Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr joins us to discuss her innovative and intimate memoir, I Am Because We Are, which tells the story of her mother, a pan-African hero who faced down misogyny and battled corruption in Nigeria.  In conversation with Negin Sairafi.

Inspired by the African philosophy of Ubuntu — the importance of community over the individual — and outraged by injustice, Dora Akunyili took on fraudulent drug manufacturers whose products killed millions, including her sister. A woman in a man's world, she was elected and became a cabinet minister, but she had to deal with political manoeuvrings, death threats, and an assassination attempt for defending the voiceless. She suffered for it, as did her marriage and her six children. I Am Because We Are  illuminates the role of kinship, family, and the individual's place in society, while revealing a life of courage, how community shaped it, and the web of humanity that binds us all.

About this event's guests: 
Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr
Negin Sairafi

This event is part of TPL's Black History series.

Toronto Public Library is committed to accessibility. Please call or email us if you are Deaf or have a disability and would like to request accommodation to participate in this program. Please let us know as far in advance as possible and we will do our best to meet your request. At least three weeks’ notice is preferred. Phone 416-393-7099 or email accessibleservices@tpl.ca

Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr: I Am Because We Are