Bodily Autonomy: a right not an ideology

Join us for a panel discussion as we explore the significance of bodily autonomy and why for women, especially Black and Indigenous women, reclaiming knowledge of our cycles, fertility, and traditional reproductive practices is crucial if we want to have power and ownership over our bodies. 

Inspired by artist Jacqueline Bishop’s The Keeper of All The Secrets tea service on display in the Queen's House, the discussion will cover:

• The importance of community support systems
• Womb health 
• Herbal options
• Reclamation of cultural practices and knowledge
• Using our voices to promote positive changes for women

About the panel

Dr Kesewa John

Dr Kesewa John is a Lecturer in Black British History and Convenor of the MA Black British History at Goldsmiths, University of London.

A historian of liberation movements, intellectual history, and gender, Dr John's research and teaching explores transatlantic, multilingual linkages between African and Caribbean activists and the evolution and circulation of Black radical thought. Dr John is particularly interested in the intersections of histories of Black feminist and Black radical Caribbean activism. 

Love Hannington

Love Hannington is an Obeah woman and multidisciplinary artist, deeply connected to the spiritual heritage of the African Diaspora. Practising Obeah, a sacred Caribbean tradition of ancestral knowledge and herbal remedies, she utilises generational wisdom and creative expression to support women on their path to resilience and empowerment. Her work also integrates Celtic Shamanic practices and the herbs of the British Isles, honouring the way traditions evolve as people connect with new lands.

Through her workshops, Love combines storytelling, meditative reflection, and embodied creativity to honour the legacy of Indigenous knowledge keepers. Whether introducing participants to African-Caribbean and Celtic herbal practices or inspiring self-expression through art, her work holds space for the timeless power of ancestral traditions and women's wellbeing.

Akosua Paries-Osei

Akosua Paries-Osei is a PhD Candidate in the history of science. Akosua's research is ethnobotanical, uncovering the use of medicinal plants by enslaved African and Caribbean women as a site of reproductive resistance, from puberty through to menopause. 

Akosua has recently completed a placement at the Natural History Museum, London where her research into Hans Sloane's Collection of Vegetables and Vegetable Substances is available through the Natural History Museum's Data Portal.

Sakli Laurence Sessou

Sakli Laurence Sessou is a child of the Earth, devoted to people's spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing. She is a trained doula, massage therapist and aromatherapist with over 17 years of clinical experience with roots from the Republic of Benin.

She is open to working with all people who are willing to receive healing and restoration on a deep level.

Tinuke from 5 X More

Tinuke and Clo are pioneering advocates for Black maternal health and wellbeing in the UK. They co-founded Five X More CIC, an organisation that campaigns for improved health outcomes for Black mothers. This initiative was inspired by findings from the MBRRACE studies, which revealed that Black women were five times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth compared to white women - a disparity that, while slightly improved, still sees Black women facing four times the risk.

Tinuke is also the founder of Mums & Tea, a social platform connecting Black mothers. Her work is deeply rooted in enhancing the experiences and outcomes for Black mothers and children.

In 2020, Tinuke and Clo launched a significant petition to improve maternal mortality rates and healthcare for Black women in the UK. Garnering over 187,000 signatures, the petition led to the first-ever parliamentary discussion on Black maternal health in the UK. It was also nominated for Petition of the Year, highlighting its impact alongside Marcus Rashford’s petition to end child poverty.

Five X More has gained substantial media attention, featuring in British Vogue, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, The Independent, The Guardian, and on Sky News and ITV News. The campaign has received support from celebrities like Rochelle Humes and Mo Gilligan and has been recognized with multiple awards, including “Inspirational woman of the year” by Marks and Spencers and the Daily Mail, as well as listings in "Forces for Change" by Vogue and the HSJ's ‘50 most influential ethnic minorities in health’.

In 2022, they published the Black Maternity Experience Report, the largest report to date on Black women’s experiences with UK maternity services, with data from over 1,300 Black women. In September 2023, they expanded their focus to the broader women’s health space with their inaugural Women’s Health Summit, which addressed the entire lifecycle of women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB).

Through these efforts, Tinuke and Clo continue to drive significant change in the discussion and improvement of Black maternal health in the UK.

Header image: © Jacqueline Bishop