“The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Monday of this week, we celebrated global visionary, activist and minister, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For many, it is a time to reflect on how far the US and the world have progressed concerning civil/human rights for Black and colonized peoples. Dr. King’s work, especially as the Civil Rights Movement began casting a wider net on the levers of social and economic exclusion, was very much focused on supporting workers--dignity in labor. My guest this week has us fully engaged in reflection as he has spent his career focused on labor. Born and raised in Denmark, Tobias Bavnsgaard is an experienced International advisor and development program manager with more than a decade of international experience working and living in developing countries. After living in Mozambique, Tanzania, Bangladesh and a stint back in Denmark, he and his family are currently based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From early in his career, unions played a key role affording him a strong background in labor organizations and working with development projects and programing in the civic and social sectors on the local, national and international levels.

His international profile began to take shape in 2012, with the production of “The Good Growth,” a documentary making a critical assessment of the social impacts of economic growth by comparing the reality in Brazil, Philippines and Ghana against each other and to the Danish context. The documentary has been translated into English, Spanish, French and Arabic to reach a wide base of international trade union leaders and activists.

With the advent of a more digitized world, the future of work and the evolution of work spaces are very necessary ongoing conversations. I hope this episode provides a foundation of knowledge and framwork for how to consider solutions leading to better long-term outcomes for global workers.

Where to find Tobias?
On LinkedIn
On Instagram

What’s Tobias listening to?
Den Yderste Grænse / The Outer Limits Podcast

Other topics of interest:
Dr. King’s Last Campaign
About the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO)
Tesla Strike in Sweden
About the Toyota HiAce and transporting the masses
On Civil Conflict in Ethiopia

Special Guest: Tobias Bavnsgaard.

This week’s episode is like the jetway bridging me between my two locations this week. From my Continental base in Accra, South Sudanese-Ethiopian-American, Nyamal Tutdeal, who is a conflict resolution and healing practitioner, joins us again to talk about, among other things, one of her homelands--Ethiopia, where I found myself (in Addis Ababa) for the weekend. Many may recall meeting Nyamal on the podcast prior to her move to Accra, and now after a nearly two years, she’s an “Accra-an.” With over a decade of work experience under her belt, Nyamal has developed and managed various programmes related togender, peace, security, and antiracist/race relations. She is a staunch advocate for women's empowerment, human rights, refugees, immigrants, displaced communities, and the fight against early child marriage. Nyamal is a Co-Director and Co-Founder of the NyaEden Foundation. She also works as an Adjunct Professor at both Arcadia University and Webster University in Ghana, where she provides academic support and teaches Introduction to Human Rights, Refugee and Migration Movement, Advocacy, NGO and Civil Society at Webster University Ghana campus. Nyamal is also involved in teaching Conflict Transformation, Restorative Justice, Mediation, and Conflict Coaching in the International Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) program at Arcadia University. Prior to her relocation to Ghana, Nyamal served as the Director of Equity and Inclusion for CORA Services. Nyamal has a B.A. in Human Relations and an M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution.

Nyamal is now at the head of her own consultancy, The Nyamal Group which she launched this year.

Where to find Nyamal?
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On X
On Facebook
Shades of Injera

What's Nyamal reading?
Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku

What’s Nyamal watching?
About Star Wars and the Ashoka TV Series

Other topics of interest?
About the Nuer People Demographics in Ethiopia
Civil Conflict in Ethiopia
On Empire, here are some articles that analyze empire and colonization as major drivers of present-day inequality:
"The Empire of Inequality: Introduction" by Himadeep Muppidi - Discusses how colonial empires created enduring global inequality through exploitation, extraction of wealth, and imposition of power structures.
"The Long-Run Effects of the Scramble for Africa" by Stelios Michalopoulos and Elias Papaioannou - Economic analysis finding that artificial colonial borders continue to impact economic development and inequality across African nations today.
"The Colonial Origins of Comparative Development: An Empirical Investigation" by Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson - Research arguing colonialism set up institutions that continue to affect world inequality.
"Imperialism and Colonialism" by Battiston et al. - Reviews how empires led to concentration of wealth and power for imperial nations that remains evident in 21st century global inequality.
“How Western Colonization Launched Capitalism with Violence and Ruin" by Nicholas De Genova - Discusses direct links between violent colonization, slavery, genocide and the rise of global capitalism and inequality.
“The Impact of Colonialism on African Economic Development” by Joshua Settles - Analysis of economic exploitation, extraction of resources, and disruption of existing systems during European colonization of Africa.
SAD - Seasonal Effective Disorder
54th NAACP Image Awards
Sheryl Lee Ralph’s dress and designer, Pistis Ghana
South Sudan’s Political Structure
South Sudan’s Vice Presidents and Fourth VP, Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior
About Hope Resoration South Sudan
About the South Sudanese Civil War
About South Sudan’s Minister of Interior, Angelina Teny
Bella Afrik in Accra
The Mix Accra

Special Guest: Nyamal Tutdeal.

No passport required! Grab a snack, relax and let the sound be your transport.

Where to find Ronda?
Where to find Salim?
Where to find Nyamal?

Other topics of interest:
Seyi Akiwowo and Glitch
On Intersectionality
Glocal Citizen Asare Adjei
Barbados, the newest republic
Anatomy of the Conflict in Ethiopia
Asida
Genfo
Banku

Special Guests: Nyamal Tutdeal, Ronda Zelezny-Green, and Salim Rollins.

Nyamal Tutdeal is a former refugee from South Sudan resettled in the United States with her family. She has worked with various immigrants, migrants, refugees, indigenous communities, and women groups, both domestically and internationally. She is a notable international speaker and an advocate for displaced communities. Her advocacy work took her to the White House during President Obama’s term in office. She has hosted cultural events and facilitates dialogue on conflict resolution, antiracist/race relations and peacebuilding. She is also a mediator and teaches mediation, conflict coaching, restorative justice and conflict transformation.

Nyamal is the co-founder and Executive Director of the NyaEden Foundation, an Adjunct Professor at Arcadia University and Director of Equity and Inclusion for CORA Services, a Nonprofit in Pennsylvania. She previously served as the policy director for Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalitions, a Nonprofit working on immigrants and refugees issues, and currently sits on the board. She holds a B.A. in Human Relations, an M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Nyamal is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis & Resolution at Nova Southeastern University.

A hallmark of Nyamal's technical approach is humor which she shared generously--we had great fun and many laughs during the interview. You're invited to laugh along as we journey with Nyamal for her native lands to the US!

Where to find Nyamal?
[[NYAEDEN FOUNDATION](www.nyaeden.org)
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Facebook
Shades of Injera

What's Nyamal reading?
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Other topics of interest:
Nuer People
White Fragility
Jessica .B Harris and High on the Hog
Ponca People
Jesus and Jollof

*When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!

Special Guest: Nyamal Tutdeal.

Nyamal Tutdeal is a former refugee from South Sudan resettled in the United States with her family. She has worked with various immigrants, migrants, refugees, indigenous communities, and women groups, both domestically and internationally. She is a notable international speaker and an advocate for displaced communities. Her advocacy work took her to the White House during President Obama’s term in office. She has hosted cultural events and facilitates dialogue on conflict resolution, antiracist/race relations and peacebuilding. She is also a mediator and teaches mediation, conflict coaching, restorative justice and conflict transformation.

Nyamal is the co-founder and Executive Director of the NyaEden Foundation, an Adjunct Professor at Arcadia University and Director of Equity and Inclusion for CORA Services, a Nonprofit in Pennsylvania. She previously served as the policy director for Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalitions, a Nonprofit working on immigrants and refugees issues, and currently sits on the board. She holds a B.A. in Human Relations, an M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Nyamal is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis & Resolution at Nova Southeastern University.

A hallmark of Nyamal's technical approach is humor which she shared generously--we had great fun and many laughs during the interview. You're invited to laugh along as we journey with Nyamal for her native lands to the US!

Where to find Nyamal?
[[NYAEDEN FOUNDATION](www.nyaeden.org)
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Facebook
Shades of Injera

What's Nyamal reading?
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Other topics of interest:
Nuer People
White Fragility
Jessica .B Harris and High on the Hog
Ponca People
Jesus and Jollof

*When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!

Special Guest: Nyamal Tutdeal.

We’re back in East Africa by way of Washington D.C. for this two part conversation with singer, songwriter, music producer and designer, Kenny Allen. Kenny is a singer/songwriter/music producer and has travelled the world performing and recording music with acts like Meshell Ndegeocello and Raheem DeVaughn. In 2005, he was given a six month contract to perform at Addis Ababa’s Harlem Jazz club which proved to be life changing. More than a decade later, Kenny is a resident of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and has become a fixture in the country’s media and entertainment scene, including a successful stint hosting a prime time radio show on the first English Radio station, and acting in film and TV productions. He has released seven independent albums. His new album, More Love Now is soulful, world music inspired, lyrically mature, and stylistically journeyed.

Where to find Kenny?

• On Bandcamp
• On Facebook
• On YouTube
• On Instagram

What’s Kenny reading?

• The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
• The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
• Father of the Tuskegee Airmen, John C. Robinson by Phillip Thomas Tucker

Other topics of interest—

• Grammy nominated singer Wayna
• Africans in the Czech Republic
• Revisit Episodes 29 and 30 with Yana Fleming

Special Guest: Kenny Allen.

We’re back in East Africa by way of Washington D.C. for this two part conversation with singer, songwriter, music producer and designer, Kenny Allen. Kenny is a singer/songwriter/music producer and has travelled the world performing and recording music with acts like Meshell Ndegeocello and Raheem DeVaughn. In 2005, he was given a six month contract to perform at Addis Ababa’s Harlem Jazz club which proved to be life changing. More than a decade later, Kenny is a resident of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and has become a fixture in the country’s media and entertainment scene, including a successful stint hosting a prime time radio show on the first English Radio station, and acting in film and TV productions. He has released seven independent albums. His new album, More Love Now is soulful, world music inspired, lyrically mature, and stylistically journeyed.

Where to find Kenny?

• On Bandcamp
• On Facebook
• On YouTube
• On Instagram

What’s Kenny reading?

• The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
• The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
• Father of the Tuskegee Airmen, John C. Robinson by Phillip Thomas Tucker

Other topics of interest—

• Grammy nominated singer Wayna
• Africans in the Czech Republic
• Revisit Episodes 29 and 30 with Yana Fleming

Special Guest: Kenny Allen.