Africa Day Event: Healing Through Knowledge
Mental Health, Justice & Representation for People of African Descent
Held in collaboration with Afrocrowd in Lagos, Nigeria, this event spotlighted urgent conversations around mental health and cultural representation under the theme: "Year of Justice for Africans & People of African Descent through Reparations."
Key Highlights:
- Reparations should focus on empowerment like job creation instead of just financial aid to individuals.
- Cultural integrity must be preserved in public health and education systems.
- Mental health services need to be culturally competent and tailored to African communities.
- Cultural institutions should be established to provide sustainable support to individuals.
- Psychological reparations must be backed by genuine care and accountability.
- True justice is a commitment to a better future.
- Traditional beliefs can influence mental health challenges—addressing them requires both psychological and spiritual repair.
- We need to invest in research centering Black communities and prioritize culturally sensitive healthcare.
- Mental health is everyone's business. We must be conscious and supportive of one another’s well-being.
Wikipedia & Representation Session:
- How contributing to open knowledge combats misinformation.
- The importance of adding culturally relevant content on Wikipedia.
- Key tips: Use factual sources (e.g., FactCheckAfrica), avoid blogs, and write clearly and concisely.
“I am inspired to contribute more actively to digital spaces where stories, knowledge, and identities from African communities can be seen and celebrated.”
— Abiola Ayokunle, participant of the event