embedded in intersectional justice and equity with special emphasis on honouring indegenious knowledge and lived experience as the only expertise in matters impacting us and our communities. Secondly as a committed Seventh day Adventist Christian stewardship of the planet is one of the foundational pillars of her faith coupled with the fact that she’s where our days are filled when the golden sun shines on the lush green canefields.
She is a firm believer that a comprehensive understanding and collective embracing of Black identity is imperative in understanding and challenging the systems of oppression including the current Climate crisis. Her role as a community historian enables me to draw the parallel with Scotland’s dark history of profiteering from the slave economy as today’s Scotland which continues to profiteer from the Refugee and Asylum economy
When she’s not chanting brick by brick wall by wall… or de-de de-colonise …or waving Black Lives Matter and Climate Justice is Racial/ Migrant Justice banners at demos she can be found exploring the scenic Scottish countryside on my bicycle (to be accurate my friend’s bicycle) or participating in cold water swimming in the beauty Scottish Lochs with her friends.
Support organisations
Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre
We offer free and confidential emotional and practical support, information and advocacy to women, all members of the trans community, non-binary people and young people aged 12-18 in Edinburgh, East and Midlothian, who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives.
Text/ring: 07966 067 301 // support@ercc.scot
SIA Project at Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre
SIA offers free and confidential emotional and counselling support to women, all members of the trans community and non-binary people, from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities aged 16 and over, who have had any form of unwanted sexual experience.
SIA@ercc.scot // www.ercc.scot/still-i-am-sia-survivors-from-the-black-minority-ethnic-community
Rape Crisis Scotland Helpline
Open every day from 6pm until midnight for anyone affected by sexual violence, no matter when or how it happened. Offers free and confidential initial and crisis support and information by phone or email. Supports women, men, all members of the trans community and non-binary people, as well as their family, friends and workers. The helpline has a minicom service for Deaf or hard of hearing people on a Tuesday and they can also arrange for language interpreters if your first language is not English.
Freephone: 08088 01 03 02 // www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
Saheliya
Saheliya is a specialist mental health and well-being support organisation for black, minority ethnic, asylum seeker, refugee and migrant women and girls (12+) in the Edinburgh and Glasgow area. Their staff are from a variety of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds and we all have an understanding of how race, gender and culture affects the mental well-being of black and minority ethnic women and girls.
info@saheliya.co.uk// www.saheliya.co.uk
Shakti Women’s Aid
Shakti Women’s Aid helps BME women, children, and young people experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse from a partner, ex-partner, and/ or other members of the household. They are based in Edinburgh and also have outreach staff in Dundee, Stirling and Fife. They can offer limited support to BME women, and their advisers, all over Scotland by phone and email.
0131 475 2399 // www.shaktiedinburgh.co.uk // info@shakti.edinburgh.co.uk
Survivors UK
National helpline for men who have experienced child sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape. Also supports family, friends and partners.
Online helpline: Mon-Sun 12-8pm // www.survivorsuk.org // help@survivorsuk.org
Trauma Support (Edinburgh) – Pathway men
Practical and emotional support for men who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse or men who have experienced rape/sexual abuse or domestic violence as adults. Provides support to develop coping strategies, build self-confidence and reduce stress and anxiety.
0131 225 8508 // www.health-in-mind.org.uk/services/trauma_support_edinburgh/d159