Valentina Mmaka is a writer, educator and activist. She
advocates to raise awareness on Female Genital Mutilation. She has 20
years of experience working with immigrants (Adults and Children/Youth) in
Africa and Europe. She coordinates writing and theatre workshops to encourage
less privileged communities to create something, which can make impact.
Her project KUMA’ (which in the bambara language means "word")
aims to encourage youth to engage in activism for social justice through art
and creative work.
She has published eight books: Cercando Lindiwe (Epoché
2007), Il Viaggio Capovolto (Epoché 2010), Io donna immigrata (EMI 2004),
l'Ottava Nota (Prospettiva 2002), Il mondo a colori della famiglia BwanaVal
(Kabiliana 2002), Jabuni: il mistero della città sommersa (EMI 2003), I nomi
della pace. Amani (EMI 2004), The Cut: Voci globali del cambiamento. Per
rompere il silenzio sulle Mutilazioni Genitali Femminili (Edizioni dell'Arco
2015).
She is a free-lance collaborator of several international
magazines such as Scroll.in, Warscapes, Authors in Africa, Pambazuka, IMO,
Alma, Munyeri.
Her work has been widely praised for promoting diversity and
several university thesis have been dedicated to her work and life.
She is the founder of the Kumà Art for Social Justice and Kuma Story Telling Project, a creative educational space dedicated to youth where she promotes diversity and social activism through Arts.
As an activist advocating to end FGM, she coordinates educational
workshops for
children and adults addressing Female Genital Mutilation. She is touring with
her performance THE CUT, produced out of the collective Gugu Women Lab, founded
in South Africa in 2011 that has the power to break the taboo on FGM.
