Delegates at Afrotellers Conference tell their bold stories without fear and unapologetically
By Edward Tsumele
A collective of women in Kenya, which looks after the interest of especially marginalised women which goes by the politically incorrect but powerful name of P— s Power, is making a difference in communities in the East African country. The collective raises funds and does advocacy work for those that are excluded, particularly women by centring their issues.
Those who attended one of the sessions moderated by writer Tonderai Chiyindiko titled Umunthu Storytelling Circle at the Afrotellers Conference held at Market Square in Newtown on Thursday, October 23, 2025, were left giggling when a delegate from Kenya Jecinter Agunja confirmed that the name P….s Power, the name these brave women chose to call themselves was not chosen by mistake, but to have an effect and induce curiosity. She explained that this provocative name was deliberately chosen and it is working well for the women who champion human rights for women in her organisation, who believe in working together assisting each other in their various projects. They believe in inclusivity.
Asked about whether the organisation was formally registered, especially also taking into account the uniqueness of its name, the representative explained boldly.
“This name is very effective because whenever people hear about the name it creates curiosity thinking that it means what it seems to suggest. But no, the organisation is not registered but we are able to do our work anyway and we get support even from religious leaders who at the beginning did not seem to understand the work we do, which is advocacy. But now they do. We are also self-sustaining as we design and sell P…..Power T-Shirts. We are also not registered formally to avoid being targeted by those who resent the work we do. They cannot trace us if we are not formally registered ” she proudly stated.
The organisation is an all-inclusive collective accommodating and speaking for those that have no voices in society, including sex workers.
Disability rights expert Henry Chivhanga from Zimbabwe, said that it was important for people with disability to get involved in politics, not just for politics sake, but to assist draft legislation that makes people with disability’s life easier.
Chivhanga who is active in Zimbabwe in both politics and in civil society raising the issues of those with disability within the corridors of power advised those whose family members have disability to first of all ask them what kind of assistance they need instead of imposing on them what they think is what they need.
The Afrotellers Conference which aims at reframing and reclaiming African narratives by Africans and for themselves is currently taking place at Wits, City Lodge and Market Square in Newtown, running from 23 October to 25 October, and its delegates who use a multi-media approach in telling stories, such as theatre, music, poetry, fashion and photography come from a number of African countries, including Malawi, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Nigeria. Its inaugural Conference took place last year at Wits and has seen grown to become a movement aimed at popularising the idea of Africans telling their own stories from an Afrocentric approach and decoloniality perspective.