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Decolonising My Body
- A Radical Exploration of Rituals and Beauty
- Narrated by: Afua Hirsch
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
How do we determine what is beautiful? Whose standards are we trying to meet when we spend our hard-earned money on our haircare, skincare and makeup; where do they come from, and how can we learn to undo them?
Upon getting her first tattoo at 40 years old, award-winning journalist Afua Hirsch embarked on a journey to reclaim her body from the colonial ideas of purity, adornment and ageing she - and many of us - absorbed while growing up. Informed by research from around the world, Afua will look at how individual and collective notions of what is beautiful are constructed or stripped away from us. Through personal anecdotes, interviews from beauty experts, practitioners and service users, she explores the global history of skin, hair and body modification rituals. These insights and discoveries will empower listeners to reconnect with their cultures of origin, better understand the link between beauty and politics, and liberate themselves from mainstream beauty standards that aren't serving them.
What listeners say about Decolonising My Body
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- Karl-Maxwell
- 03-03-24
A perspective shifting read
This has come at a time when I needed to hear it. The highlighted importance of ancestral practices, the documentation of the history of body marking in African and indigenous cultures was mind opening.
Afua, your research and writing are a gift to us.
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- Reem AL-ASSIL
- 28-01-24
It’ll stay with you for a long time
Inspiring book with so much soul and knowledge in each page. An easy listen, yet profound and eye opening
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- Anonymous User
- 21-10-23
Captivating, educational and uplifting!
I loved EVERYTHING about this book! The way each story was interwoven from Afua’s personal life into often forgotten historical facts, was so beautifully articulated and read by Afua herself. Her voice is familiar, soothing and captivating! I would highly recommend this book, I’m really sad it’s over!
Praying her next book is released soon.
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- Anonymous User
- 18-05-24
Wrapped in truth, curiosity and roots,
Whilst I am from Caribbean roots, this book beautifully allows me to connect with what has shaped me and what shape has ironed. I love Afua's narrative, sometime raw with English cultural quirks and then shifts beautifully into a land and roots bathed in blood belonging. Whilst I, a skint Northener who is mixed race and has scant cultural ties, this book explodes the held beliefs that have settle me into a Black British (not so "culturally black") and failing Mixed British ancestrally connected woman. And though I am personally unsure how to navigate this Afua Hirsch's book is a beautiful insight. A marvelous book! Much to think on!
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- Anonymous User
- 23-06-24
insightful research
Powerful and reflective. The book encourages further exploration and reading. It was empowering hearing the origins of my ancestral traditions
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- Ryan
- 28-02-24
Good and authentic work
Good work . I love the hard work behind this audio . She is great and resourceful
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- emily Foster
- 25-04-24
Brilliant
Read by the author… the book came alive and I didn’t want it to stop.
It was like getting schooled by an older sister.
I definitely recommend this for anyone questioning why they have certain views about their or other black or brown bodies and beautifying and self care practices.. ❤️ Thank you Afua
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