Wehnam means my brother/ sister; the term originates from the Yotti (also known as Bali, Maya) people of Middle-Belt Nigeria. The Yottis are amongst Nigeria’s 500 plus ethnic groups. I chose to call this blog Wehnam as homage to every man who sees a woman as partner, capable human being who could achieve her goals in life when given: a chance, support she desires, but this is also particularly to one of my older brothers, whose name is Wehnam, he is amongst the potent energies behind my accomplishments,Wehnam is the brother that every woman needs in her life, he empowers despite the fact that his actions are against the “standard” model that investing in a woman is like one pouring water into a basket, worthless effort, he believes in me subsequently willing to grant me moral, and intellectual support whenever I am tempted to divert from my set goals for my education and life in general, he connects me with friends who could offer helping hands when he is unable to help, he speaks for me when I lack words to convey my desires and or predicaments to others, and he enables me to become a dependent, yet independent member of not only our immediate family but also global.
I believe human beings are inter-linked for this reason and as a Pan-Africanist I call every persons related to any issue discussed Wehnam, my brother/sister. This blog will draw to our attention issues of: religion, post/colonialism, sexuality, womanism , Africana Womanism, politics, fashion, relationships, health, and human rights as they relate primarily to African woman, rural and those in the diaspora. The blog aims to serve as a discoursing, sharing, enabling, empowering, nourishing, and networking forum to connect academics, lay personals and activist both in Africa and around the world.
Many a times my formal and informal education would be evident in my writing. I have had the privilege to befriend people from diverse ethnicities, religion, social class, age, nationalities, these encounters aided my personal, interpersonal relationships, and linguistic potentials thus far I am able in: Hausa, Yotti, Sierra Leonean Creole, and English, and travelled to name a few: China, Mexico, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Guinea Conakry, Brazil, and Ghana. Amongst these countries I spent most of my educational formative years in: Sierra Leone, there I attended Harfort School for Girls, Moyamba and Bishop Johnson Memorial High school in Freetown, however, due to the civil war that re-erupted the year I was to complete my secondary education, I had to flee to Nigeria my home country.
While in Nigeria, I repeated my entire secondary education; I attended Hillcrest High School, upon my graduation from secondary school, I gained admission to Lon Morris College; in Jacksonville, Texas (U.S.A) there I earned my Associates degree in Political Science/ pre-law/ Service Learning. In order to obtain my bachelors, I attended Texas Wesleyan University, in Fort Worth, Texas (U.S.A); there I received my degree in Political Science/ Pre-law. Recently I earned my Master in Divinity, M.Div with emphasis in spirituality and human rights from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina (U.S.A). Currently I am a graduate student at Boston College, in Massachusetts earning my second Master in Theology, Th.M with focus on African Traditional Religions/ Race/ and gender as they relate to rural African woman. My ultimate goal is to have a PhD in Religion with focus on African Traditional Religions/ Post-Colonial Theory. Upon the completion of my studies, I anticipate serving in global south to be precise, anywhere in Africa.
It is my aspiration to work at the grass-root level as a professor, and activists working beside rural women to regain their rights which has always being there since the birth of African land. Until then, I will use this blog to write about issues related to rural and diasporic Africans. I will also use other platforms giving lectures to diverse organizations promoting African unity and educating non-Africans about the continent to the best of my knowledge, thus far I presented to numurous groups such as : World Affairs Council, Texas, Duke University, High and Middle School, in Mexico. I served as a board member for Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) Fort Worth Texas, International Studies committee at Texas Wesleyan and Duke University, participated on social reform organizations, attended Academic conferences to present papers, and also to learn from other intellectuals, I had the honor of listening to many thinkers of our time.
I can not claim to speak for every woman since African reality is multi-folds, however, I will attempt to draw out our attentions to those events that are pervasive in most parts of the continent. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Yoknyam Dabale’s blog Wehnam, some people in the West call me “Love” ( which I thought was okay, since it is easier to remember) however, I encourage folks to refer to me according to my first given name Yoknyam, Yok in short.
Notice: Please do not quote or duplicate anything from this blog without crediting the author. Thank you.
The picture above was taken at Peking University in Beijing entrance to the third largest library in China, few days after I presented my paper at World History Conference. Sight seeing and doing independent research on Chinese culture esp as it relates to gender relations ( side note: skirt is made in Ghana. Shout out to AfroChic)
Above I was greeting an elder who I spent time with at Ba Gon ( House on the mountain in Yotti) gaining indigenous knowledge of the Bali/Yotti/ Maya people of Middle Belt Nigeria. I believe one of the best way to learn about our culture/ identity is by spending time with wise elders in our community.
©CopyRight. Yoknyam Dabale
