Looking back: Nurtured Magazine Launch Event
Mouna Chatt, GENDER.ED's Undergraduate Intern, reflects on Black Women* at Edinburgh’s Nurtured Magazine Launch Event that took place in March 2025.
If I asked you to envision community, sisterhood*, and solidarity - would a magazine have crossed your mind? What about an archive?
In March 2025, I was honoured to be invited to and attend the launch event of Nurtured Magazine, Black Women* at Edinburgh’s official publication. While it is difficult to say for certain, Nurtured Magazine is probably the first publication written by Black women students for Black women students at the University of Edinburgh. Claudia Efemini, Vice President of Black Women* at Edinburgh and Editor-in-Chief of Nurtured Magazine, has written a longer piece explaining why and how Nurtured Magazine came to be.
Revisiting the notes and photographs I took at the event, I have been reflecting on key moments and sentences that left an impression on me and pushed me to critically reflect on the significance of storytelling and archiving in transnational feminist work, but also on how to better stand in solidarity with Black women from my own position.
On radical sisterhood*
The event started with a speech by Rutendo Amanda Hoto, the president of Black Women* at Edinburgh. In her speech, Rutendo reminded us that sisterhood* is about presence and about showing up no matter what. This reminder was poignant, but also sobering and humbling, when in a neoliberal society, we have been accustomed to hearing phrases like ‘you don’t owe anyone anything’, ‘you do you’, or ‘focus on yourself’. Instead, sisterhood* demands radical presence, and above all, an acknowledgement that we owe it to each other to show up for one another. In alignment with this, she encouraged us to think about our ‘-isms’ and ideologies, and reflect on whether they effectively serve collective liberation. Yet, Rutendo emphasised that ‘showing up’ and resisting doesn’t always have to happen through traditional notions of ‘activism’. Alongside marching with banners and megaphones, creating spaces of joy and gathering in unison can be a tool for resistance.
The event also featured a panel discussion on lessons in sisterhood* with the Nurtured Magazine team. Similar to Rutendo’s reminder, Hanaa Yousof highlighted that sisterhood* means committing yourself to being there for others, even if this is not always easy. In fact, she highlighted that sisterhood* can come with things that are quite challenging. Yet, as discussed by others in the panel, this is what makes it so fruitful. Sisterhood* helps to combat loneliness and difficulties, but also to believe in yourself while learning with others.
Archiving and Storytelling
On archiving, I was struck by a thought shared with us by Astrid Grahn-Farley, Health and Wellbeing Editor, Nurtured Magazine. Astrid described Nurtured Magazine as a tool to (re)assert Black women’s place in history at the University of Edinburgh. While there may have been similar magazines by Black women students in the past, it is difficult to ascertain due to the erasure of Black women’s voices and stories in society, at large.
Rejecting categories and labels
I was struck by the writer, journalist, poet, content creator, public speaker, and youth advocate, Muminah Koleoso’s speech and performance towards the end of the event. Muminah highlighted how throughout her life, she has been rejecting identity categories and boxes and redefining herself. This included reconciling different parts of her identity. She gave us five recommendations on how to reject rigid identity categories and creating spaces for ourselves that I would like to conclude with.
- Don’t water yourself down. Create tables that have space for you.
- You deserve not just the loaf, but the entire bakery.
- Don’t lose sight of your vision.
- Don’t buy into labels.
- Don’t lose faith in yourself and what God can do for you.