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Interview with Coumba Toure

Mounira Chaieb . Episode 1 . 27:53

Leading Feminist Voices Project

Interview with Coumba Toure

Episode 1 Mounira Chaieb 10/17/2024

Welcome to an episode of the ALC Radio, where we expore inspiring stories and journeys of remarkable individuals shaping Africa’s narrative. I’m your host, Mounira Chaieb, and today we have an extraordinary tale of resilience, creativity, and leadership from Coumba Toure, a writer and storyteller born and raised in both Mali and Senegal.

In this episode, we explore Coumba’s unique perspective on unveiling invisible giants—those unsung heroes within our communities who drive positive social change without much recognition. These women, often overlooked in traditional leadership roles, have profoundly impacted Coumba’s journey, teaching her that true leadership stems from love and community support. She shares how the love she received from her family and community fueled her confidence and courage to challenge societal norms and pursue her passions.

Coumba’s story is one of early empowerment through creativity; she published her first book of poetry at just 12 years old, followed by another at 16. Her experiences highlight the importance of self-expression and agency, showing us that age is no barrier to making meaningful contributions.

Her travels across continents, despite facing obstacles like being jailed en route to the 1995 Global Agenda Equality Conference in China, underscore her belief in the transformative power of travel and education. Each journey brought her face-to-face with racism, sexism, and the complexities of border politics, yet these challenges only strengthened her resolve.

Join us as we uncover how Coumba’s encounters with ‘invisible giants’ shaped her understanding of leadership and activism. This episode sets the stage for our series, “Leading Feminist Voices in Africa,” which aims to document and celebrate the pivotal roles African women play in driving change. Stay tuned for more insights from Coumba Toure’s inspiring journey.

Unveiling Invisible Giants: Coumba Toure’s Leadership Journey

Episode Outline:

Guest: Coumba Toure
Host: Mounira Chaieb
Show: ALC Radio – Leading Feminist Voices Project

1. Introduction to the Leading Feminists Project (00:00:06 – 00:02:24)

Host Mounira Chaieb introduces the “Leading Feminist Voices in Africa” project by the Africa Leadership Center.
Discusses the importance of documenting untold stories of African women leaders driving change.
Introduces Coumba Toure as the first guest, highlighting her background as a writer and storyteller born and raised in Mali and Senegal.

2. Unveiling Invisible Giants (00:02:24 – 00:05:09)

Coumba explains the concept of “invisible giants”—women who drive positive social change but remain unrecognized in traditional leadership roles.
Shares how these women inspired her own journey and shaped her understanding of leadership.
Mentions specific names like Maria Jara and Aisha Imam, who influenced her through their work and mentorship.

3. The Power of Love in Leadership (00:05:18 – 00:06:20)

Coumba reflects on the role of love from family and community in nurturing her confidence and courage.
Explains how being loved empowered her to challenge societal norms and pursue meaningful work.

4. Early Creativity: Publishing Poetry at 12 and 16 (00:06:20 – 00:08:37)

Coumba shares how she published her first book of poetry at age 12 and another at 16.
Discusses how this early act of self-expression taught her agency and reinforced her belief that she didn’t need to wait to make an impact.

5. Restlessness Beyond School Walls (00:08:37 – 00:10:25)

Coumba talks about feeling unfulfilled by formal education and seeking alternative outlets for creativity and purpose.
Describes her involvement in nonprofits, peer-to-peer education, and teaching English and math as ways to find meaning outside school.

6. Travel as Education and Growth (00:10:25 – 00:12:26)

Coumba discusses her love for travel and how it became a form of education.
Highlights her experiences travelling within West Africa and globally, learning languages, cultures, and histories while facing challenges like racism and sexism.

7. A Fortune Teller’s Prophecy (00:12:26 – 00:16:02)

Coumba recounts a fascinating story of a fortune teller using cowrie shells who predicted her travels to faraway places unknown to anyone around her.
Reflects on how this prophecy came true when she travelled to China for the Global Agenda Equality Conference in 1995.

8. Arrested En Route to China (00:16:02 – 00:19:43)

Coumba shares her harrowing experience of being jailed in Las Palmas due to a missing transit visa for France.
Discusses how this encounter with systemic racism and sexism only strengthened her resolve to keep travelling and advocating for change.

9. Reading and Traveling as Empowerment Tools (00:19:43 – 00:26:24)

Coumba emphasises the importance of reading and travelling as tools for empowerment, especially for women and girls.
Critiques the barriers African women face in accessing education and global mobility, including visa restrictions and economic challenges.

10. Leadership as Practice, Not Perfection (00:26:24-00:27:48)

Coumba reflects on her philosophy that leadership is about practicing one’s beliefs daily rather than achieving perfection.
Shares how she continues to learn, grow, and adapt her leadership style through new challenges and experiences.