As Adventures From the Bedrooms of African Women turns 16 years old on January 18, 2024, we find ourselves in a celebratory mood—and for good reason! It’s been a remarkable journey of growth, learning, and unapologetic expression. Sixteen years ago, in 2009, we set out with a simple yet revolutionary agenda: to create a space where African women could talk about sex and sexuality without shame or stigma. We wanted to provide not just a safe haven for these conversations, but also useful, honest information about sex and its mechanics. Looking back now, it’s clear that what started as a passion project became something so much bigger.
In the heyday of blogging, Adventures was a trailblazer, the first of its kind on the continent. African women—and people from all over the world—found our space, and suddenly, our modest corner of the internet was making headlines. Major publications and platforms like NPR and BBC came knocking, eager to learn about what happens in African women’s bedrooms. The attention was gratifying, but not shocking. After all, if the patriarchy spends so much energy policing women’s sexuality, it stands to reason that this is an area of deep fascination and potential power.
As co-founders, we reveled in the attention but resisted being seduced by it. Maya Angelou once said, “If you believe the flattering things people say about you, you equally have to believe the unsavory things as well.” Okay, so I’m not entirely sure that these are the precise words of Dr. Angelou, but it sounds like something she might say, yes? Either way, the sentiment helped us stay humble and woke.
At 16 years old, Adventures is no longer a baby. If she were a girl, she would be driving, thinking about university, maybe even sneaking off for a first kiss. It’s incredible to reflect on what this community has achieved over the years. In the first iteration of the awards ceremony, we won the Best Blog award at the Ghana Blogging Awards—and then we won it again the following year! Audiences really liked us and what started as a digital platform soon evolved beyond the screen.
We’ve hosted five festival seasons in Ghana and Kenya, growing from 100 attendees in the first year to nearly 500 in 2024. Even when the pandemic hit – especially when COVID turned all our lives upside down – you all turned up for the virtual festivities and fun in numbers. Narah’s concert was the crowning event. (You can watch the concert on our YouTube channel.)
Our Adventures Reads series, which was inspired by and developed for our disability audience, now boasts 52 episodes. The Adventures Podcast earned an Anthem Award for diversity and inclusion in its debut season, and our two live shows in London played to sold-out audiences.
The Adventures Fellowship, now known as the Adventures Creators Program, has supported 18 writers and visual artists since 2021, amplifying new voices and perspectives from across the continent and diaspora. And let’s not forget our wildly popular Sunday Lives with my co-host Ami Tamakloe, where the “Bad Advice” series has become a beloved (and chaotic) part of our community’s weekly rituals.
While these milestones are remarkable, what brings me the greatest joy is the community itself. Adventures has become a thriving network of writers, thinkers, and artists who proudly embrace their identities—queer, women, single, married, African, or any combination of the above. This community is loving, talented, fearless, and fiercely protective of one another. Speaking of love: The hook up stories that have occured IRL have made this Mama Bear proud!
As we look ahead, we can only imagine what the next 16 years will bring. One thing is certain: the journey will be fun, sexy, fresh, and full of opportunities we’ve yet to dream of. Thank you for being part of this adventure with us. Let’s keep exploring together.
