On Our Terms with Ismatou Bah
Welcome to On Our Terms with Ismatou Bah: a brave space for the unfiltered conversations we don't typically see in mainstream media, anchored by guests who are living life on their own terms. Every conversation is carved with a sociologist's eye, through the lens of Ismatou's competing identities as a first-generation, Guinean-Muslim, native New Yorker. On Our Terms is where those seemingly disparate identities converge, convene, and come home. Just remember: this is NOT a safe space, it’s a brave space.
On Our Terms with Ismatou Bah
Mummy...I'm STILL not coming home for Thanksgiving ft. Arewá Basit
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Be Brave! What's on your mind?
Reintroducing an episode that was ahead of its time, this is a conversation with Arewá Basit. A multihyphenate non-binary trans-femme based in Brooklyn. Basit is a performance artist who uses all mediums to put on for the black femmes. I met Arewà through her collective, LEGACY. Since our conversation, Arewà modeled for Amy Sherald's portrait “Trans Forming Liberty”, a recreation of the Statue of Liberty with a trans femme as lady liberty. The piece was surrounded by a lot of press and controversy, beginning with the Smithsonian Museums considering removing the piece from a larger collection titled “American Sublime”. Basit also starred in DOLLS directed by Geena Rocero, which premiered at the New Fest Film Festival marking her big screen debut! In this episode, Ismatou sits down with Arewà to dive into a choice many Millennials and Gen Z are making: skipping the holidays to avoid the trauma. Arewà’s experience is a refreshing and radical departure: she shares a beautiful story of growing into her queer identity with the nurturing support of her mother. In honor of the upcoming holidays, we hope you enjoy!
Follow us on all socials @onourtermspod and your host Ismatou Bah @uotamsi on IG.
Don’t forget to follow our guest on instagram @ basit_ and Tik Tok @ arewabasit