VANAMAI VANAMAI

Our special guest for our Mother’s Day episode is singer Tshedi Mholo, from the award-winning South African group Malaika. We’ve gotten down to their music at countless African engagement parties, weddings and baby showers in Australia. It seems only fitting to ask Tshedi about her experience of motherhood and relationships. Watch the full interview on Youtube at https://youtu.be/yDgldjcLDDc or on our IGTV channel at https://www.instagram.com/vanamai.village/. Tshedi's songs are also on all music streaming platforms and you can follow her daily adventures at https://www.instagram.com/tshedimholo.

We'd also like to thank our friend DJ Chris NG for curating our Mother’s Day Afro house playlist. VANAMAI Vibes Vol 1 is out now, featuring our fave female African musicians, including Tshedi. We hope you have a wonderful day full of laughter, love and dancing!

Lucie Cutting, co-founder of The Pin, is on the show sharing memories from her childhood growing up with a Nigerian mother and an Anglo father. She also reveals what inspired her blog post ‘Black and pregnant in the Australian health system’, and how she’d like to discuss identity with her young son. The Pin is a discussion platform centred around representing multinational and multicultural people in a diverse range of conversations about race, identity, and culture within the Australian narrative. If you’d like to pitch them a story or be part of their conversations, contact Lucie and Nkechi at hello(at)thepin.org or via Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thepin__/. Song feature: Ugali by The Tony Benson Sextet

Wow — we did it! One season of sharing stories, laughing, almost-crying, learning, listening and growing friendship with YOU, our listeners and guests. Thanks for your incredible support and we can't wait to share more magic with you in Season 2! Love from Rita and Taku. P.s. If any episodes resonate with you, share them with a friend or two and continue the conversation!

No spoilers — Taku, Jacqui and Primrose discuss it all in this episode. Taku’s aunty in Zimbabwe also leaves an epic 6-minute voicemail with her thoughts on sex in marriage. Friendly manners: this episode is not suitable for young ears — please find a good distraction for any kids around you, or don some headphones. Visit our village at https://www.instagram.com/vanamai.village/ or leave us a voicemail with your questions and comments at https://anchor.fm/vanamai/message.

Rita, Mai Kayla or Mwana waHenry? Mai Maya, Ms Mbudzi or Taku? We’re discussing the different labels society gives us when we become mothers, get married, get divorced or are single. We also discuss maiden names and whether to take our husbands’ names when we get married. Song feature: Ndihamba Name by Mafikizolo. Visit our village at https://www.instagram.com/vanamai.village/ or leave us a voicemail with your questions and comments at https://anchor.fm/vanamai/message.

In this episode, Taku shares her experience of having a grapefruit-sized fibroid that degenerated during her pregnancy last year. Friendly manners: this episode might not be suitable for little ears. Also, this is one person’s experience — please seek expert medical advice for your own circumstances. Song feature: Higher Ground by UB40. Visit our village at https://www.instagram.com/vanamai.village/ or leave us a voicemail with your questions and comments at https://anchor.fm/vanamai/message.