In this episode of The African Muslimah podcast, Na’ima B. Robert speaks with published author and entrepreneur, Umamah Lu’luah.
Umamah Lu’luah opens up about growing up rooted in deen, navigating identity and stepping into spaces where she didn’t always feel represented. From being a young niqabi in unfamiliar rooms to becoming a published author, she shares the challenges, lessons and defining moments that shaped her journey and helped her find her voice through media, entrepreneurship and writing.
Topics of discussion include:
- Umamah’s Swana and Zanzibari heritage and family’s Islamic legacy.
- An empowering Islamic upbringing and finding her voice through public speaking.
- Leaving school and her community, and questioning her identity.
- Launching Young Women in Business and entering broadcasting through Salaam Media.
- Social media pressures, comparison and embracing unconventional talents.
- Feeling like an outsider at Y20 and refusing to shrink herself.
- How isolation inspired The Diary of Hanan Isa and its intimate diary format.
- A Advice to young Muslims: work hard, seize opportunities and stay grounded in deen without expecting someone else’s path.
The African Muslimah is a flagship series on One Nation Media (ONM), an intimate, honest exploration of how Islam shapes the identity, choices, and impact of African Muslim women across the continent and diaspora.
