I find the speech of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “the danger of the single story”, very true: it reflects the experience of many children of African origin with passion for books.
Let’s go further. Confining ourselves to a single imaginary is counterproductive and impossible when we really want to build a society as inclusive as possible.
Counter-productive because the first to be affected are precisely the minorities, which often find themselves being told through stereotypes and prejudices that struggle to be dismantled and that then lead to episodes of discrimination, episodes that have also been present in my life.
In 2020, we can no longer afford to base our view of the world on a single point of view. We must strive to open ourselves to others, to listen actively, to feel empathy to try to limit a simplified and not very truthful narrative.
Dismantling “the only story” allows us to create an inclusive narrative of the complex realities that surround us, to recognize people as individuals and not as stereotypical figures.
In my path of growth and personal maturity I tried to go further, creating Nebua World: the community that supports the entrepreneurial, cultural, creative and social projects of African-descended women. Among the goals is also to provide new eyes and help stimulate a narrative of African-descended women more adherent to reality.
Nebua World is also a passion for design, fashion and publishing. This is how the Magalog #Wearenebua was born.
In a photographic journey that gives importance to names, faces, expressions, shades in black and white or color, Nebua World takes you, in this first issue, to discover the stories of women who are leaving a positive and more inclusive imprint in Italian society. We love to share our experiences, to be inspired and then to create inspiration.
Aida Aicha Bodian