Sensuous Knowledge: A Radical Black Feminist Approach for Everyone

208 Pages·2020·5.115 MB·English

by  Minna Salami

‘Sensuous Knowledge is a probing, challenging and imaginative
book that dares position black feminism as the prism through
which we can all better experience and understand the world.
I read it slowly, savouring it as intellectual soul food, while relish-
ing the richness of Minna Salami’s ideas and the persuasiveness
of her writing. This book is an important addition to the femi-
nist canon in that it shifts our world view and introduces new and
exciting possibilities for ways of being that feel liberating.’
Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize-winning
author of Girl, Woman, Other 
‘In this provocative and vital book, Minna Salami, in elegant prose
and lucid arguments, centers the black female body and experi-
ence at the heart of global feminist discourse. She confronts the
central privilege of modern thought, which is that men represent
the default human experience. Inclusive, rigorous in process and
thought, she has created a strong and important testament, the
map perhaps, for now and the future.’
Chris Abani, author of The Secret History of Las Vegas
and The Virgin of the Flames

‘A timely, refreshing, nourishing and captivating read. In the era
of ever-widening division and cultural strife, Sensuous Knowledge
urges us to rethink power, sisterhood, beauty, Identity and more.
A crucial read which through the sharing of African-centered
approaches alleviate political and social frustrations. On these
pages there really is something to learn for everyone.’
Ayishat Akanbi, writer and cultural commentator
‘Sensuous Knowledge is an opulent symphony of progressive ideas,
vast and astonishing as it is detailed and specific, from one who
has lived multiple lives and realities. Drawing from Audre Lorde
to Socrates, Swami Satyananda Saraswati to Nipsey Hustle,
Orunmila to Gloria Steinem and so many more, Minna Salami
mixes her lived experience into a deeply considered and tempered
tide that swells with wisdom that challenges, defines and redefines
various parts of our unbalanced and gendered world. It is an
emotive text that emanates with love, which, by looking at who
we have been and how we became, begs us to search ourselves for
who we might yet become.’
Inua Ellams, poet and playwright
‘This book is an eloquent mélange of ideas and disciplines; part
deep, intersectional analysis of structural power, part metaphysical
journey into a genius the West hasn’t given language to. An essen-
tial read for a new decade.’
Johny Pitts, author of Afropean: Notes from Black Europe
Sensuous
Knowledge

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MINNA SALAMI is a Nigerian, Finnish, and Swedish author,
blogger, and social critic and an international keynote speaker. She
is the founder of the multiple award-winning blog MsAfropolitan,
which connects feminism with critical reflections on contempo-
rary culture from an Africa-centered perspective. Listed by Elle
magazine as “one of twelve women changing the world” alongside
Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama, Minna has presented talks
on feminism, liberation, decolonization, sexuality, African studies,
and popular culture to audiences at the European Parliament, the
Oxford Union, Yale University, TEDx, the Singularity University
at NASA, and UN Women. She is a contributor to The Guardian,
Al Jazeera, and the Royal Society of the Arts and is a columnist for
the Guardian Nigeria. She lives in London.

Sensuous
Knowledge
A BLACK FEMINIST APPROACH
FOR EVERYONE
Minna Salami
Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone
was first published in the United Kingdom 2020 by Zed Books Ltd,
The Foundry, 17 Oval Way, London SE11 5RR, UK.
www.zedbooks.net
Copyright © Minna Salami 2020
The right of Minna Salami to be identified as the author of this work
has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act, 1988
Cover design by Alice Marwick
Cover photos © Left – Asiko; Centre – Nadyah Aissa;
Right – Ewelina Stechnij, Jacket Alan Howerd, London
Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior
permission of Zed Books Ltd.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-78699-526-1 hb
ISBN 978-1-78699-527-8 pdf
ISBN 978-1-78699-528-5 epub
ISBN 978-1-78699-529-2 mobi
For my mother and father