ALKAH Book Club
Feminist literature space where knowledge moves from theory to praxis through transformative reading
The ALKAH Book Club
At Equality Vanguard, we believe that reading is not passive. Rather, it is a radical act of resistance and imagination. That belief gave rise to the ALKAH Book Club, our feminist literature space where knowledge moves from theory to praxis.
The name ALKAH invokes alchemy, the ancient science of transformation. Just as alchemists sought to transmute base metals into gold, ALKAH exists as a space where silence becomes voice, where erasure gives way to remembrance, and where knowledge is refined into collective power.
The Alchemy of Reading
Through ALKAH, the words of Audre Lorde, Ama Ata Aidoo, Dr. Sylvia Tamale, and other Pan-African foremothers become both catalyst and compass. Their works do not simply inform; they ignite. Within these sessions, members become co-alchemists, undertaking the slow burn of consciousness-raising, turning ideas into action, and imagining feminist futures together.
Featured Books
Purple Hibiscus
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A powerful coming-of-age story that explores themes of family, religion, and political upheaval in Nigeria.
The Sex Lives of African Women
by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
An intimate collection of stories about African women's sexual experiences and relationships.
Decolonization and Afrofeminism
by Dr. Sylvia Tamale
A critical examination of decolonial feminist thought and its application in African contexts.
All About Love
by Bell Hooks
A transformative exploration of love in all its forms and its role in creating a just society.
Connected to Our Library
Our Book Club is also connected to our library repository, a living archive of recommended readings in our focus areas: sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), economic justice, gender justice, and digital rights. It is a resource and a reminder that justice begins with learning, and that learning is most powerful when shared.
Upcoming Book Club Sessions
The Looting Machine by Tom Burgis
Exploring the hidden networks that plunder Africa's wealth and the role of extractive industries in perpetuating inequality.
Date: [To be announced]
Location: [Online/In-person]
Unbowed: One Woman's Story by Wangari Maathai
The inspiring memoir of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and environmental activist who founded the Green Belt Movement.
Date: [To be announced]
Location: [Online/In-person]
More Than a Book Club
ALKAH is not just a book club. It is a community of resistance, remembrance, and renewal. Through our shared reading and discussion, we:
- •Build collective consciousness around feminist and Pan-African issues
- •Create safe spaces for critical dialogue and reflection
- •Transform knowledge into action through community organizing
- •Honor the intellectual contributions of Pan-African feminist foremothers
Ready to Join ALKAH?
Whether you're a seasoned reader or new to feminist literature, ALKAH welcomes all who are ready to engage in the transformative power of collective reading and discussion.