I Am a Girl from Africa

De: Elizabeth Nyamayaro

Narrado por: Elizabeth Nyamayaro

A “profound and soul-nourishing memoir” (Oprah Daily) from an African girl whose near-death experience sparked a lifelong dedication to humanitarian work that helps bring change across the world.

When severe drought hit her village in Zimbabwe, Elizabeth Nyamayaro, then only eight, had no idea that this moment of utter devastation would come to define her life’s purpose. Unable to move from hunger and malnourishment, she encountered a United Nations aid worker who gave her a bowl of warm porridge and saved her life - a transformative moment that inspired Elizabeth to dedicate herself to giving back to her community, her continent, and the world.

In the decades that have followed, Elizabeth has been instrumental in creating change and uplifting the lives of others: by fighting global inequalities, advancing social justice for vulnerable communities, and challenging the status quo to accelerate women’s rights around the world. She has served as a senior advisor at the United Nations, where she launched HeForShe, one of the world’s largest global solidarity movements for gender equality. In I Am a Girl from Africa, she charts this “journey of perseverance” (Entertainment Weekly) from her small village of Goromonzi to Harare, Zimbabwe; London; New York; and beyond, always grounded by the African concept of ubuntu - “I am because we are” - taught to her by her beloved grandmother.

This “victorious” (The New York Times Book Review) memoir brings to vivid life one extraordinary woman’s story of persevering through incredible odds and finding her true calling - while delivering an important message of hope, empowerment, community support, and interdependence.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Elizabeth Nyamayaro. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Nyamayaro never shies away from the difficult truths of poverty, illness, and maternal mortality rates. She deftly balances her personal story and those of the people she has encountered in her work. Her accent is a combination of Zimbabwean and British, and she captures the accents of others respectfully. Nyamayaro's narration is powerful, not just because of her words, but because she performs with emotions that capture the truth she has lived." (AudioFile Magazine)

Such an inspiration and compelling story

I particularly enjoyed having the author read this one. Her passion really comes through. I never heard of He for She and now will never forget what it has done to promote gender equality. But what I enjoyed the most was her personal story of her life so far and the people in her life. The beauty of Africa and her people and the spirit of Ubuntu underneath it all.

Inspiring and Empowering Memoir

An incredibly inspiring and empowering memoir. I enjoyed the African proverbs and the weaving of the author's childhood with accomplishments! The narration is EXCELLENT!

Dreams can change the world

It was a privilege to hear Elizabeth share her story and learn about the far-reaching effects that resulted from her commitment to following her dream.

The Girl In The Blue Uniform

A truly uplifting memoir. With every possible obstacle in front of her, Elizabeth pushes on. She didn't just reach her goal, she exceeded it.

Malawian proverb - When you educate a girl, you educate a nation.

Malawian proverb - When you educate a girl, you educate a nation.

"U-bun-tu (Ooo-Boon-too) is what connects us as human beings here in Goromonzi, but also everywhere in the world." Gogo

"Ubuntu is the essence of who we are as Africans, a lesson we learned from our ancestors, who understood that we are all part of one human family. We need each other, and we are responsible for each other." "Ubuntu means: I am because we are, and because we are, you are." Gogo

Elizabeth Nyamayaro penned a beautiful memoir that is exemplary of determination and resilience. Each chapter starts with very profound African proverbs. I admire how they appreciated love, life, the land, God, and each other. You can feel the passion in her writing. Lizzy shares with us her journey toward fulfilling her dream that she is deeply passionate about. Lizzy's journey began in a small village in Goromonzi, Africa, and crossed several continents. Prayer is central to everything Elizabeth does. Two of the driving themes throughout the book are kindness and always seeking new opportunities to better oneself and uplift others. In addition to unwavering family support and being continuously guided by her ancestors, Lizzy pulls strength from her ancestors in the spirit of Ubuntu and Shinga to fulfill her dreams. She was and continues to be successful in motivating others and building community interest to improve health conditions and women's role in the community. Lizzy dreamed of becoming like the girl in the blue dress that saved her life. After many setbacks, Lizzy ultimately exceeds her expectations beyond her wildest dreams. While serving as a senior advisor at the United Nations, she launched HeForShe, one of the world's largest global solidarity movements for gender equality. "As Africans, we must uplift each other." Elizabeth Nyamayaro. I Am A Girl From Africa made me think about how underlying social and cultural norms differ globally. The author educates us about how these differences affect women's roles in communities. Behavior influences health, but culture influences behavior, she so rightly stated.

"Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve." Trinidad and Tobago Motto

Loved it!

So happy Elizabeth read the book!!! I loved listening to her read it. Great book!

Motivating Journey

This ‘girl’ had a very limited upbringing and yet persevered to affect and influence the entire world, despite many roadblocks. The world (particularly for females) is a better place for her being in it. She has fought against child marriage, acid attacks, domestic violence, and gender inequality. She spoke that women are paid less for the same work in America—statistics no longer support that. She spoke that women should be appointed to leadership positions regardless of merit (can anyone recommend Hillary for any reason other than her genitalia?). It’s horrifying to hear what women in Africa and many other places have to tolerate simply because they’re women. I’m old enough to see the great strides accomplished in America since 1972a. Our women’s movement must work to enable women the world over to become fulfilled. (Once I asked a woman attending a woman’s march what was being marched against now, and all she could come up with was ‘catcalls’.) This is a great listen. Although it’s difficult in places, with accents in unexpected places (penícillin), and she says no ‘L’ and very few ‘R’ sounds (‘world’ is particularly difficult). Highly recommended. We’ve come so far; there’s so far yet to go in the world.

Fantastic

So inspiring. It should be required school reading. Letting everyone know what one person can do with help from others.

Inspiring and Heartwarming

Several years ago, I learned about the idea of ubuntu. The way that the author weaves ubuntu throughout her life and story give it more context and action. This story has left me feeling inspired and hopeful.

so sly and so loving

thank you, elizabeth nyamayaro, for reminding me of ubuntu. i first read of this way of caring for each other during graduate course work in indigenous studies in the mid 90s. it has added to my life, understandings, and hopes for the world around me ever since.

i also thank you for writing so personally and choosing your details they way you did. this adds so much about the how and the why of ubuntu that would otherwise be harder to notice. in staying so inward at the same time as your focus is so large, details slide in all over the place inside me, not giving old believes, potential blocks, and unhealthy habits to disrupt them. it's about you, not me, so reactions aren't triggered. in doing this, you're like samantha powers, whose memoir is as intimate as yours, but about the place of person and family in a political world. you two have different styles and pathways for presenting alternatives, but you seem to me to present two aspects of a whole that is too large to be contained by any life's descriptions or any perspectives.

for over 60 years i've been focusing on an unsayable question about how humans and humanity can realistically become more humane. between you and samantha, i now have two parts of an answer to add to what i've figured out for myself, but without what you, elizabeth, have given me with your words and voice, i wouldn't know it.