I choose this book for January because it feels timely, especially with many African countries having held elections last year. As new leaders assume office, I hope addressing Africa’s dependence on foreign aid becomes one of their top priorities.

Foreign aid, in theory, was introduced to lift the world’s poorest continent out of decades of financial instability.

Those who witnessed its arrival believed their children—then young and full of hope—would grow up in a stable and prosperous Africa. Decades later, those same children are now parents and grandparents, yet the continent remains reliant on aid.

When I fully understood this reality, I was stunned. If foreign aid was intended to eradicate poverty in Africa, that goal should have been achieved by now. Instead, it feels like trying to empty a well with a basket—an endless and ineffective effort.

Reading Dambisa Moyo’s Dead Aid was eye-opening. Her arguments align closely with my own thoughts. Moyo critiques the impact of foreign aid on Africa’s economic challenges, highlighting how it has unintentionally fueled corruption, fostered dependency, and stifled sustainable development.

Despite decades of financial assistance, Africa has yet to experience significant economic growth or meaningful poverty reduction.

Instead, aid has entrenched inefficiency and poor governance, keeping the continent trapped in a cycle of stagnation.

If foreign aid cannot secure Africa’s prosperity, the question remains: what must be done to transform the continent’s future?

I plan to delve deeper into this topic in one of my upcoming episodes. In the meantime, grab a copy of Dead Aid.

I don’t know where I was or how I

I came across this book.

But, I certainly tell you how the book made me feel after reading it.

The Sex Lives of African Women, by @Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah

In this book, African women openly share their experiences with sex and intimacy.

I was hooked from the first page to the last, jaw on the floor the entire time.

The book is a powerful testament to the importance of African women reclaiming and embracing their sexual desires, identities, and experiences—breaking free from cultural taboos and societal expectations.

It reveals just how diverse and complex African women’s sexual lives are, with stories of same-sex relationships, polyamory, celibacy, and more.

Many of the women share how deeply traditional and religious beliefs shaped or restricted their sexual expression.

Yet, what stands out is how they found their way to self-discovery and liberation.

The book doesn’t shy away from hard truths, like the painful realities of sexual trauma and abuse.

It highlights how women heal through therapy, community, and self-love.

It also challenges patriarchal norms, encouraging African women to define intimacy and pleasure on their own terms while advocating for sexual agency and emotional fulfillment.

Reading this book reminded me just how powerful it is to have open conversations about topics that are often swept under the rug.

In her foreword, she wrote:

"Footprints of Hope is still early in its journey, and I envision much more in its future. I know that we are having an enormous impact on the children of Mapapa village. However, I still don’t know if we will make a lasting imprint on the larger community. Our work is creating new inroads, but at times, I wonder if it is enough. I am not sure I will see all the deep cultural shifts we are fighting for within my lifetime."

Reading that last sentence, I broke down in tears. It was as if she knew.

Until one day in December 2024, I had never heard of this extraordinary woman. But suddenly, my TikTok feed was flooded with grief—countless users in tears, repeating, "Dora is dead."

Through these videos, I came to understand the depth of her impact on the children of Mapapa, Central Province, Zambia. Though her life was tragically cut short, her legacy spoke for itself—Dora had provided education, housing, and food for over 500 children.

She never had the financial means to build a formal school, but what she did have was an unshakable belief in her mission and the generosity of those who followed her journey online, helping her turn dreams into reality.

Now that she is gone, I can’t help but wonder—what will happen to the children she cared for? What will become of her boarding school, Footprints of Hope?

The fight to end harmful traditional practices is a dangerous one—a battle against deeply ingrained customs that benefit only those who uphold them.

The exact circumstances of her death remain unclear, but one thing is certain: fear is used as a weapon to silence those who dare to challenge the status quo.

Teacher Dora, as her students called her, was only 33 years old.

She refused to be silenced. She fought—for her people, for future generations, for her country. And, in many ways, for herself.