Welcome to season 2, episode 30 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast.
This week my guest is Mariama Bah. Mariama has her master's degree in Global Public Health Nutrition. She is an entrepreneur and the author of 'Free and Whole: My Journey Towards Education and Freedom as a Fulani and Muslim Girl.'
Mariama was born in Spurloop, Wilberforce, Freetown, Sierra Leone. She was born into the Fulani Tribes and lived between Sierra Leone and Guinea. She now lives in the U.S. in New Jersey.
She has fond memories of visiting her grandmother in Guinea, but there was also trauma that she experienced there as well. The Fulani Tribes value more tradition and faith than female rights and education.
In her culture the traditions included arranged marriage at a very young age. Her father wanted her to marry at the age of 11 or 12. From fighting to get an education in a culture that values religion over education, manipulated and suffered into circumcision (please note that there is some very personal content in this part of the podcast), choosing not to accept an arranged marriage, and marrying for love. Mariama was able to move out of Sierra Leone to the United States. Listen in to hear how she was able to accomplish this. Mariama shares her determination to carve her own path and create the life that she believes she deserves.
She hopes to inspire girls around the world who are on their own paths towards education and independence. Mariama says that this book is for all the women, girls, and others who are trapped by customs, tradition, and religion to encourage and enable them to achieve their dreams.
Listen in to hear more about the footprint Mariama is creating now that she wants to leave behind. You can follow Mariama @bariameaga on Instagram. Click to purchase Mariama's book
Next week my guest is Melissa Prashad, Community Manager, Community & Business Development, JPMorgan Chase & Co. We talk about her journey as a single Mom going for her master's degree while working in the banking industry. We discuss her community work and the importance of cultivating what she calls her leadership garden.
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