Hafsat Abiola's Bio

My YES! Jams
2002 World Jam

Org: Kudirat Initiative for Democracy
Location: Mitchelville

Bio:

Hafsat is a 27 year old human rights activist from Nigeria. Her father, M.K.O. Abiola, won Nigeria’s Presidential election in 1993 but served out his term incarcerated by the military dictatorship, eventually dying in prison. Her mother, Kudirat, was a democracy leader who organized major strikes and marches until she was assassinated in the streets of Lagos. Continuing in her parents’ footsteps, Hafsat founded and directs KIND (Kudirat INitiative for Democracy), which strengthens civil society and promotes democracy in Africa. She has written articles for the New York Times, Time, and Newsweek. Hafsat is part of several global networks that support youth, women, and spiritual transformation, is a Fetzer Fellow, and serves on the board of the Institute Of Noetic Sciences (IONS).

"In Nigeria, the hopes of millions have been pinned on me. Everything I do is under the spotlight. If they want to sell papers, they put me on the cover. If they want to gain popular support in an election, they ask for my endorsement. Where does someone like me go when we need a safe place to be and learn? To renew, deepen the foundation of our work, and sharpen our focus? To share experiences, lessons and build relationships with others that can advance our thinking, approach and capacity? We go to the YES! Jam, which gives us all that and so much more.— Hafsat Abiola, 27, Founder, Kudirat INitiative for Democracy (KIND), NigeriaI loved my experience of the Jam. The flow of our sessions, the nourishment of well prepared organic food, the richness of our interactions, the opening of our day with a spiritual practice, be it Tai Ji, yoga or singing, helped to restore my internal sense of rhythm and balance and strengthened my ability to serve. Through my interactions with youth from all over the planet, I found myself getting clearer about so many things that had confused me about my world. Things that I had thought were local, or unique to my country, were suddenly more universal. These insights will help me be more centered and more powerfully engaged in my later work. The YES! Jam is rare among other gatherings I’ve experienced because the Jam creates a safe space for us to be caught learning—what a gift that is!!"