The Wick Culture - Portrait of consultant, coach, speaker, and writer Africa Broke The Wick Culture - Portrait of consultant, coach, speaker, and writer Africa Broke
Monday Muse

Interview Consultant, Developmental Coach, Speaker, & Author Africa Brooke

Interview
Africa Brooke
07 October 2024
Interview
Africa Brooke
07 October 2024
Meet Africa Brooke, a Zimbabwean-born, internationally acclaimed consultant, coach, and speaker whose work is a beacon of clarity in a world grappling with division and self-censorship. Applauded for her bold insights into self-sabotage and societal conformity, Brooke challenges the status quo and encourages individuals to reclaim their voice. Her open letter, Why I’m Leaving the Cult of Wokeness, published in 2021, sparked global discussions and reached over 14 million readers, establishing her as a thought leader in the realms of authenticity and open dialogue.

Founder and CEO of Africa Brooke International, she works with high-profile clients, helping them navigate the personal and professional challenges of public life. Her philosophy, encapsulated in her forthcoming book The Third Perspective: A transformative guide to brave communication for the modern world, invites us all to engage in difficult conversations with integrity and openness. From her widely followed “Beyond The Self” podcast to speaking engagements at Cambridge University and features in major publications including The Guardian, Africa is on a mission to help others dismantle self-imposed limitations and thrive in both thought and action.

Whether she’s speaking, advising or writing, Africa Brooke, Africa Brooke stands as a bridge in a divided world, a champion of brave expression to counter polarised thinking. Here we find out what makes this visionary Culturally Curious on a week which sees culture and the capital collide.

THE WICK:   Who is your ultimate Monday Muse?

Africa Brooke:   Amie McNee, also known as @inspiredtowrite on Instagram. She’s a dear friend and the voice I turn to when I need a reminder not to give up on my art, to stop selling myself short, and to reignite my creative spark.

TW:   You hold qualifications ranging from Developmental Coaching, Executive & Performance Coaching, to Clinical Hypnotherapy. What led you to this field?

AB:   My own battles with self-sabotage and self-censorship inspired me to dedicate my life to understanding why we, as humans, often find ourselves caught in cycles of inner conflict and outer chaos. This quest for solutions to these timeless challenges is at the core of my work.

TW:   You first gained recognition in 2016 when documenting your journey to sobriety. What valuable life lessons have you learned in your healing journey?

AB:   I’ve learned that every challenge I’ve faced has been essential in shaping me into a resilient, compassionate, and curious human being. Adversity has taught me more than comfort ever could.

TW:   Your 4,000-word open letter in 2021 titled “Why I’m leaving the cult of wokeness” went viral. What does going against “woke culture” look like for you?

AB:   For me, it’s about allowing space for curiosity, embracing differing perspectives, and resisting the urge to label someone ‘problematic’ just because they don’t share my worldview. It means approaching conversations with good faith, giving people grace, and not expecting everyone to be educated on every issue while still holding my own convictions. Because yes, we can hold both simultaneously.

“Adversity has taught me more than comfort ever could.”

Africa Brooke

TW:   If you could add any artwork to your personal collection, what would it be and why?

AB:   The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. This painting beautifully captures the duality of light and shadow within humanity. I saw it for the first time in 2017 at the Prado museum in Madrid, and I was completely blown away. Its contradictions reflect the complexities of human nature, a concept central to my work. I find it to be the perfect visual metaphor for the ideas I explore.

TW:   Which challenge in your life feels like an opportunity in disguise?

AB:   I’ll be honest, my instinct to avoid conflict in romantic relationships has taught me to lean into discomfort and embrace intimacy. Without fail, it deepens my connection with my partner every time.

TW:   World Mental Health Day is upon us. In navigating public conversations around fear and self-limiting beliefs, what has surprised you the most about the power of vulnerability?

AB:   Vulnerability is the doorway to intimacy, and intimacy cannot exist without it. That realisation is both simple and profoundly beautiful. It’s a mantra I come back to time and time again.

TW:   Your book The Third Perspective: Brave Expression in the Age of Intolerance invites readers to move away from rigid thinking. How does this act as a manifesto for those seeking honest discussions in their personal lives?

AB:   It empowers readers to speak their truth courageously (something I’m very serious about!), even when they fear getting it wrong, being ‘cancelled,’ or misunderstood. It’s a reminder that understanding others doesn’t require agreement. We can seek to understand without the fear that it diminishes our own stance.

TW:   Your favourite Culturally Curious spot in London?

AB:   Peckham. I absolutely love it. It’s a vibrant intersection of diverse cultures, with food as the heartbeat of it all. The energy and sense of community are unmatched.


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