Ep.53: Sex, Desire & Pleasure w/ Author Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Poet Samiya Bashir, Artist Lady Skollie, Journalist Kemi Alemoru; Music w/ The Twilite Tone

Ghanian writer and feminist activist, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah is the author of The Sex Lives of African Women, and co-founder of Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women, an award-winning blog that focuses on sex, women and sexualities.

The Sex Lives of African Women is the result of years spent speaking with over 30 African women across the continent and diaspora, ranging from the queer community in Egypt, to individuals in polyamorous relationships in Senegal. The book presents the real life stories of women asserting their sexual power.

The Sex Lives of African Women Book Cover

New York based author, editor and poet Samiya Bashir writes widely about erotica, sexuality, culture and identity.

She is the author of poetry including Negro Being: Freakish Beauty, and she is the editor of a collection of erotic fiction, Best Black Women’s Erotica 2. The collection brings together sensual, provocative erotic literature by African American Women in a one of a kind anthology of erotica.

Visual artist Lady Skollie uses ink, watercolour and crayon to defy taboos and openly express narratives around lust, greed, sex and fetishisation.

Born Laura Windvogel, as an artist she goes by the moniker Lady Skollie and is based out of Johannesburg, South Africa. She creates large canvas bold paintworks which illustrate the joy and darkness of the erotic.

UK based journalist and culture editor at gal-dem, Kemi Alemoru profiles the creatives shaping culture through music, entertainment, pop culture and art.

Kemi chats with Stance about the recent portrayals of sexuality on tv, and shares examples of songs which discuss sex and pleasure by black women. Kemi also shares why we need to normalise everyday representations of women and their sexual desires.

Anthony Khan, known by his stage name, The Twilite Tone is an award-winning producer, recording artist, composer and DJ. He has been creating music for over three decades, producing some of the most recognisable, genre shaping sounds for artists such as Kanye West, John Legend, The Gorillaz, and Common.

Recently, he composed and produced his solo debut album, The Clearing, a rhythmic blend of genres including funk, disco, house, hip-hop, and boogie.

In conversation with Stance, The Twilite Tone discusses how he defines the genre of his album, producing for artists, and how Chicago has influenced him and his sound. He also chats about his next project featuring an array of musical artists.

The Clearing Album Cover, The Twilite Tone

This show is edited by Charlene Prempeh, the founder of A Vibe Called Tech. She developed the initiative and creative agency to explore the intersection of Black creativity, culture, and innovation.

She launched A Vibe Called Tech to encourage a culturally diverse lens in design, technology, arts, and culture by spearheading partnerships, events, research, and workshops across London and through her journalism and consultancy work.

Charlene is also an FT How to Spend it columnist and contributing editor.

Music Used in This Podcast:

Track listing from The Twilite Tone’s album The Clearing, with thanks to Stones Throw Records:

Journey Into Sound
The Lite
Do It Properly
The Sound
Honourable Mention
Ancestors and Angels
Ancestors

Front Page Image Credit: Anthony Khan by Christine Ciszczon