Diaspora Diaries
Hosted by Awa Sow · Diaspora Diaries
4.6from 10 ratings
- 19
- Episodes
- 10
- Ratings
- Monthly
- Cadence
- 2025
- First episode
About Diaspora Diaries
Diaspora Diaries is about personhood and identity, about education and career, about friendship and intimacy. Basically it’s just about people within the diaspora, trying to negotiate with this world. We’ll be drawing on politics, literature, history, pop culture, and thinkers like Audre Lorde, Mame-Fatou Niang and even a touch of Paul Gilroy to help us explore how our past shapes our present. As this podcast progresses you’ll hear from scholars, students, poets and other voices. So sit back, grab a drink (or two), and maybe a journal. This is Diaspora Diaries.
- Publisher
- Diaspora Diaries
- Category
- society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 21 Feb 2025
- Latest episode
- 31 Jul 2026
Latest episodes
19 episodes in the feed.
31 Jul 2026
S2 Ep8: Living Diaspora
In this solo episode, Awa revisits conversations from across Diaspora Diaries to unpack the many meanings diaspora can take. Drawing together voices from across the podcast, she reflects on the ways people live with, challenge, and make sense of a concept that rarely settles into one definition. REFERENCES Sow, Awa. “Spoken Word and the Politics of Awareness.” Diaspora Diaries. Podcast audio. December 26, 2025. Transmission Roundhouse.https://audioboom.com/posts/8855831-spoken-word-and-the-politics-of-awareness (https://audioboom.com/posts/8855831-spoken-word-and-the-politics-of-awareness). Sow, Awa. “Rethinking Borders: Race and the Politics of Belonging.” Diaspora Diaries. Podcast audio. January 30, 2026. Transmission Roundhouse.https://audioboom.com/posts/8855830-rethinking-borders-race-and-the-politics-of-belonging (https://audioboom.com/posts/8855830-rethinking-borders-race-and-the-politics-of-belonging). Sow, Awa. “All About Love.” Diaspora Diaries. Podcast audio. February 27, 2026. Transmission Roundhouse.https://audioboom.com/posts/8866522-all-about-love (https://audioboom.com/posts/8866522-all-about-love). Sow, Awa. “The Complexities of ‘Statelessness.’” Diaspora Diaries. Podcast audio. April 24, 2026. Transmission Roundhouse.https://audioboom.com/posts/8894967-the-complexities-of-statelessness (https://audioboom.com/posts/8894967-the-complexities-of-statelessness). Sow, Awa. “Inherited Boxes: How We Learned to Divide.” Diaspora Diaries. Podcast audio. June 26, 2026. Transmission Roundhouse.https://audioboom.com/posts/8921209-inherited-boxes-how-we-learned-to-divide (https://audioboom.com/posts/8921209-inherited-boxes-how-we-learned-to-divide). JINGLE “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights) CONTRIBUTORS Host: Awa Sow Guests: Tariq Brown, Fuad Busoir, Luke De Noronha, Lavin Ousi, Binta Yade Edited by: Awa Sow
26 Jun 2026
S2 Ep7: Inherited Boxes: How We Learned to Divide
In this episode, Awa Sow sits down with poet and community organiser Binta Yade to unpack the boxes we inherit: gender, sexuality, ethnicity, identity, and the binaries that shape how we understand ourselves and one another. Together, they explore the colonial roots of many of these categories, from the imposition of Western ideas in Sub-Saharan Africa to the ways identity is navigated across the diaspora. Through personal reflections and wider conversations around belonging, they ask what happens when we stop seeing identity as fixed and begin questioning the lines we’ve learned to live within. REFERENCES Oyewumi, O., 1997. The Invention of Women: Making An African Sense Of Western Gender Discourses. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Mamdani, Mahmood. "What is a tribe." Lond. Rev. Books 34 (2012): 20-22. Yade, Binta. Homophobia in Sub-Saharan Africa: The B*stard Child of the West. Edited by Kia Kiasuka-Kiakanda. Google Doc. Accessed June 25, 2026. Google Doc JINGLE “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights) CONTRIBUTORS Host: Awa Sow Guest: Binta Yade Edited by: Awa Sow
3 Jun 2026
S2 Ep6: Where Love Lives (Live at Three Sixty Festival)
Recorded live at Three-Sixty Festival, this special episode brings together spoken word and conversation with Ay Hearts and MyselfBlaize, whose work sit at the intersection of poetry and community practice. Moving between performance and discussion, we explore care as something shaped in real time – as we make space for ourselves, navigate our realities, and shape the environments and practices we need. REFERENCES House of Vox (@houseofvox). Instagram profile. Accessed May 27, 2026. https://www.instagram.com/houseofvox/ (https://www.instagram.com/houseofvox/). Nuclear Fusion App (@nuclearfusionapp). “Everyone Wants a Village.” Instagram post. Published April 2, 2026. https://www.instagram.com/p/DWnO-5bFFPt/ (https://www.instagram.com/p/DWnO-5bFFPt/) JINGLE “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights) CONTRIBUTORS Host: Awa Sow Guest: Blaize Alexis-Anglin (MyselfBlaize), Ayanna Stevens (Ay Hearts) Edited by: Awa Sow
24 Apr 2026
S2 Ep5: The Complexities of “Statelessness”
In this episode, Awa sits down with Lavin Ousi, a returning guest from Season 1, to explore what it means to navigate Kurdish identity without a state formally recognised under international law, and how culture, language, and community hold that identity together beyond borders. The episode reflects on the complexities of “statelessness,” and the ways Kurdish identities are continuously shaped through everyday acts of self-determination, self-validation, and self-legitimisation. JINGLE “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights) CONTRIBUTORS Host: Awa Sow Guest: Lavin Ousi Editor: Awa Sow
27 Mar 2026
S2 Ep4: The Things That Drive Us
In this episode, Awa returns to conversations with guests from the first three episodes of season 2, weaving together their reflections to explore what drives us in life, and how that can take different forms across our work, our lives, and the ways we make sense of the world. JINGLE “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights) CONTRIBUTORS Host: Awa Sow Guest: Luke de Noronha, Tariq Brown, Fuad Busoir Editor: Awa Sow
27 Feb 2026
S2 Ep3: All About Love
In this episode, Awa is in conversation with Fuad Busoir about love – what it means, how it is recognised, and whether it’s something felt or practised. Moving between romantic relationships, friendship and family, they reflect on the ways love shapes how people relate to one another, to space, and to themselves. Along the way, they sit with questions of accountability, intention, and whether love can ever be separate from politics – or if it is always quietly structuring the worlds being built. REFERENCES Davies Jr., Akinola, dir. My Father’s Shadow. 2025. Drama film. Hooks, Bell. All About Love: new visions: Bell Hooks. William Morrow, 2000. Jenkins, Barry, dir. If Beale Street Could Talk. 2018. Film. Nash, Jennifer C. "Practicing Love: Black Feminism, Love-Politics, and Post-Intersectionality."Meridians 19, no. S1 (2020): 439-462. Prince-Bythewood, Gina, dir. Love & Basketball. 2000. Film. JINGLE “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights) CONTRIBUTORS Host: Awa Sow Guest: Fuad Busoir Edited by: Awa Sow
30 Jan 2026
Rethinking Borders: Race and the Politics of Belonging
In this episode, Awa sits down with scholar Luke de Noronha to question what borders really do in our everyday lives. From citizenship and belonging to the politics behind “migration crises,” they explore how borders shape who belongs, who is welcomed, and who is framed as a threat. JINGLE “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights) REFERENCES Bradley, Gracie Mae, and Luke De Noronha. Against borders: The case for abolition. Verso Books, 2022. Robinson, Cedric J. Forgeries of memory and meaning: Blacks and the regimes of race in American theater and film before World War II. UNC Press Books, 2012. CONTRIBUTORS Host: Awa Sow Guest: Luke de Noronha Edited by: Awa Sow
26 Dec 2025
Spoken Word and the Politics of Awareness
Spoken word artist Tariq Brown discusses with Awa Sow how he employs poetry to spotlight power structures and convert intricate concepts into impactful verse, offering insights into heritage and the poet's function in revealing oppression in this interview.
19 Dec 2025
Trailer — Season 2
The podcast trailer introduces season two of Diaspora Diaries and revisits the podcast's purpose of exploring diasporic experiences.
18 Jul 2025
Epilogue
Host Awa Sow reflects on the first season of Diaspora Diaries as it concludes, expressing gratitude to listeners and hinting at the return of season two.
27 Jun 2025
Memory Politics and Collective Identities
Awa Sow and Ellen Sow explore European identity building and memory politics, revealing how selective remembrance of historical events impacts national identities in this interview episode.
13 Jun 2025
Being African is Cool: Valorising Cultural Heritage
Host Stephanie Iyala explores the increasing value placed on African cultural heritage within the diaspora, examining its commodification and the importance of maintaining authenticity.
9 May 2025
Sitting with Morality and Contradictions
In this episode, Awa and Jade discuss their experiences navigating morality and dealing with tensions and contradictions in their personal and professional lives. They explore the challenges of addressing systems of oppressions within their families and friendships, and break down what it means to study or work in spaces that uphold these structures. Together, they look into the importance of staying true to oneself, pushing beyond comfort zones, and finding a balance between personal and professional ethics. REFERENCES Gargi Bhattacharyya, Personal Communication, January 14, 2025. Newell, Penny. “BDS and the Remains of the University, A Conversation on Resistance with Judith Butler.” Panel Talk, London, March 14, 2025. JINGLE “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights) CONTRIBUTORS Host: Awa Sow Guest: Jade-Arsema Godin Edited by: Awa Sow
25 Apr 2025
Confronting Our Inner Misogyny!
In this episode of Diaspora Diaries, we spoke all about internalised misogyny. Stephanie and Nadia discuss their personal experiences with internalised misogyny, exploring how it manifests in women's lives with an exemplative list. They also touch on how internalized misogyny intersects with race, diaspora experiences, and societal expectations. The conversation aims to unpack and understand the complex ways women internalize and perpetuate misogynistic attitudes. It must be premised, that these are their personal understandings of internalised misogyny, and they are still currently navigating this! Feel free to share your opinions (with love, of course!) <3 Here is a core reading list (for our academic/ curious listeners) Ain’t I a woman by bell hooks Woman, Race and class by Angela Davis Love in Exile by Shon Faye Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde Men who hate women by Laura Bates Who’s Afraid of Gender by Judith Butler The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf Fat is a Feminist Issue by Susie Orbach CONTRIBUTORS Host: Stephanie Iyala Guests: Joalane Nadia Setipa Edited by Stephanie Iyala Produced by Stephanie Iyala and Awa Sow Jingle: “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights)
11 Apr 2025
Diaspora...Or Not? Navigating Positionalities
In this episode, Awa and Marianne explore the concept of diaspora – is simply “being from somewhere else” enough to claim a diasporic identity? They unpack what it means to relate to a place, and reflect on how diasporic experiences are shaped by history, culture, and power. The conversation also turns inward, as they grapple with the complexities of navigating positionalities within academia and the ethical implications of studying systems of oppression. REFERENCES Alcoff, Linda. “The Problem of Speaking for Others.” Cultural Critique, no. 20 (1991): 5–32. https://doi.org/10.2307/1354221. Andersson, Ruben. Illegality, Inc.: Clandestine Migration and the Business of Bordering Europe. California Series in Public Anthropology. University of California Press, 2014. (https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?YSRbsW) Hall, Stuart. “Cultural Identity and Diaspora [1990].” In Selected Writings on Race and Difference, edited by Paul Gilroy and Ruth Wilson Gilmore, 257–71. Duke University Press, 2021. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1hhj1b9.17. Simpson, Audra. "On Ethnographic Refusal: Indigeneity, ‘Voice’ and Colonial Citizenship." Junctures: the Journal for Thematic Dialogue 9 (2007). Jingle: “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights) CONTRIBUTORS Host: Awa Sow Guest: Marianne Polge Edited by: Awa Sow Produced by: Awa Sow and Stephanie Iyala
31 Mar 2025
Is there any Space for Partying in the Revolution?
In this episode of Diaspora Diaries, Stephanie and her friends Sari Dom and Henna discuss the role of partying in the revolution. They explore the concept of revolution as the dismantling of oppressive systems, and the importance of joy and celebration. They emphasise the need for safe spaces for marginalised groups. As well as, highlighting the political nature of partying, the importance of community, and the balance between theory and practice. They also touch on Dom’s experience at PXSSY PALACE and the challenges of maintaining these party spaces! REFERENCES “political with a small p” - a phrase which was mentioned in class by Professor Tariq Jazeel PXSSY PALACE is a platform which organises “intentional nightlife events” for Queer and POC identifying people. Here is their site: https://www.pxssypalace.com/ (https://www.pxssypalace.com/) Here is their instagram to see Dom’s famous photo: https://www.instagram.com/pxssypalace/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/pxssypalace/?hl=en) Jingle “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights) CONTRIBUTORS Host: Stephanie Iyala Guests: Dominic Arzadon & Sari Hellara Hernández Fact Checker: Henna Randhawa Edited by Stephanie Iyala Produced by Stephanie Iyala and Awa Sow
14 Mar 2025
Diasporic Consciousness
In this episode, Awa and Lavin discuss diasporic consciousness, focusing on the themes of belonging, identity, and home. Drawing on their experiences and reflecting on Warsan Shire's poem "Home," they explore what it means to feel at home. REFERENCES Hall, Stuart, Gilroy, Paul and Gilmore, Ruth Wilson. Selected Writings on Race and Difference. New York, USA: Duke University Press, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781478021223 (https://doi.org/10.1515/9781478021223) Shire, Warsan. Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head: Poems. Penguin, 2022. JINGLE “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights). CONTRIBUTORS Host: Awa Sow Guest: Lavin Ousi Poem read by: Natasha Chilengwe Edited by: Awa Sow and Stephanie Iyala
28 Feb 2025
Black Excellence and the Impostor Syndrome
In this first episode, Awa and Stephanie delve into the concept of black excellence, the challenges of imposter syndrome, and the importance of recognising and leveraging their cultural backgrounds as strengths. References: Bedu, Cyrielle, host. “Le Syndrome de l’Imposteur: Pourquoi nous Hante-t-il?” Emotions (podcast). October 14, 2019. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://louiemedia.com/emotions/tag/syndrome+de+l%27imposteur (https://louiemedia.com/emotions/tag/syndrome+de+l%27imposteur). Asare, Janice Gassam. "Where do justice and liberation fit into diversity, equity, and inclusion." (2022). Santan Dave. “Three Rivers.” YouTube Video, 5:03 to 5:30 . July 22, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZHfPt6u90A (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZHfPt6u90A). Jingle from: “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights). Produced by: Awa Sow and Stephanie Iyala Edited by: Awa Sow
21 Feb 2025
Prologue
Welcome to our new show - Diaspora Diaries! Meet your hosts and producers, Stephanie and Awa. In this space, we open discussions on matters of the diaspora such as home, belonging, identity, relations, studies, and more. Sit back and enjoy! Jingle from: “Niamey Nights”, Bamako Bae, Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights (https://www.shutterstock.com/music/track-1221135-niamey-nights). Produced by: Awa Sow and Stephanie Iyala Edited by: Stephanie Iyala
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