The positive response to Sekyiamah’s book has been “so powerful and so necessary,” says Mona Eltahawy, the Egyptian-American author of “The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls” and “Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution.”
The move is “part of a sexual revolution happening on our continent,” Eltahawy said.
As a woman of color and feminist writer who grew up and worked in both the Middle East and the West, Eltahawy said the book made it clear that “cisgender, heterosexual, able-bodied, privileged white women” were far from the only ones exploring. . themes of sex and sexual satisfaction. The book appealed to her, she said, because it presented the stories of African women of different sexualities, skills, religions, economic status and national backgrounds.
“Sex drives are also important to us,” Eltahawy said in a telephone interview. “Having fun, and having your fun, and wanting to liberate yourself sexually, is not a white woman’s life adventure. It belongs to the rest of us.”
Sekyiamah said she hoped the book would give African women an insight into the diverse ways in which they can experience pleasure, rediscover their sexual prowess and gain power over their bodies. More importantly, she added, she hoped the book would help women find a community that would support them, understand their needs, and help them navigate difficult circumstances.
“For me, community is always the solution,” said Sekyiamah, who said her work was inspired by other Pan-African activists and feminists, including Sylvia Tamale, Hakima Abbas, Sokari Ekine and Tiffany Kagure Mugo.
While women often share their feelings about the book and the stories publicly, Sekyiamah said the men who read the book usually share their feelings with her privately.
