AYO Magazine

A Tale of Two Mothers: Chimamanda and Janet (…and Laverne and Marsha, Too)

Writer Holly Olayemi Ajala shares her disappointments with a favorite author, the importance of inclusivity and redefining womanhood. Read More

FOOD HEALTH JOY LIFE

Ancestral Eats: Rediscovering Myself Through My Culinary Heritage

Writer Toluwanimi Obiwole shares how she rejected—then rediscovered herself—through the food of her homeland. Read More

HEALTH LIFE WELLNESS

Black in Berlin: Self-Care as Warfare

Writer Holly Ajala shares how a monthly social collective is helping black women in Berlin facilitate self-care. Read More

INTERNET CULTURE LIFE Op-Ed UK

Nella Rose and the Politics of Skin Tone

The Twitter uproar that ensued after old tweets from influencer Nella Rose were unearthed is a prime opportunity to unpack how colorism, misogynoir and anti-blackness is perpetuated on the internet. Read More

FIRST PERSON LIFE

A Mother’s Letter: Musings on a New Revolution

With her homeland in upheaval, a Nigerian mother living in Belgium pens a letter of hope to her infant son Read More

LIFE MUSIC

Rihanna: The Erotic as Knowledge of Self

Writer Holly Olayemi Ajala investigates black female erotica vis-à-vis the popular cultural icon Read More

BOOKS JOY LIFE

AYO Interview: Hannan Saleh

AYO talks with fashion photographer Hannan Saleh about her forthcoming book, Street Culture. Read More

Eritrea LIFE

From My Father’s Hazen, A Lesson In Grief

When my father died, his mourning ritual taught me a lot about grief and the beauty of my culture. Read More

GHANA LIFE TRAVEL

What Makes a Ghanaian?

How do you define what makes someone a Ghanaian? After living abroad for three decades, a writer finds her way back home to Ghana in search of answers. Read More

LIFE WELLNESS

Dear Black Women: You Can Do It All— But You Don’t Have To

As Black women, we’re used to getting things done. Often without help, too. But that shouldn’t come at the expense our self-worth and putting ourselves first. Read More

HEALTH JOY LIFE

Celebrate Yourself By Getting Off Social Media

Writer and poet Jasmine Farrell encourages a disconnect from social media. Read More

CULTURE LIFE

Here’s the Full Transcript of Oprah’s Speech at the Golden Globes

Hopefully you caught Oprah's riveting speech at this year's Global Globes Awards. If not, you're in luck. Read More

Learning About Eritrean Heritage, One Instagram Post At a Time

AYO’s Top Books of 2020

The Dichotomy of Fatness

#EndSARS: We Dey Fear Police Pass Arm Robber

These 12 Black Women Politicians Show What Global Leadership Should Look Like During a Pandemic

#MarielleVive, Agora e Sempre: Remembering the Socio-Political Impact of Marielle Franco

From My Father’s Hazen, A Lesson In Grief

Dear Black Women: You Can Do It All— But You Don’t Have To

A Mother’s Letter: Musings on a New Revolution

Dear Black Women: You Can Do It All— But You Don’t Have To

A War Within Our Wombs: The Fibroid Epidemic No One Is Talking About

Myths and All: The World’s Obsession With Our Vaginas

Where Are The Black Teen Rom-Coms?

Snapshop: Jade Mitsuko Wants To Be Your Next Top Model

When Black Curls Travel: Healthy Hair in Bali

LIFE

A Tale of Two Mothers: Chimamanda and Janet (…and Laverne and Marsha, Too)

Ancestral Eats: Rediscovering Myself Through My Culinary Heritage

Black in Berlin: Self-Care as Warfare

Nella Rose and the Politics of Skin Tone

A Mother’s Letter: Musings on a New Revolution

Rihanna: The Erotic as Knowledge of Self

AYO Interview: Hannan Saleh

From My Father’s Hazen, A Lesson In Grief

What Makes a Ghanaian?

Dear Black Women: You Can Do It All— But You Don’t Have To

Here’s the Full Transcript of Oprah’s Speech at the Golden Globes

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