Valentine Njoroge on giving African women a safe space to tell their stories with Dadasphere

“The future is female.” This statement couldn’t be truer as women around the world continue to be empowered to push the envelope, break through barriers and take up spaces even in areas where they were not traditionally welcomed. And for the African woman, this generation is the boldest, most educated and most successful in recorded history. 

But what are their stories like? What ideas do they have to move the continent forward and empower more generations to come? Welcome to Dadasphere, a platform that offers modern African women an opportunity to share their stories, lessons and ideas with others across the continent. Dadasphere, which is available to stream on Showmax, shines a spotlight on women as they each give talks on various topics relevant to the modern women of Africa.

Founder Valentine Njoroge tells us more about Dadasphere, her inspiration, challenges and what it means to inspire African women and give them a safe space to share their stories.

When did the idea for Dadasphere come about?

I’ve worked in print and broadcast media for over 15 years and I always wanted to hear more from African women so that is where the idea came from. I believe African women and particularly this generation are fascinating and their stories needed a dedicated safe space. 

What does it mean to you to be able to give women in Kenya a platform to share their stories?

The other day one of the Dadasphere speakers, Maureen Bett, shared this on our WhatsApp group: “Speaking at Dadasphere was a pivotal point in my life.  I shared about my experience in an abusive relationship for six years and the lies I told myself while in it. I wrote a book (The Freedom of Right Relationships) about my experience and the lessons I learnt. Then I ended up writing two books because personal development is very important to me. I am grateful to Dadasphere, I was healed and launched into my calling as a coach, speaker and author with a clearer vision.”

Some of these stories are heartbreaking. And it’s not easy being vulnerable and putting your story out there, how do you do it with these women?

We actually have a speech coach who is also a certified life coach. These women’s stories involve the lives and actions of people they love and it is paramount that they don’t ruin these relationships even as they share their stories.  We conduct a four-week program where we teach storytelling and also work with each speaker to ensure that she is emotionally prepared for the public’s reaction to her story.

Looking back at all the Dadasphere episodes, which story would you say is the most inspiring or most emotional for you?

Wow! That’s impossible for me to answer…as the curator, each story has to move and inspire me first.  I do however, have a personal bias towards stories where women take responsibility for their actions, whether good or bad, and the impact that they have had on others.  I believe they are particularly brave to share, but also uniquely inspiring.

Stories that highlight the power of a heavy duty support and how one woman can change the life of another.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CERCar7AAYD/

As someone who’s passionate about empowering women, how do you identify a great story?

A woman wanting to share her life story and experience is a great story. As a curator, I just have to make sure that we avoid replication at each event and that we keep the themes varied so we hear a broad spectrum of experiences.

Has Dadasphere met your expectations of what you thought it would be when you first started? 

I knew that storytelling is powerful, but I did not understand just how much it heals the person who shares her story; and conversely, the understanding and compassion it fosters in those who hear the story. Dadasphere is this amazing healing space that engenders kindness and unity among women, as we see and hear ourselves in those who speak.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learnt from these women sharing their stories on Dadasphere?

I have learned that there are few things as powerful as owning your whole life stories… the parts you created, the parts that were handed to you, all of it. Telling your story is a cathartic part of owning that story and simultaneously freeing yourself from the power that that narrative can have over you. 

What are some of the challenges you’ve experienced (or still experience) in making Dadasphere a reality?

Money … holding the events, preparing for them, recording the talks… all this costs money so we are looking for sponsorship.

Watch this talk by Valentine Njoroge

During your Engage talk, you said that your mother wasn’t too happy about you not pursuing a career in medicine when you joined radio, how does she feel now seeing everything you’ve accomplished with Dadasphere?

My mother loves me and her desire for me to pursue medicine was informed by her belief in my intelligence and wanting the best for me. She is very proud of Dadasphere and has only missed one event to date.  Looking back, she was right about me belonging in the healing space, just in a different way from what she first thought. We are both feminists and she is the first example of a powerful woman in my life. I’ve watched her create the life she wanted for herself, facilitate success for others and lobby the government to change laws. Wamaitha Njoroge is a force of nature and she inspires me daily. 

Are we going to see Dadasphere expand more into other African countries?

Yes that is definitely the plan. We were planning to do that in 2020 then COVID-19 happened.

If you could make it happen, who’s one African personality that you’d like to host on Dadasphere? 

Hmmmm…. where to start? There are so many: Mama Ngina Kenyatta, Ibukun Awosika, Bozoma St John, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Rachel Ruto, Mama Graca Machel and Michelle Obama (even though she’s not African).

Dadasphere is available to stream on Showmax.