Meet Karimot Odebode and Zulaikha Patel, African writers who weave activism into their creative writing
18-year-old Sara interviews authors Karimot and Zulaikha on their writing for social change and their focus on youth — “If we're really trying to change the way people think and see the world, then young people are the biggest key to that.”
On paper, even though their activism is different, Karimot Odebode and Zulaikha Patel are both creating an inclusive, equal world through their work and writing: Karimot fights for gender equality, while Zulaikha’s activism is focused on anti-racism and social justice.
Both impacted hundreds of children’s lives through their non-profit organizations — Black Girl’s Dream Initiative and Dare To Change — that aim to empower the youth and promote quality education.
I came across Karimot’s and Zulaikha’s work after online research about Black African women fighting for social justice: as soon as I learned about their story, their activism and their accomplishments, I was moved. I wanted to spotlight inspiring African women and offer them the space they deserve because Black girls and women can be anything they want to be.
As someone who enjoys creative writing, because it allows me to put the change I wish to see in the world, in a story. When I write fiction or poetry, I always want to make a story about something that I fight for: the importance of racial identity or women’s rights, because I aim to inspire people while reading it.
What we need to see in the world is more women like them — women who are not afraid to speak up, be loud and fight for their beliefs, for human rights and social justice. Having a conversation with them and feeling their determination through their words made me feel even more confident and hopeful for future generations of young girls.
Zulaikha’s and Karimot’s books are making waves for equality and representation.
Storytelling is one of the best tools to fight for social justice. Through a story, we can learn. Through Zulaikha’s and Karimot’s words, we can understand the importance of women’s rights and we can affirm that it’s not enough to not be racist, we must be anti-racist.
By learning about Zulaikha and Karimot and reading their passionate words and about their work, activism and books young girls and women will feel inspired like I am.
Sara Bonaparte: You both are accomplished book authors. Tell me about why you both decided to write a book. What initially inspired you to write it?
Karimot Odebode: My poetry collection is entitled “A Woman Has Many Names,” and it is about 107 poems that talk about women and the troubles that we face as girls, as daughters, as lovers and as partners. Poetry has always been an outlet for me to speak what is in my mind and also to interpret what I see about society. And I had so many burning questions: why can't girls do this and boys are allowed to? Why is it that as a girl you are limited [in opportunities]? Why does society tell us that marriage is an achievement? Yes, it's a beautiful thing, but it's not a bane of existence for women.
I was inspired to write this book because of what I saw in society. I felt that this was my voice, this was my power — interpreting what I see and putting it out there. It was also to speak to the hearts of women and girls — to tell them that they can be whatever they want to. They can call themselves whatever they want. They can call themselves Malala. They can call themselves Oprah Winfrey. They can wake up one day and say they want to be president. They should not be limited.
“I wanted young black girls to pick up this book, and when they pick up this book to feel empowered and to have their existence empowered.”
Zulaikha Patel: My book is titled “My Coily Crowny Hair.” It tells the story of a little girl named Lisakhanya, which means “it still shines” in Zulu Xhosa, which are Nguni languages in South Africa. I named her this because, by the end of the story, I want girls to feel like they can always shine in any space they're in. They can always shine by being themselves. Lisakhanya is on a journey to learn more about her African heritage and her hair. And on that journey, she has two matriarchs — her mother and grandmother — to teach her about her hair. Her mother teaches her about her hair in terms of how versatile her afro is. They teach her about its versatility and its history. For people of the African diaspora, it's more than just hair. It's a representation of our identity and who we are.
I realized that one of our biggest challenges as black women, and black girls, is the fact that we feel the need to hide our hair. Most of our insecurities around our hair and the relationship we have with it begin at a very young age, in places like the salon where your hair is being painfully pulled and you're taught that beauty is pain. I wanted to write a book that has the representation of black Afro hair being taken care of in a gentle way. I wanted what was at the heart of the book to be documented to live for years to come. I wanted young black girls to pick up this book, and when they pick up this book to feel empowered and to have their existence empowered.
The main reason why I wrote my book is that the movement, which I was part of in 2016, against institutionalized racism in the form of racist hair policies in schools, particularly a school I attended.
SB: It’s clear that activism has propelled and inspired your work. How does your activism play a role in your creative process or pursuits?
KO: I would say that my activism is at the center of my creative process. I like to say that I'm an activist. So it’s heart plus activism. If you want to change society, you need to find a way to change people’s hearts.
“My creative process is inspired by my advocacy and activism. Creating a better world for girls and women to live in, to pursue education, and giving them the right to be whoever they want to be. It’s inspired by the legacies of many women.”
In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, there were many cases of girls being killed back in my hometown, Ibadan, Nigeria. There was a day I was sitting at the table with my family, and I heard the news of a 19-year-old girl named Barakat. I was really, really angry. I was angry because it seemed like nothing was being done. I sent some texts to my friends. I told them that we need to stage a protest right now. It seems the government is not listening and we need to bring it to their face. And then we reached out to a couple of people and organizations, and we had an Ibadan Walk Against Rape. We walked to the State House of Assembly and the governor's office and we shut down the office.
This activism shaped some of my poems about girls’ right to education, ending female genital mutilation, and ending domestic violence. I would say that my creative process is inspired by my advocacy and activism. Creating a better world for girls and women to live in, to pursue education, and giving them the right to be whoever they want to be. It’s inspired by the legacies of many women.
ZP: My activism gives life to my creative process and at the core of my writing is my activism. I can’t write about things I've not experienced or things that don't represent my reality. Documenting my reality is a form of resistance. Because historically Black women were always written out of books, written out of history. There can never be enough of Black women writing.
“I don’t want to live in a country where women struggle to access justice and systems of accountability. I want to be part of ensuring that what is written in these policies is implemented.”
SB: Now, a lot of your work focuses on youth, their experiences and their activism. Why is that?
KO: My work focuses on young people and the work that they do because I am them. My work talks about my experience. I live in a society where young people are not given the opportunity to lead. Young people are called upon to talk, but not given the chance to actually lead. There's a particular poem in the book that talks about a young woman not given the chance to lead, but she is always called upon when it comes to campaigns [and visibility]. But when it comes to her being a leader, they deny her because she is “too young” and a girl. Being able to put a voice to that experience for young people can be powerful.
ZP: My activism focuses on young people because not only are they the future, but young people are the present. We are the majority demographic in the world and on the African continent, but we're the left-behind majority. I focus on the development of young people because we're the ones who will inherit and occupy the future. We need to be prepared with the right resources, tools, and ideas. Youth are a very important part of my activism. If we're really trying to change the way people think and see the world, then young people are the biggest key to that. And they can't be left behind.
SB: You both have studied or are studying law. Why did you both decide to study law, and from what, you have been inspired?
KO: Law and advocacy are two peas in a pod. I see the law as a way for me to implement my advocacy. I speak for the rights of people, particularly the education of girls and women. I want them to be able to access it. It's about creating policies that shape the lives of girls and women for the better and let girls know that they are not limited just because they are girls. I would say being a lawyer has helped my advocacy take shape.
ZP: Being South African and looking at our country's justice system and the lack of accountability influenced me to study law to address that issue. When you look at how Black South Africans, particularly Black women, live in this country, you see how difficult it is for us to access justice in this country. The South African constitution speaks about equality and redistribution — it’s a very progressive constitution, but we aren’t applying the policies. I don't want to live in a country where women struggle to access justice and systems of accountability. I want to be part of ensuring that what is written in these policies is implemented.
I don't want my activism to end at a grassroots level. I want to be part of the legal process of defending human rights and ensuring that young women, like myself, can access justice. And that justice is not a privilege in this country, but it's something that's accessible to everyone.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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