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Seeking Sexual Freedom: African Rites, Rituals, and Sankofa in the Bedroom
A bold foray into African traditions around sexual pleasure and joy, with the personal goal of self-discovery and liberation, by one of Africa’s preeminent feminists who “is changing the way African women talk about sex” (Harper’s Bazaar).
While working on her first “groundbreaking” (Ms. Magazine) book, The Sex Lives of African Women, acclaimed African feminist and activist Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah had access to the wildest dreams and spiciest realities of women from around the world. But so often, she noticed that something was holding these women back from achieving full liberation and unfettered joy. So, she set out to apply sankofa—which means learning from the past to inform the future—to sex and pleasure, reclaiming African traditions in a quest to achieve sexual freedom.
Organized in three parts, Sekyiamah first takes readers across the African continent, from Senegal to Tanzania and beyond, where she meets and trains with gurus, “witches”, and aunties whose job it is to guide girls through puberty rites and later through “marital training.” She discusses practices like beading and pulling, while highlighting the spiritual and gender-fluid nature of African traditional religions. The second part of the book asks us how we’ve lost our way, looking at the incursion of colonialism and western patriarchal norms into sexuality which has led to our warped ideals of beauty and shame, internalized racism, as well as state and interpersonal violence that stand in the way of sexual liberation. In the third and concluding part, Sekyiamah shows that we can overcome these hurdles by returning to a more joyful and free sexual practice, using practical advice and prompts to chart our own journey.
Part travelogue and part manifesto, Seeking Sexual Freedom is the powerful and bold call to joy and sexual freedom women of all backgrounds need today.
While working on her first “groundbreaking” (Ms. Magazine) book, The Sex Lives of African Women, acclaimed African feminist and activist Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah had access to the wildest dreams and spiciest realities of women from around the world. But so often, she noticed that something was holding these women back from achieving full liberation and unfettered joy. So, she set out to apply sankofa—which means learning from the past to inform the future—to sex and pleasure, reclaiming African traditions in a quest to achieve sexual freedom.
Organized in three parts, Sekyiamah first takes readers across the African continent, from Senegal to Tanzania and beyond, where she meets and trains with gurus, “witches”, and aunties whose job it is to guide girls through puberty rites and later through “marital training.” She discusses practices like beading and pulling, while highlighting the spiritual and gender-fluid nature of African traditional religions. The second part of the book asks us how we’ve lost our way, looking at the incursion of colonialism and western patriarchal norms into sexuality which has led to our warped ideals of beauty and shame, internalized racism, as well as state and interpersonal violence that stand in the way of sexual liberation. In the third and concluding part, Sekyiamah shows that we can overcome these hurdles by returning to a more joyful and free sexual practice, using practical advice and prompts to chart our own journey.
Part travelogue and part manifesto, Seeking Sexual Freedom is the powerful and bold call to joy and sexual freedom women of all backgrounds need today.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2026
About the author
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
5 books106 followersNana Darkoa Sekyiamah is a Ghanaian feminist writer and blogger. She co-founded award-winning blog Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women and has written for The Guardian and Open Democracy. Sekyiamah is the Director for Communications manager at the Association for Women's Rights in Development and a member of the Black Feminism Forum Working Group which organised the historic first Black Feminist Forum in Bahia, Brazil.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 30, 2026
absolutely amazing
May 21, 2026
Academic Book Review: Seeking Sexual Freedom
Bibliographic Information
Title: Seeking Sexual Freedom: African Rites, Rituals, and Sankofa in the Bedroom
Author: Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
Edition: First Edition
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
Publisher: Atria/One Signal Publishers
Page Count: 288 pages
ISBN/ASIN: 9781668209684 / 1668209683
Genre: Nonfiction / African Studies / Feminism / Sociology of Sexuality
Target Audience: Academics in gender and post-colonial studies, policy analysts, feminists, and general adult readers interested in sociology and personal liberation.
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 out of 5 stars)
Full review available here: https://prairiefoxreads.blogspot.com/...
Disclaimer: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. This provision has in no way affected the content, objectivity, or critical analysis of this review.
Introduction: Purpose and Thesis
Published in the spring of 2026, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah’s Seeking Sexual Freedom arrives at a pivotal cultural moment. As global discourse increasingly examines the intersections of bodily autonomy, post-colonial recovery, and systemic health, Sekyiamah offers a work that bridges personal revelation and universal insight, offering something for both newcomers and seasoned readers. Her previous foundational work, The Sex Lives of African Women, established her as a premier documentarian of modern African female voices. Here, she pivots from documentation to active, structural reclamation.
Thesis: The central argument of this review is that Seeking Sexual Freedom functions as a brilliant socio-cultural epidemiological map. By identifying the incursions of Western patriarchal colonialism not merely as historical events, but as ongoing systemic disruptions to public and personal health, Sekyiamah posits the Akan concept of sankofa (fetching what was left behind) as a necessary, evidence-based intervention. This is a book that invites rereading, revealing new layers with each visit. It is evaluated here on its thematic depth, structural coherence, the robustness of its ethnographic evidence, and its practical application.
Summary of the Work
The book is structured as a tripartite journey—part ethnographic travelogue, part historical analysis, and part manifesto.
Part One acts as an intelligence-gathering mission across the African continent (spanning Senegal to Tanzania). Sekyiamah embeds with local guides—aunties, gurus, and spiritual practitioners—to document indigenous puberty rites and marital training (e.g., beading and pulling), emphasizing the gender-fluid, spiritually grounded nature of these practices.
Part Two shifts to a macro-level systems analysis. It outlines the “loss,” detailing how colonial incursions and Western patriarchal norms engineered an infrastructure of shame, internalized racism, and interpersonal violence.
Part Three operationalizes these findings. Sekyiamah translates historical and qualitative data into actionable prompts and advice for modern sexual liberation. (Note: The review assumes a basic understanding of feminist and post-colonial frameworks; specific details of the rites are discussed sparingly to preserve the reader’s journey of discovery).
Analysis and Evaluation
Themes, Voices, and Argumentation
Sekyiamah’s text operates as a profound structural analysis of human behavior. The major themes—bodily autonomy, the spiritual dimensions of pleasure, and the decolonization of intimacy—are handled with remarkable maturity. Through the voices of the “witches” and aunties she interviews, Sekyiamah gathers qualitative evidence that challenges the pathology often applied to indigenous sexuality. The depth of these voices is relatable yet morally complex, acknowledging that not all traditional practices map seamlessly onto modern progressive ideals, but locating the intrinsic value within them.
“A bold, empathetic perspective that challenges conventional expectations without losing heart.”
Plot, Pacing, and Structure
The narrative architecture is highly deliberate. By moving from the local/indigenous (Part I) to the systemic/global (Part II), and finally to the individual/practical (Part III), Sekyiamah mirrors the analytical process of diagnosing a systemic failure and implementing a targeted intervention. The pacing is meticulous. The author’s deft handling of mood and tempo turns quiet moments into revealed truths, particularly in the transitions between heavy historical traumas and moments of joyful reclamation.
Style, Craft, and Representation
Sekyiamah’s prose is elegant and economical, proving that restraint can illuminate complexity rather than obscure it. She avoids overly dense academic jargon, relying instead on rich, precise prose that rewards patient attention and fresh interpretation. In handling representation, she is culturally sensitive, avoiding the monolithic “African” trope by highlighting specific regional nuances while embracing the gender-fluid realities of traditional African spiritualities.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths: The book’s primary triumph is its integration of history and behavioral strategy. It reclaims the concept of sankofa not just as a metaphor, but as a practical methodology for overcoming internalized state and interpersonal violence. The book pairs accessibility with ambition, inviting broader readership without compromising depth.
Limitations: Academics seeking a strictly theoretical or quantitative text may find Part Three’s “practical prompts” a tonal shift toward self-help. However, this shift is logically consistent with Sekyiamah’s thesis: theory without localized application is inherently incomplete.
Ambiguities: The text leaves intentionally unsettled the question of how to fully reconcile traditional “marital training” (historically situated within patriarchal kinship structures) with radical queer and feminist liberation, presenting it as an ongoing, dynamic dialogue rather than a solved equation.
Evidence and Support
Using a method of close reading and historical/contextual framing, it is clear that Sekyiamah supports her claims through rich, primary-source ethnography. For instance, her exploration of Senegalese and Tanzanian rites is not treated as mere folklore, but as sophisticated, long-standing social institutions designed to optimize human well-being. By framing colonialism as a disruptor of these institutions, she effectively argues that Western norms brought a “warped ideal of beauty and shame” that functions akin to a generational pathogen.
Contextual Analysis and Comparisons
Historically, this work dialogues directly with texts like Sylvia Tamale’s African Sexualities and Audre Lorde’s Uses of the Erotic. While her previous book, The Sex Lives of African Women, was a polyvocal chorus of lived experiences, Seeking Sexual Freedom is a directed, authorial argument. Compared to Western-centric feminist texts on sexuality (which often view liberation strictly through the lens of individualistic capitalism), Sekyiamah’s work is communitarian. It demonstrates that true liberation is not a modern invention, but an ancestral inheritance.
Suitability and Audience Guidance
Reading Level: Accessible to educated laypersons, undergraduate students, and beyond.
Content Warnings: Contains discussions of state violence, interpersonal violence, and the historical traumas of colonialism and racism.
Best-Fit Audience: Essential reading for intersectional feminists, sociologists, public health policy makers, and casual readers seeking a mature, immersive exploration of joy and autonomy.
Practical Considerations: At 288 pages, the hardcover edition is a tightly paced read. It is expected to be available across all major formats (print, e-book, and likely audiobook), making it highly accessible.
Conclusion and Verdict
Seeking Sexual Freedom is a drama of language, memory, and the body that lingers long after the last page. By applying the principle of sankofa, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah has constructed a vital manual for systemic and personal healing. She proves that navigating complex ecosystems of human interaction requires both a deep respect for our roots and a rigorous, clear-eyed view of the structures that govern us.
Final Verdict: Highly recommended. This book offers a doorway to a larger conversation about systemic healing and personal autonomy, inviting readers to step through. It matters immensely to the fields of gender studies and African sociology because it refuses to pathologize the African past, instead mining it for the solutions to modern, globalized crises.
Supplementary Elements
Buyer’s Guide & Reading Companions
For educators, book clubs, or community leaders seeking to utilize this text, consider the following discussion prompts:
How does Sekyiamah’s application of sankofa challenge Western, linear concepts of progress and sexual liberation?
In Part Two, how is the systemic imposition of Western patriarchal norms framed as a disruption to community health?
Discuss the tension and harmony between traditional spiritual practices and modern intersectional feminism as presented in the text.
What to Read Next
If this work resonated with you, consider exploring these titles to expand your understanding of systemic health, post-colonial feminism, and bodily autonomy:
The Sex Lives of African Women by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (to understand the foundation of her qualitative research).
Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power by Audre Lorde (for foundational theory on pleasure as a liberating force).
Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by adrienne maree brown (for a comparative look at how joy is utilized as systemic resistance in the modern diaspora).
Rating: ★★★★ 4.5 / 5
- Prairie Fox 🦊📖
Bibliographic Information
Title: Seeking Sexual Freedom: African Rites, Rituals, and Sankofa in the Bedroom
Author: Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
Edition: First Edition
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
Publisher: Atria/One Signal Publishers
Page Count: 288 pages
ISBN/ASIN: 9781668209684 / 1668209683
Genre: Nonfiction / African Studies / Feminism / Sociology of Sexuality
Target Audience: Academics in gender and post-colonial studies, policy analysts, feminists, and general adult readers interested in sociology and personal liberation.
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 out of 5 stars)
Full review available here: https://prairiefoxreads.blogspot.com/...
Disclaimer: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. This provision has in no way affected the content, objectivity, or critical analysis of this review.
Introduction: Purpose and Thesis
Published in the spring of 2026, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah’s Seeking Sexual Freedom arrives at a pivotal cultural moment. As global discourse increasingly examines the intersections of bodily autonomy, post-colonial recovery, and systemic health, Sekyiamah offers a work that bridges personal revelation and universal insight, offering something for both newcomers and seasoned readers. Her previous foundational work, The Sex Lives of African Women, established her as a premier documentarian of modern African female voices. Here, she pivots from documentation to active, structural reclamation.
Thesis: The central argument of this review is that Seeking Sexual Freedom functions as a brilliant socio-cultural epidemiological map. By identifying the incursions of Western patriarchal colonialism not merely as historical events, but as ongoing systemic disruptions to public and personal health, Sekyiamah posits the Akan concept of sankofa (fetching what was left behind) as a necessary, evidence-based intervention. This is a book that invites rereading, revealing new layers with each visit. It is evaluated here on its thematic depth, structural coherence, the robustness of its ethnographic evidence, and its practical application.
Summary of the Work
The book is structured as a tripartite journey—part ethnographic travelogue, part historical analysis, and part manifesto.
Part One acts as an intelligence-gathering mission across the African continent (spanning Senegal to Tanzania). Sekyiamah embeds with local guides—aunties, gurus, and spiritual practitioners—to document indigenous puberty rites and marital training (e.g., beading and pulling), emphasizing the gender-fluid, spiritually grounded nature of these practices.
Part Two shifts to a macro-level systems analysis. It outlines the “loss,” detailing how colonial incursions and Western patriarchal norms engineered an infrastructure of shame, internalized racism, and interpersonal violence.
Part Three operationalizes these findings. Sekyiamah translates historical and qualitative data into actionable prompts and advice for modern sexual liberation. (Note: The review assumes a basic understanding of feminist and post-colonial frameworks; specific details of the rites are discussed sparingly to preserve the reader’s journey of discovery).
Analysis and Evaluation
Themes, Voices, and Argumentation
Sekyiamah’s text operates as a profound structural analysis of human behavior. The major themes—bodily autonomy, the spiritual dimensions of pleasure, and the decolonization of intimacy—are handled with remarkable maturity. Through the voices of the “witches” and aunties she interviews, Sekyiamah gathers qualitative evidence that challenges the pathology often applied to indigenous sexuality. The depth of these voices is relatable yet morally complex, acknowledging that not all traditional practices map seamlessly onto modern progressive ideals, but locating the intrinsic value within them.
“A bold, empathetic perspective that challenges conventional expectations without losing heart.”
Plot, Pacing, and Structure
The narrative architecture is highly deliberate. By moving from the local/indigenous (Part I) to the systemic/global (Part II), and finally to the individual/practical (Part III), Sekyiamah mirrors the analytical process of diagnosing a systemic failure and implementing a targeted intervention. The pacing is meticulous. The author’s deft handling of mood and tempo turns quiet moments into revealed truths, particularly in the transitions between heavy historical traumas and moments of joyful reclamation.
Style, Craft, and Representation
Sekyiamah’s prose is elegant and economical, proving that restraint can illuminate complexity rather than obscure it. She avoids overly dense academic jargon, relying instead on rich, precise prose that rewards patient attention and fresh interpretation. In handling representation, she is culturally sensitive, avoiding the monolithic “African” trope by highlighting specific regional nuances while embracing the gender-fluid realities of traditional African spiritualities.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths: The book’s primary triumph is its integration of history and behavioral strategy. It reclaims the concept of sankofa not just as a metaphor, but as a practical methodology for overcoming internalized state and interpersonal violence. The book pairs accessibility with ambition, inviting broader readership without compromising depth.
Limitations: Academics seeking a strictly theoretical or quantitative text may find Part Three’s “practical prompts” a tonal shift toward self-help. However, this shift is logically consistent with Sekyiamah’s thesis: theory without localized application is inherently incomplete.
Ambiguities: The text leaves intentionally unsettled the question of how to fully reconcile traditional “marital training” (historically situated within patriarchal kinship structures) with radical queer and feminist liberation, presenting it as an ongoing, dynamic dialogue rather than a solved equation.
Evidence and Support
Using a method of close reading and historical/contextual framing, it is clear that Sekyiamah supports her claims through rich, primary-source ethnography. For instance, her exploration of Senegalese and Tanzanian rites is not treated as mere folklore, but as sophisticated, long-standing social institutions designed to optimize human well-being. By framing colonialism as a disruptor of these institutions, she effectively argues that Western norms brought a “warped ideal of beauty and shame” that functions akin to a generational pathogen.
Contextual Analysis and Comparisons
Historically, this work dialogues directly with texts like Sylvia Tamale’s African Sexualities and Audre Lorde’s Uses of the Erotic. While her previous book, The Sex Lives of African Women, was a polyvocal chorus of lived experiences, Seeking Sexual Freedom is a directed, authorial argument. Compared to Western-centric feminist texts on sexuality (which often view liberation strictly through the lens of individualistic capitalism), Sekyiamah’s work is communitarian. It demonstrates that true liberation is not a modern invention, but an ancestral inheritance.
Suitability and Audience Guidance
Reading Level: Accessible to educated laypersons, undergraduate students, and beyond.
Content Warnings: Contains discussions of state violence, interpersonal violence, and the historical traumas of colonialism and racism.
Best-Fit Audience: Essential reading for intersectional feminists, sociologists, public health policy makers, and casual readers seeking a mature, immersive exploration of joy and autonomy.
Practical Considerations: At 288 pages, the hardcover edition is a tightly paced read. It is expected to be available across all major formats (print, e-book, and likely audiobook), making it highly accessible.
Conclusion and Verdict
Seeking Sexual Freedom is a drama of language, memory, and the body that lingers long after the last page. By applying the principle of sankofa, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah has constructed a vital manual for systemic and personal healing. She proves that navigating complex ecosystems of human interaction requires both a deep respect for our roots and a rigorous, clear-eyed view of the structures that govern us.
Final Verdict: Highly recommended. This book offers a doorway to a larger conversation about systemic healing and personal autonomy, inviting readers to step through. It matters immensely to the fields of gender studies and African sociology because it refuses to pathologize the African past, instead mining it for the solutions to modern, globalized crises.
Supplementary Elements
Buyer’s Guide & Reading Companions
For educators, book clubs, or community leaders seeking to utilize this text, consider the following discussion prompts:
How does Sekyiamah’s application of sankofa challenge Western, linear concepts of progress and sexual liberation?
In Part Two, how is the systemic imposition of Western patriarchal norms framed as a disruption to community health?
Discuss the tension and harmony between traditional spiritual practices and modern intersectional feminism as presented in the text.
What to Read Next
If this work resonated with you, consider exploring these titles to expand your understanding of systemic health, post-colonial feminism, and bodily autonomy:
The Sex Lives of African Women by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (to understand the foundation of her qualitative research).
Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power by Audre Lorde (for foundational theory on pleasure as a liberating force).
Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by adrienne maree brown (for a comparative look at how joy is utilized as systemic resistance in the modern diaspora).
Rating: ★★★★ 4.5 / 5
- Prairie Fox 🦊📖
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
As a cisgender white woman, I second-guessed myself when I signed up for the Goodreads giveaway to win an ARC of this book, letting my fears hold me back at first. But I'm so glad I let them go!
This incredible book now sits comfortably by my bedside, filling me with more love and insight than I could have imagined. I've learned so much about seeking sexual freedom, and the conversations it's already sparked are beginning to transform my community—I can't wait to see where my own journey takes me next.
This incredible book now sits comfortably by my bedside, filling me with more love and insight than I could have imagined. I've learned so much about seeking sexual freedom, and the conversations it's already sparked are beginning to transform my community—I can't wait to see where my own journey takes me next.
November 26, 2025
The subject was interesting in itself, but this book pushed even more: it educated me a lot on how colonialism has affected Africans' sexualities and lives in general. The feminist lens made it even more interesting. I truly loved the first and second part's but the third and the prompt part felt flat for me. I do believe they will work for a lot of people.
Thank you, Netgalley and Atria/One Signal Publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you, Netgalley and Atria/One Signal Publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Won a paperback ARC of this title in a Goodreads giveaway. This book read to me partly like a tips and tricks guide and partly like an account of various stories, the latter of which I particularly enjoyed since it served as a kind of coming-together of tellings of the same and related topics; I learned a lot and felt like I was joining the conversation! The author’s personal anecdotes added a nice touch, as did her knowledge and support of sex-positive practices.
May 4, 2026
This book reads like a beautiful catchup with a favourite big sister. It is affirming, enlightening and raw. Nana brings a vulnerability that makes you the reader just okay with being yourself. I got to know some bits of her life which made it easy to relate to and learnt a lot about healing, sexual liberation and spirituality.
December 21, 2025
A subject like most that happens when colonialism and western practices take over.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Very interesting
March 3, 2026
Seeking Sexual Freedom by Nana Darkoa is a gripping and Page turning read and I Read it in one sitting. One of the best works from the Author.
A Must read for all readers.
A Must read for all readers.
April 21, 2026
It was a good book
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews