Tales By Moonlight: An Evening of African Storytelling

On the eve of High-Level Week, five African women take one stage at Columbia University to confront a question that shapes every conversation happening across the city this week: who holds the pen when Africa’s story is written? Among them: the novelist whose Commonwealth Prize-winning book became a film at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Emmy, Peabody and Gracie Award-winning journalist who obtained the proof-of-life video of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls. The Nollywood filmmaker whose documentary forced a continent to reckon with colorism. The author and attorney who has moved audiences in 13 countries. And, opening the night, a Yale MBA candidate who has interviewed a Nobel Laureate and two heads of state before turning thirty.

For decades, the world’s understanding of Africa has been assembled largely by people who were not from there. This evening is what happens when that changes, not as protest, but as celebration. The program features film excerpts, a moderated conversation, audience Q&A, and a multi-author book signing. It advances SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 4 (quality education) by centering African women’s leadership in shaping global narrative, the soft infrastructure on which development, investment and diplomacy all quietly depend.

Our stories don’t reach the world by chance. We carry them there.

Speakers
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani — Author, I Do Not Come to You by Chance; contributor, The New Yorker, The New York Times, BBC
Stephanie Busari — Emmy, Peabody and Gracie Award-winning journalist, formerly CNN; author, Her Story: Taking Root, Sparking Change
Beverly Naya — Actor and filmmaker; creator, Skin
Aya Fubara Eneli, Esq. —  author, attorney, global speaker
Tarari Kalango — Opening keynote; host, Talking Books Africa; MBA candidate, Yale School of Management
Aisha Diori — Moderator; founder, Africa Everything

Co-presented with UIU Tri-State, with Rainbow Book Club as literary partner.