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Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone
The creator of the internationally popular, multiple award-winning blog MsAfropolitan applies an Africa-centered feminist sensibility to issues of racism and sexism, challenging our illusions about oppression and liberation and daring women to embrace their power.
Sensuous Knowledge is a collection of thought provoking essays that explore questions central to how we see ourselves, our history, and our world.
What does it mean to be oppressed?
What does it mean to be liberated?
Why do women choose to follow authority even when they can be autonomous?
What is the cost of compromising one’s true self?
What narratives particularly subjugate women and people of African heritage?
What kind of narrative can heal and empower?
As she considers these questions, Salami offers fresh insights on key cultural issues that impact women’s lives, including power, beauty, and knowledge. She also examines larger subjects, such as Afrofuturism, radical Black feminism, and gender politics, all with a historical outlook that is also future oriented. Combining a storyteller’s narrative playfulness and a social critic’s intellectual rigor, Salami draws upon a range of traditions and ideologies, feminist theory, popular culture—including insights from Ms. Lauryn Hill, Beyoncé, Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, and others—science, philosophy, African myths and origin stories, and her own bold personal narrative to establish a language for change and self-liberation.
Sensuous Knowledge inspires reflection and challenge us to formulate or own views. Using ancestral knowledge to steer us toward freedom, Salami reveals the ways that women have protested over the years in large and small ways—models that inspire and empower us to define our own sense of womanhood today.
In this riveting meditation, Salami ask women to break free of the prison made by ingrained male centric biases, and build a house themselves—a home that can nurture us all.
Sensuous Knowledge is a collection of thought provoking essays that explore questions central to how we see ourselves, our history, and our world.
What does it mean to be oppressed?
What does it mean to be liberated?
Why do women choose to follow authority even when they can be autonomous?
What is the cost of compromising one’s true self?
What narratives particularly subjugate women and people of African heritage?
What kind of narrative can heal and empower?
As she considers these questions, Salami offers fresh insights on key cultural issues that impact women’s lives, including power, beauty, and knowledge. She also examines larger subjects, such as Afrofuturism, radical Black feminism, and gender politics, all with a historical outlook that is also future oriented. Combining a storyteller’s narrative playfulness and a social critic’s intellectual rigor, Salami draws upon a range of traditions and ideologies, feminist theory, popular culture—including insights from Ms. Lauryn Hill, Beyoncé, Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, and others—science, philosophy, African myths and origin stories, and her own bold personal narrative to establish a language for change and self-liberation.
Sensuous Knowledge inspires reflection and challenge us to formulate or own views. Using ancestral knowledge to steer us toward freedom, Salami reveals the ways that women have protested over the years in large and small ways—models that inspire and empower us to define our own sense of womanhood today.
In this riveting meditation, Salami ask women to break free of the prison made by ingrained male centric biases, and build a house themselves—a home that can nurture us all.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2020
134 people are currently reading
3579 people want to read
About the author
Minna Salami
14 books105 followersMinna Salami is an author, blogger, social critic and international keynote speaker, and the founder of the multiple award-winning blog, MsAfropolitan, which connects feminism with critical reflections on contemporary culture from an Africa-centred perspective.
Listed by ELLE Magazine as “one of twelve women changing the world” alongside Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama, Minna has presented talks on feminism, liberation, decolonisation, sexuality, African Studies and popular culture to audiences at the European Parliament, the Oxford Union, Yale University, TEDx, The Singularity University at NASA and UNWomen among others.
She is a contributor to The Guardian, Al Jazeera and the Royal Society of the Arts, and a columnist for the Guardian Nigeria.
Minna Salami was born in 1978 to a Nigerian father and a Finnish mother. Leaving Nigeria in her early teens, she has since lived in Sweden, Spain, New York and London, where she now resides.
She was awarded a distinction for her MA thesis in Gender Studies from SOAS University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Lund. Her debut book, SENSUOUS KNOWLEDGE, is forthcoming in Spring 2020.
Listed by ELLE Magazine as “one of twelve women changing the world” alongside Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama, Minna has presented talks on feminism, liberation, decolonisation, sexuality, African Studies and popular culture to audiences at the European Parliament, the Oxford Union, Yale University, TEDx, The Singularity University at NASA and UNWomen among others.
She is a contributor to The Guardian, Al Jazeera and the Royal Society of the Arts, and a columnist for the Guardian Nigeria.
Minna Salami was born in 1978 to a Nigerian father and a Finnish mother. Leaving Nigeria in her early teens, she has since lived in Sweden, Spain, New York and London, where she now resides.
She was awarded a distinction for her MA thesis in Gender Studies from SOAS University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Lund. Her debut book, SENSUOUS KNOWLEDGE, is forthcoming in Spring 2020.
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July 6, 2020
January 21, 2021
Hienointa, mitä olen lukenut vuosiin. Tarkempi analyysi kaipaa tarkempaa pureskelua, pohdintaa ja ehkä myös aikaa, sillä niin montaa eri asiaa tämä kirja minussa ja tavassani hahmottaa maailmaa liikutti. Salami sanoitti järisyttävän määrän paitsi sellaista, jota olen ehkä kaukaisesti ajatellut ja ihmetellyt, mutta erityisesti sellaista, jota en kaiken keskellä ole osannut edes hahmottaa (vaikka nyt tuntuu, että olisi pitänyt). Viisas, lempeä, aistivoimainen, täydellinen esimerkki oman sanomansa voimasta.
February 1, 2021
"When something is sensuous, it affects not only your senses but your entire being - your mind, body, and soul. Books are sensuous, for example. You can see, touch, and smell them. You can hear them in audio format and taste their words on your tongue. Books are tangible objects of myriad textures - aged, hardback, hand stitched and so on. They are mentally stimulating, therapeutic, and they potentially transform your deepest thought patterns. They affect you entirely."
Going into Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone I knew it was going to be an experience. I've been following Minna Salami's blog MsAfropolitan and instagram for some years, and not only find the way she sees the world both fascinating and extremely clever, but also love the way she puts this into words.
In Sensuous Knowledge, Salami's debut novel, we get to read essay-like chapters that each delve into a different issue surrounding black feminism. We have a chapter of liberation, one of decolonization, of blackness and sisterhood, and so on. I liked this organised way of structuring the book, of how we could properly dive into each issue properly, however, I of course felt some chapters was stronger and some weaker.
For an example, I really enjoyed of decolonization. This chapter was written very matter-of-factly, without ever straying away from the beautiful narration Salami possesses. I love how she combined fact with her own truth and experience - it made for a not only compelling read, but one that felt personal. The way she spoke about decolonizing ones mind was powerful, and something I think will hit home for many.
Another favorite chapter was of beauty. This was the last chapter, and it finished of the story beautifully. Here Salami wrote not only of the necessary, but expected, black beauty and europatriarchal beauty standards, but also of how this affects how we view men as well. How we so very rarely associate men with beauty, even if we of course can see men as handsome or attractive or hot, they are never allowed to be beautiful the soft way women are. This is damaging to everyone involved.
"Nobody asks these questions because men are not judged by beauty. Women are beautiful and men are handsome. Tellingly, there is no political emphasis on handsomeness as there is on beauty. Europatriarchal artists, poets, and philosophers all have opinions on beauty, not handsomeness. Women are objects of beauty, and men analyze beauty."
However, even if I felt that Minna Salami had a spellbinding and refreshing way with words, I sometimes didn't really connect with her writing - mostly, when she talked about anything spiritual. This is very much a personal thing, as I am not a spiritual person what so ever, and in fact have had many unpleasant experiences with such things. As it was, when the author talked about rivers being alive and meditation, I felt myself disconnect.
Another issue I had was that whenever different social struggles came up - racism, homophobia, sexism, classism and so on - in the context of mentioning all the different social struggles that people can go through, ableism was always left forgotten. This might just be me being nitpicky, since Salami is mostly talking about black feminist issues, but when the author brings up examples of how you can be discriminated against and over and over again forgets ableism, it makes me sad, as that issue is always left behind by us able-bodied people. I was disappointed that Salami, such an intelligent and amazing woman, seemingly forgot about the disabled community.
Another thing, and this has nothing to do with the actual book, was that the audiobook was somewhat hard to get through. I've listened to books by Robin Miles before, and she has always done amazingly, but here, especially in the start, she sounded a bit like a robot which brought down the reading experience for me. So I definitely would recommend picking up the physical book instead.
Despite these issues, I still found myself really enjoying Sensuous Knowledge. It was gut punching and true, and even if I would have loved even more insights into Salami's own experience of being a black woman, I also would love if she would delve into fiction one day. Her gorgeous, colourful language would be perfect for those kinds of stories as well, and they need to be told in every way possible.
Going into Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone I knew it was going to be an experience. I've been following Minna Salami's blog MsAfropolitan and instagram for some years, and not only find the way she sees the world both fascinating and extremely clever, but also love the way she puts this into words.
In Sensuous Knowledge, Salami's debut novel, we get to read essay-like chapters that each delve into a different issue surrounding black feminism. We have a chapter of liberation, one of decolonization, of blackness and sisterhood, and so on. I liked this organised way of structuring the book, of how we could properly dive into each issue properly, however, I of course felt some chapters was stronger and some weaker.
For an example, I really enjoyed of decolonization. This chapter was written very matter-of-factly, without ever straying away from the beautiful narration Salami possesses. I love how she combined fact with her own truth and experience - it made for a not only compelling read, but one that felt personal. The way she spoke about decolonizing ones mind was powerful, and something I think will hit home for many.
Another favorite chapter was of beauty. This was the last chapter, and it finished of the story beautifully. Here Salami wrote not only of the necessary, but expected, black beauty and europatriarchal beauty standards, but also of how this affects how we view men as well. How we so very rarely associate men with beauty, even if we of course can see men as handsome or attractive or hot, they are never allowed to be beautiful the soft way women are. This is damaging to everyone involved.
"Nobody asks these questions because men are not judged by beauty. Women are beautiful and men are handsome. Tellingly, there is no political emphasis on handsomeness as there is on beauty. Europatriarchal artists, poets, and philosophers all have opinions on beauty, not handsomeness. Women are objects of beauty, and men analyze beauty."
However, even if I felt that Minna Salami had a spellbinding and refreshing way with words, I sometimes didn't really connect with her writing - mostly, when she talked about anything spiritual. This is very much a personal thing, as I am not a spiritual person what so ever, and in fact have had many unpleasant experiences with such things. As it was, when the author talked about rivers being alive and meditation, I felt myself disconnect.
Another issue I had was that whenever different social struggles came up - racism, homophobia, sexism, classism and so on - in the context of mentioning all the different social struggles that people can go through, ableism was always left forgotten. This might just be me being nitpicky, since Salami is mostly talking about black feminist issues, but when the author brings up examples of how you can be discriminated against and over and over again forgets ableism, it makes me sad, as that issue is always left behind by us able-bodied people. I was disappointed that Salami, such an intelligent and amazing woman, seemingly forgot about the disabled community.
Another thing, and this has nothing to do with the actual book, was that the audiobook was somewhat hard to get through. I've listened to books by Robin Miles before, and she has always done amazingly, but here, especially in the start, she sounded a bit like a robot which brought down the reading experience for me. So I definitely would recommend picking up the physical book instead.
Despite these issues, I still found myself really enjoying Sensuous Knowledge. It was gut punching and true, and even if I would have loved even more insights into Salami's own experience of being a black woman, I also would love if she would delve into fiction one day. Her gorgeous, colourful language would be perfect for those kinds of stories as well, and they need to be told in every way possible.
March 27, 2021
Tuoreita, lempeitä ajatuksia mustasta feminismistä. Aistien viisaus tarjoaa oivalluksia ja antaa ajattelemisen aihetta. Merkkasin monta kohtaa, joihin haluan palata.
Jotkin ajatukset olivat omaan makuun ehkä liian henkisiä, womynistisiä tai vielä keskeneräisiä, vähän raakoja, mikä toki on enemmän kuin ok. Europatriarkaalista höpöhöpöä sellainen, että aina pitäisi olla valmista, varsinkin näin uraauurtavassa ajattelussa.
Rakastaja-sanan käyttö tökki, mutta tässä kohdin "vika" on enemmän minussa kuin kirjailijassa tai suomentajassa. Sen sijaan koko teoksen läpi olisi voinut puhua sukuelimistä. Jostain syystä muoto oli välillä sukuelin ja välillä vanhentunut sukupuolielin, jonka toivoisi jo väistyvän käytöstä, varsinkin tällaisissa yhteyksissä.
Jotkin ajatukset olivat omaan makuun ehkä liian henkisiä, womynistisiä tai vielä keskeneräisiä, vähän raakoja, mikä toki on enemmän kuin ok. Europatriarkaalista höpöhöpöä sellainen, että aina pitäisi olla valmista, varsinkin näin uraauurtavassa ajattelussa.
Rakastaja-sanan käyttö tökki, mutta tässä kohdin "vika" on enemmän minussa kuin kirjailijassa tai suomentajassa. Sen sijaan koko teoksen läpi olisi voinut puhua sukuelimistä. Jostain syystä muoto oli välillä sukuelin ja välillä vanhentunut sukupuolielin, jonka toivoisi jo väistyvän käytöstä, varsinkin tällaisissa yhteyksissä.
February 14, 2021
Miten hieno kirja! Todellista aivohierontaa, uusia näkökulmia, tietoa, taidetta, myyttejä, valtaa, kauneutta. Paljon ajatuksia, vähän itsestäänselvyyksiä. Lämmin suositus!
May 8, 2021
Tätä lukiessa on hahmottanut, miten vähän tietää ja ymmärtää silloinkin, kun luulee jo olevansa aika valveilla. Erittäin hieno ja opettava. Jätti nöyräksi.
March 12, 2023
Minna Salami kirjoittaa mustan feminismin näkökulmia auki konkreettisten esimerkkien ja feminismin historian kautta. Hänen omat kokemuksensa johdattavat pohtimaan vallan ja sukupuolen perinteisiä, tuhoisia ajatusmalleja. Europatriarkaatin käsitys tiedosta ja koko maailmanjärjestyksestä on osoittautunut kestämättömäksi: luontoa tuhotaan ja naisia alistetaan, musta- ja ruskeaihoiset ihmiset joutuvat jatkuvasti sietämään rasismia. Voisiko totuus maailmasta olla jotain muuta kuin eurosentristä maskuliinisuutta?
Todellinen tasa-arvo vaatii "aistien viisauden" tunnistamista. Tällä Salami hakee kokemuksen voimaa, aistien ja taiteen tietoutta. Hän kirjoittaa muun muassa dekolonisaatiosta, identiteetistä, naiseudesta, sisaruudesta ja vallasta tuoreita oivalluksiaan ja haastaa ajattelemaan ja toimimaan aktiivisemmin. Muutos on jokaisen ulottuvilla. Tietoa sellaisena kuin se meille tarjotaan, kannattaa ravistella.
Todellinen tasa-arvo vaatii "aistien viisauden" tunnistamista. Tällä Salami hakee kokemuksen voimaa, aistien ja taiteen tietoutta. Hän kirjoittaa muun muassa dekolonisaatiosta, identiteetistä, naiseudesta, sisaruudesta ja vallasta tuoreita oivalluksiaan ja haastaa ajattelemaan ja toimimaan aktiivisemmin. Muutos on jokaisen ulottuvilla. Tietoa sellaisena kuin se meille tarjotaan, kannattaa ravistella.
May 9, 2021
Absolutely a must read! What a fantastic book - such a wholistic approach to the question of racial and gendered justice.
September 22, 2022
Sori Matulle että tässä meni näin uskomattoman kauan!
Mutta rakastin. Sekä sitä, miten kirjailijan aivot toimivat että sitä, millaista teksti oli. En ole ajatellut näin paljon uutta feministisen teoksen äärellä hyvin pitkään aikaan - jos ikinä.
Mutta rakastin. Sekä sitä, miten kirjailijan aivot toimivat että sitä, millaista teksti oli. En ole ajatellut näin paljon uutta feministisen teoksen äärellä hyvin pitkään aikaan - jos ikinä.
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October 19, 2021Tartuin kirjaan mielenkiinnolla, mutta suomennos häiritsi lukukokemusta niin paljon että olisin halunnut lukea alkuteoksen käännöksen sijaan. Tekstiin on jätetty runsaasti anglismeja, joista osa on perusteltuja ja osa vain hämmentäviä. Lauserakenteissa on kankeutta, ja ajoittain tulee vaikutelma siitä että kääntäjä on kääntänyt sana sanalta kielen sujuvuuden kustannuksella. Esimerkiksi virke "vapaus ei ole kärsimyksen poissaoloa, vaan sellaisen kärsimyksen poissaoloa, joka johtuu siitä, että on oma itsensä" piti lukea moneen kertaan, ennen kuin ymmärsin mitä tässä haetaan. "Kolonialistiseen mieleen on tunkeutunut kokonainen verkosto erilaisia vaikutuksia, joiden tarkoitus on estää näkemästä selvästi ja jatkaa mielen orjuuttamista" ei oikein aukea vieläkään.
Käännös ei toki kauttaaltaan ole ihan niin kökköä kuin esimerkkini tässä, mutta valitettavan paljon näitä kohtia on. Voi olla, että suomentaja on kiinnittänyt niin paljon huomiota termistön (poc jne.) kääntämiseen, että kieliasu on jäänyt viimeistelemättä. Termistön osalta käännös vaikuttaa minun silmiini asiantuntevalta.
Teos innosti kuitenkin lukemaan lisää bell hooksia, ja ehkäpä viimein etsin käsiini Audrey Lorden teoksia, vaikkei niitä valkean kaupunkimme kirjastosta löydy.
Käännös ei toki kauttaaltaan ole ihan niin kökköä kuin esimerkkini tässä, mutta valitettavan paljon näitä kohtia on. Voi olla, että suomentaja on kiinnittänyt niin paljon huomiota termistön (poc jne.) kääntämiseen, että kieliasu on jäänyt viimeistelemättä. Termistön osalta käännös vaikuttaa minun silmiini asiantuntevalta.
Teos innosti kuitenkin lukemaan lisää bell hooksia, ja ehkäpä viimein etsin käsiini Audrey Lorden teoksia, vaikkei niitä valkean kaupunkimme kirjastosta löydy.
March 27, 2021
Europatriarkaalisen tiedon periaatteen mukaan muut kuin miehet, muut kuin valkoiset ja muut kuin eliitti, elävät elämänsä jatkuvassa tyytymättömyydessä. Näiden muiden on tarkoitus käydä loppumatonta sisäistä taistelua siitä, mitä heidän elämänsä on ja mitä he haluaisivat sen olevan. Tavalla tai toisella muiden on tarkoitus elää ilman iloa. Sen vuoksi musta nainen voi parhaiten haistatella europatriarkaatilla nauttimalla aidosti elämästään.
Sisaruuden, tiedon, vapautumisen, vallan, kauneuden ym. käsitteitä pohdiskeleva ja uudelleen määrittelemään kannustava teos, joka tuo näkökulmaa ja monipuolisuutta omaan maailmankatsomukseen. Ihana kun saa lukea tällaista.
Sisaruuden, tiedon, vapautumisen, vallan, kauneuden ym. käsitteitä pohdiskeleva ja uudelleen määrittelemään kannustava teos, joka tuo näkökulmaa ja monipuolisuutta omaan maailmankatsomukseen. Ihana kun saa lukea tällaista.
May 24, 2020
This book is a rich approach to feminism and also to so much more. Minna brings together different ways of knowing: from different perspectives such as race, and also different areas such as art, stories, science, literature... I really enjoyed this holistic approach and it was a delight to read.
August 8, 2021
Aivan todella hyvä. Palaan tähän kirjaan varmasti useaan otteeseen. Nyt pitää vähän sulatella.
June 18, 2022
Interessant i fàcil de llegir. M'ha agradat molt la barreja entre assaig i llegendes/fets històrics ja que feien el llibre més entretingut.
March 26, 2021
Olipas tämä kiinnostava! Todella paljon mutusteltavaa ajatuksille, joitain uusia ideoita tai näkökulmia ja monia kirjailijoita, joita pitää lukea lisää. Oli tässä pari ei-niin vakuuttavaa juttua (esim. en usko mihinkään feminiiniseen viisauteen, joka kaikilla naisilla olisi), mutta ne jäävät pitkälti sivumaininnoiksi eivätkä häirinneet liikaa. Suosittelen!
May 20, 2025
Stundtals mycket fint om systerskap och dess politiska kraft stundtals mycket frustrerande.
December 29, 2020
Aistien välittämän ja ruumiillisen hyväksyminen osaksi kaikkea ajattelua ja tiedon muodostamista on nigerialais-suomalaisen Minna Salamin esseekokoelman ytimessä. Kyse on ikiaikaisista filosofisista kysymyksistä, joita Salami käsittelee mustan feminismin valossa ammentaen mm. jorubaperinteestä. On aika oppia maailmasta laajemmin ja siirtyä kauemmas europatriarkaalisesta todellisuuskäsityksestä. Aistien viisaus toimii myös teoksena, joka avaa perusteellisesti monia feministisiä käsitteitä: identiteetti, dekolonisaatio, sisaruus, valta. Esseeteokseksi tämän tekee minusta avoin omakohtaisuus ja keskustelu muiden ajattelijoiden ja perinnetiedon kanssa.
Tieto ja kauneus eivät ole jotain omistettavaa, vaan aktiivista toimintaa, elämäniloisen ihmisen olemuksessa tuntuvia, näkyviä ja kuuluvia asioita. Huomaan jo tätä kirjoittaessanikin, että Salamin teksti kutsuu hahmottelemaan asioita moniaistillisemmin, purkamaan hallintaan perustuvaa kielenkäyttöä. Hän pitää tärkeänä, että feministisistä teemoista keskustellaan myös tavalla joka on moninaisen yleisön ymmärrettävissä, ja Aistien viisaus onnistuu varsin hyvin tässä pyrkimyksessä; teksti vaikuttaa usein suoralta, mutta sen monikerroksisuus tulee esiin kun lukee katkelmia useamman kerran. Pidän siitä, miten runous ja musiikki nostetaan kirjassa arvoonsa aistivoimaisen kokemuksen välittäjinä. Tämäkin kuuluu kirjoihin, joiden äärellä oma positio on ensisijaisesti kuunteleva.
”Hengen valaminen tietoon on sitä, että näkee taiteet, tanssin, sanonnat, rituaaliset tekstit, eeppiset runot, musiikkityylit, luomismyytit, elämäntarinat, naisten perinteet ja utopiat – kaiken, minkä voi sanoa liittyvän henkeen – oivalluksen lähteinä.” (s. 21)
”Ilolla tarkoitan sisäistä ominaisuutta, joka on itsessään luonteeltaan poliittinen. – – Tarkoitan omana itsenä olemista, vaikka se rikkoisi hyväksyttyjä käsityksiä siitä, mitä pitää olla. Tarkoitan olemisen helppoutta ja keveyttä. Pohjimmiltaan tarkoitan itsen vapauttamista identiteetin ennalta määritellyistä raameista.” (s. 105)
Tieto ja kauneus eivät ole jotain omistettavaa, vaan aktiivista toimintaa, elämäniloisen ihmisen olemuksessa tuntuvia, näkyviä ja kuuluvia asioita. Huomaan jo tätä kirjoittaessanikin, että Salamin teksti kutsuu hahmottelemaan asioita moniaistillisemmin, purkamaan hallintaan perustuvaa kielenkäyttöä. Hän pitää tärkeänä, että feministisistä teemoista keskustellaan myös tavalla joka on moninaisen yleisön ymmärrettävissä, ja Aistien viisaus onnistuu varsin hyvin tässä pyrkimyksessä; teksti vaikuttaa usein suoralta, mutta sen monikerroksisuus tulee esiin kun lukee katkelmia useamman kerran. Pidän siitä, miten runous ja musiikki nostetaan kirjassa arvoonsa aistivoimaisen kokemuksen välittäjinä. Tämäkin kuuluu kirjoihin, joiden äärellä oma positio on ensisijaisesti kuunteleva.
”Hengen valaminen tietoon on sitä, että näkee taiteet, tanssin, sanonnat, rituaaliset tekstit, eeppiset runot, musiikkityylit, luomismyytit, elämäntarinat, naisten perinteet ja utopiat – kaiken, minkä voi sanoa liittyvän henkeen – oivalluksen lähteinä.” (s. 21)
”Ilolla tarkoitan sisäistä ominaisuutta, joka on itsessään luonteeltaan poliittinen. – – Tarkoitan omana itsenä olemista, vaikka se rikkoisi hyväksyttyjä käsityksiä siitä, mitä pitää olla. Tarkoitan olemisen helppoutta ja keveyttä. Pohjimmiltaan tarkoitan itsen vapauttamista identiteetin ennalta määritellyistä raameista.” (s. 105)
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June 17, 2021Este libro es necesario en varios sentidos. Para empezar, por la claridad con que Minna Salami se expresa, expone sus teorías y las de los autores y autoras a quienes cita. Para continuar, por los temas que trata y los planteamientos que ofrece, que son al mismo tiempo críticos, comprometidos y respetuosos con las posturas rivales o no propias. Por último, por ser una fantástica introdución al feminismo negro o afrofeminismo, no solo centrándose en las grandes autoras estadounidenses y ya canónicas (Davis, hooks, Lorde, Morrison...), sino también en pensadoras del propio continente africano (sobre todo Nigeria) y en las cosmovisiones y religiones de la región, que no son pocas, por infravaloradas e infraestudiadas que estén. Por todo ello recomiendo encarecidamente El otro lado de la montaña, que además es una obra accesible para cualquier lector/a con interés. No estoy de acuerdo con todo lo que sostiene (¡menos mal!), sobre todo en el capítulo final sobre la belleza, pero una cosa no quita la otra. Más bien al contrario.
April 25, 2021
Sin duda un libro que leer con lápiz en la mano para subrayar ideas nuevas, autores y propuestas de lecturas. Para poder absorber todo lo que Minna nos presenta en este libro, hay que tener una actitud de apertura para deconstruir las ideas en las que hemos sido educadas, tener voluntad de analizar y ver más allá, para así, crearnos nuestras nuevas percepciones.
Recomendado para todas aquellas personas que quieran comprender a quien tenemos enfrente desde la igualdad y el respeto.
Recomendado para todas aquellas personas que quieran comprender a quien tenemos enfrente desde la igualdad y el respeto.
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October 13, 2021I really enjoyed this. At places it was slightly too difficult and complex but that probably tells more about me than the author or the book. Very beautiful, gentle, and extremely important and well researched book. Great work.
June 14, 2024
Kiitos hiprakkaemmalle varsovassa jonka reppauksen johdosta päädyin lukeen tän
September 3, 2024
Desafortunadamente, no cumplió con mis expectativas
El libro es un compendio de citas de autoras feministas y antirracistas maravillosas que se quedan en eso: citas. Quizás sea yo una sibarita, pero antes de leer a Minna Salami explicándome a Audre Lorde, prefiero leer directamente a Audre Lorde.
Es cierto que la autora trata de usar esas citas y bibliografía como la base de su teoría del conocimiento sensual-sensorial, pero el desarrollo de sus ideas propias es o extremadamente simple o innecesariamente enrevesado.
En el alma de su teoría y de este libro hay cosas más que reseñables, pero, al menos para mí, no fueron las suficientes.
Quizás es que, por suerte, ya no veo el mundo como un hombre blanco europeo.
El libro es un compendio de citas de autoras feministas y antirracistas maravillosas que se quedan en eso: citas. Quizás sea yo una sibarita, pero antes de leer a Minna Salami explicándome a Audre Lorde, prefiero leer directamente a Audre Lorde.
Es cierto que la autora trata de usar esas citas y bibliografía como la base de su teoría del conocimiento sensual-sensorial, pero el desarrollo de sus ideas propias es o extremadamente simple o innecesariamente enrevesado.
En el alma de su teoría y de este libro hay cosas más que reseñables, pero, al menos para mí, no fueron las suficientes.
Quizás es que, por suerte, ya no veo el mundo como un hombre blanco europeo.
February 3, 2021
Yellow-golden peacock on my coat evokes Yoruba river goddess Oshun, whose spirit animal is this bird - the fact I learned from the book I’m reviewing. Its author Minna Salami, a Londoner of Nigerian and Finnish origin, well versed in Yoruba culture, created a bridge between Europatriarchal knowledge and sensuous knowledge. Her “Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone” sheds light on the biased narrative Westerners have been fed for centuries.
From notions of masculinity and femininity, racism, beauty, sisterhood to decolonisation and power, Salami lets her reader open their eyes to a more global perspective and how we can become more aware of factors contributing to our perception of ourselves, others and, ultimately, the world. Her point of view is that of an Africa-centred black feminist, which is much more holistic than that of white and Western feminists: “Black feminists have always stressed that feminist discourses need to be anticapitalist and anti-imperialist, capitalism being a profit-centred system and imperialism the means through which the obsession with growth and profit is satisfied. There is no point in “smashing the patriarchy”, as many Western feminisms claim to do, without fighting imperialism and capitalism”.
What is sensuous knowledge in the first place? It is an approach which is all-encompassing, which combines knowledge based on reasoning, logic, quantifiable information with that based on feeling, intuition, imagination. Only by nurturing our mind, heart and soul equally can we become well-rounded beings and develop our societies ethically, with respect and empathy.
“The truly hard problem is that the fragmented knowledge system in use today is unable to deal with the real issues confronting humanity because it neglects the experienced side of reality. Our educational systems are stale; they teach how to transform the brain but not the psyche; they explain how to design evolved societies but not how to be evolved citizens of them; they claim that emotions - central as they are to life - are incapable of explaining existence”. The fragmented knowledge system Salami has in mind is the rigid, rule-bound Europatriarchal knowledge, “a hierarchy-fixated construct of knowledge that was initiated by elite European men as propaganda to solidify their world views on a massive scale”. The world view based on this kind of knowledge perpetuates suffering, inequality, the belief in conflict as a raison d’être. There is no space here for non-binary concepts, for the abstract, for emotional experience, for coexistence and respectful relationship with nature. Salami argues that in the world we live in there is a need for a balanced approach, with decolonisation and abolishing of the established power structures in mind, if we want to create a sustainable living for all of us.
I found the book extremely readable and well structured, perfectly balanced when it comes to conveying the message. Salami succeeded in avoiding repetitions, being very focused and eloquent without her tone being preachy, patronising or dismissive. Her superb, clear explanations truly showed me where to look. I had a feeling she reached me completely with this book, that the pace was ideal for me to stay concentrated on every single page. This is exactly the book of a kind I appreciate deeply. The book which takes my understanding deeper, which guides me in my growth, pushing me gently but not forcefully. At this stage in my life “Sensuous Knowledge” was exactly the book I needed to read.
From notions of masculinity and femininity, racism, beauty, sisterhood to decolonisation and power, Salami lets her reader open their eyes to a more global perspective and how we can become more aware of factors contributing to our perception of ourselves, others and, ultimately, the world. Her point of view is that of an Africa-centred black feminist, which is much more holistic than that of white and Western feminists: “Black feminists have always stressed that feminist discourses need to be anticapitalist and anti-imperialist, capitalism being a profit-centred system and imperialism the means through which the obsession with growth and profit is satisfied. There is no point in “smashing the patriarchy”, as many Western feminisms claim to do, without fighting imperialism and capitalism”.
What is sensuous knowledge in the first place? It is an approach which is all-encompassing, which combines knowledge based on reasoning, logic, quantifiable information with that based on feeling, intuition, imagination. Only by nurturing our mind, heart and soul equally can we become well-rounded beings and develop our societies ethically, with respect and empathy.
“The truly hard problem is that the fragmented knowledge system in use today is unable to deal with the real issues confronting humanity because it neglects the experienced side of reality. Our educational systems are stale; they teach how to transform the brain but not the psyche; they explain how to design evolved societies but not how to be evolved citizens of them; they claim that emotions - central as they are to life - are incapable of explaining existence”. The fragmented knowledge system Salami has in mind is the rigid, rule-bound Europatriarchal knowledge, “a hierarchy-fixated construct of knowledge that was initiated by elite European men as propaganda to solidify their world views on a massive scale”. The world view based on this kind of knowledge perpetuates suffering, inequality, the belief in conflict as a raison d’être. There is no space here for non-binary concepts, for the abstract, for emotional experience, for coexistence and respectful relationship with nature. Salami argues that in the world we live in there is a need for a balanced approach, with decolonisation and abolishing of the established power structures in mind, if we want to create a sustainable living for all of us.
I found the book extremely readable and well structured, perfectly balanced when it comes to conveying the message. Salami succeeded in avoiding repetitions, being very focused and eloquent without her tone being preachy, patronising or dismissive. Her superb, clear explanations truly showed me where to look. I had a feeling she reached me completely with this book, that the pace was ideal for me to stay concentrated on every single page. This is exactly the book of a kind I appreciate deeply. The book which takes my understanding deeper, which guides me in my growth, pushing me gently but not forcefully. At this stage in my life “Sensuous Knowledge” was exactly the book I needed to read.
April 7, 2021
Este libro hay que leerlo! Me ha encantado, magnífico de principio a fin. Es increíble cómo cambia tu visión de las cosas cuando lees el mundo con los ojos de otra persona. A medida que iba leyendo cada capítulo no solo me intentaba posicionarme desde la vivencia del punto de vista de la autora, sino que me planteaba ver las historia desde otras realidades. La empatía es taaaan necesaria! El libro está estructurado en nueve bloques en los que va desgranando cada uno de ellos, acompañados de relatos, vivencias personales, entrevistas con diferentes personas etc.. a destacar los capítulos sobre la negritud (brutal y maravilloso), sobre la identidad, la sororidad, poder y belleza.
No tengo palabras para describir lo impactante de esta lectura.. ha sido sublime.
<<(...)los hombres han tenido todo tipo de preferencias con respecto a la mujer ideal, excepto una: la mujer con preferencias propias (...)>>
<< (...) la belleza es un sistema opresor demuestra que el sistema está equivocado; se alza fuerte contraste ante la fealdad del orden social (...)>>
<<(...) quienes buscan destruir el progreso (fundamentalistas, imperialistas, sexistas, gobiernos corruptos, supremacistas blancos, hombres del ejército, corporaciones avariciosas etc..) rechazan dar al conocimiento un enfoque sensorial porque los tiranos siempre han entendido que cuanto más robótica sea la gente, más fácil será de manipular. Por este motivo, los colonizadores confiscaron el arte indígena; por eso las religiones organizadas destruían las evidencias del culto a las diosas (...) este tipo de personas sabe, que cuanto más se evite tener una experiencia de conocimiento como algo vivo y en evolución, mayores serán sus posibilidades de conservar el poder. Entienden que una mente asustada, fragmentada y frustrada tiene menos opciones de resistir la opresión y más de perpetuarla (...) saben que una persona incapaz de pensar por sí misma, es una persona capaz de pensar por ellos (...)>>
No tengo palabras para describir lo impactante de esta lectura.. ha sido sublime.
<<(...)los hombres han tenido todo tipo de preferencias con respecto a la mujer ideal, excepto una: la mujer con preferencias propias (...)>>
<< (...) la belleza es un sistema opresor demuestra que el sistema está equivocado; se alza fuerte contraste ante la fealdad del orden social (...)>>
<<(...) quienes buscan destruir el progreso (fundamentalistas, imperialistas, sexistas, gobiernos corruptos, supremacistas blancos, hombres del ejército, corporaciones avariciosas etc..) rechazan dar al conocimiento un enfoque sensorial porque los tiranos siempre han entendido que cuanto más robótica sea la gente, más fácil será de manipular. Por este motivo, los colonizadores confiscaron el arte indígena; por eso las religiones organizadas destruían las evidencias del culto a las diosas (...) este tipo de personas sabe, que cuanto más se evite tener una experiencia de conocimiento como algo vivo y en evolución, mayores serán sus posibilidades de conservar el poder. Entienden que una mente asustada, fragmentada y frustrada tiene menos opciones de resistir la opresión y más de perpetuarla (...) saben que una persona incapaz de pensar por sí misma, es una persona capaz de pensar por ellos (...)>>
November 25, 2021
Utterly and totally mind-blown. This was an insanely insightful piece of information that turned my world view right around. And I thought I knew something. I just made a list of books that have broadened my world view (books written by women, by POC, books about racism, masculinity and feminism etc. – everything but books based on the patriarchy) and it was around a hundred books long. Thought it was a good start and gave me a view of the world from another view, but-a... I'm still entry-level and maybe always will be.
Extremely humbling.
Made me question a million things from science to information to colors to beauty to mental health to the history of philosophy and ancient stories and maybe also the history of the world.
All in a very tight, well-flowing package.
Couldn't stop once I began.
This also somehow managed to keep a personal touch with a lot of feeling. Sensuality, maybe even, something we all need to dip our brains into.
Read this.
Extremely humbling.
Made me question a million things from science to information to colors to beauty to mental health to the history of philosophy and ancient stories and maybe also the history of the world.
All in a very tight, well-flowing package.
Couldn't stop once I began.
This also somehow managed to keep a personal touch with a lot of feeling. Sensuality, maybe even, something we all need to dip our brains into.
Read this.
April 8, 2023
Shoutout Minna Salami for saving my dissertation
Read
February 6, 2021Tärkein pointti Salamin esseissä on pyrkimys kannustaa ajattelemaan toisin ja toisenlaisessa kehyksessä kuin miten länsimaisessa, eurooppakeskeisessä patriarkalismissa on ollut tapana.
”Jotta rakennetta voi muuttaa, pitää siis ensin muuttaa rakenteen tarinaa.” Salami ei niinkään pyri osoittamaan, mikä europatriarkaattisessa ajattelukehyksessä on väärin tai muokkaamaan/rapauttamaan totuttua ajatustapaa kuin luomaan aivan uutta mustan feminismin viitekehyksen kannustamaa aistipohjaista filosofiaa. Aloitin Salamin esseiden lukemisen jo puolisen vuotta sitten ja erinäisistä syistä sain luetuksi tämän kirjan vasta nyt, joten en koe voivani mennä Salamin ajatteluun tarkemmin näin hataralla lukemisella. Tutustukaa itse! Löytöjä horisontissa!
Suomennos: Sini Lintari
Oivallinen kansi: Emmi Kyytsönen
October 22, 2021
Hell yea finally finished this one! Sad it ended tho, it gave so many new ideas and views on our society and its structures… This really opened a new world to me.
Didn’t really think about the topics of this book as deeply before… Just the mainstream stuff from social media. But this one went so deep in feminism that I might have to read it again to make sure I remember everything… So many great theories and a large point of view!!!! Respect to Minna Salami!
Didn’t really think about the topics of this book as deeply before… Just the mainstream stuff from social media. But this one went so deep in feminism that I might have to read it again to make sure I remember everything… So many great theories and a large point of view!!!! Respect to Minna Salami!
April 9, 2024
Vahva ja vallankumouksellinen, mutta poikkeuksellisen lempeällä ja solidaarisella tavalla. Ei päästä helpolla, mutta antaa paljon. Suosittelen kaikille!
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