Ivory Coast Abroad: Mohamed Cisse & Islam

This week we continue our abroad series-opening with special insights from co-host Verdell Wright on the importance of centering Black narratives of religious freedom and experience. We briefly visit the plight of despised Nigerian atheist/activist Mubarak Bala who in-secret was unjustly sequestered in Nigeria for nearly a year only to be sentenced  to 24 years for the invisible crime of blaspheming Allah by clerics in northern Islamic Nigeria.

Finally we center the spotlight in an interview with activist speaker, Mohmmed Cisse -an expat born and raised in Ivory Coast, West Africa. Cisse recounts his upbringing in a cultural milieu heavily controlled by religious affiliations, poor mental heath education, patriarchy and misogyny, and HIV death and stigmatization. However, all is not lost-Cisse discusses his transformative work with The Clergy Project and shares his stories of the bright light of hope for his family and community abroad.

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(Ep. 22)    

Show Notes    

Host: Rogiérs    

Co-Host: Verdell Wright 

Written by: Rogiérs

Narration: Rogiérs

Interview: Mohmmed Cisse

Production & Editing: Fibby Music Group, LLC   

Recorded at: FMG Studios, Washington, DC   

Cover Artwork: Emily Wilson   

Music Licensing: Storyblocks 

Additional Music:  David “Preach” Balfour (Piano),

Ismael (Gaddafi Mosque-Kampala, Uganda/Call to Prayer), The 1997 Batch”, J Dilla & Vintage Vibez Music Group

Resources & Mentions   

Verdell Wright (TikTok @VeeAyeDubz)

TCP, The Clergy Project

“Nigeria: Atheist Activist Mubarak Bala sentenced to 24 years in blasphemy case” (Africa News)

“The Cost of Being an Atheist” BBC Africa Documentary

BBC Kaduna Book Festival 2018-Humanism in Nigeria with Leo Igwe

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