What happens when the person who is supposed to protect you becomes the person you fear?

In this powerful and difficult episode of Ladies of Sosa, Christine and Sahra sit down with Monica Deng for an honest conversation about domestic violence, femicide, gender expectations, cultural silence, and the safety of South Sudanese women.

The conversation is sparked by the tragic death of a South Sudanese mother of five who was fatally stabbed in July 2026. Rather than sensationalizing her death, this episode centers her humanity and asks the bigger questions her story forces our community to confront.

Why are women sometimes encouraged to “stay for the children”? When does preserving a marriage become more important than protecting the woman inside it? Can family elders effectively address domestic violence, or are there situations where professional and legal intervention is necessary?

We also explore the role of bride price, marriage expectations, masculinity, family reputation, community pressure, and the ways cultural traditions can sometimes be misunderstood or misused to justify control.

And perhaps most importantly: What are we teaching our sons and daughters about healthy relationships, respect, accountability, and safety?

This isn't about blaming South Sudanese culture. It's about asking whether we can love and respect our culture while still challenging the parts that may cause harm.

Because marriage should never cost someone their life.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Domestic violence and intimate-partner violence
• “Stay for the children” and the pressure to preserve marriages
• Bride price, marriage and perceptions of ownership
• The role of elders and community mediation
• What young women should know about red flags and abuse
• Why women may feel unable to leave
• The responsibility of men to challenge abusive behavior
• The unique challenges facing the South Sudanese diaspora
• How families and communities can better support survivors
• What needs to change to prevent another tragedy

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses domestic violence, gender-based violence and the killing of a South Sudanese woman. Some of the discussion may be difficult to hear.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please seek help from trusted professionals and local support services.

Subscribe to Ladies of Sosa for honest conversations about South Sudanese culture, relationships, identity, family, life in the diaspora and the conversations our communities need to have.

#LadiesOfSosa #SouthSudanese #DomesticViolence #Femicide #SouthSudaneseWomen #GenderBasedViolence #Diaspora #AfricanWomen #HealthyRelationships

Please feel free to engage and challenge the perspectives, but please keep comments respectful.

Thank you so much for watching! Don't forget to like and subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday!

Peace and love to our Sosa Fam :) 🇸🇸❤️

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💬CONNECT WITH US:
https://linktr.ee/ladiesofsosa

What happens when a wedding becomes bigger than the couple?

This past weekend, the South Sudanese community came together in Dallas for a traditional wedding that brought people from across the country, and even overseas, into one room. Different tribes, generations, families and communities came together to celebrate love, culture and marriage.

And it got us thinking: Can marriage actually bring South Sudanese people closer together?

In this episode of Ladies of Sosa, Christine and Sahra sit down with a panel of South Sudanese men and women to talk about traditional marriage, intertribal relationships, family expectations, dowry, tribal identity, education, gender roles and the changing expectations of marriage in our generation.

Should marriage be between two people or two families?

And when it comes to choosing a spouse, should it be tribe, family expectations or character?

Most importantly, can the next generation of South Sudanese marriages help build a more united community?

Join the conversation as we celebrate the beauty of our traditions while also asking the difficult questions about what needs to change.

What do YOU think? Let us know in the comments!

#LadiesOfSosa #SouthSudanese #SouthSudaneseWedding #SouthSudaneseMarriage #IntertribalMarriage #SouthSudaneseCulture #AfricanMarriage #SouthSudaneseDiaspora #Marriage #AfricanDiaspora

Please feel free to engage and challenge the perspectives, but please keep comments respectful.

Thank you so much for watching! Don't forget to like and subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday!

Peace and love to our Sosa Fam :) 🇸🇸❤️

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💬CONNECT WITH US:
https://linktr.ee/ladiesofsosa

We traveled to Europe, and we're bringing you the REAL conversation. 🇬🇷🇵🇹✈️

From Greece to Portugal, this episode of Ladies of Sosa brings together Black travelers to talk about what it's really like experiencing Europe through our eyes.

We share our recent Greece experience, while our Tariq joins the conversation with his experience traveling to Portugal for Afro Nation.

And we're going beyond the beautiful pictures.

What is it actually like traveling through Europe as a Black person? Do Black men and Black women experience travel differently? How important is representation? Have we ever felt "noticed" because of our race? And are some destinations really more Black-friendly than others?

We're talking about:

🇬🇷 Greece: Food, beaches, culture, transportation, hospitality and whether it lived up to the hype

🇵🇹 Portugal & Afro Nation: The festival experience, traveling as a Black man, and what Portugal was like beyond the event

🌍 Traveling While Black: Racism, representation, beauty standards, feeling welcomed vs. feeling noticed

💇🏾‍♀️ Black Hair & Beauty Abroad: Finding products, navigating beauty standards, and preparing for different climates

💰 The Real Cost of Travel: Budgeting, luxury travel, travel hacks and whether you really need to be rich to see the world

📱 Social Media vs. Reality: Are we traveling for the experience or for the content?

🔥 Unpopular Travel Opinions: From overpacked itineraries to tourist traps, influencer culture and luxury travel

👫 Men vs. Women: Do Black men and Black women have different experiences when traveling internationally?

And we're asking the questions that might get people talking:

Is Europe really Black-friendly?
Do Black travelers expect too much from destinations?
Has social media ruined some travel experiences?
Are we traveling to experience the world or to prove that we were there?

Whether you're planning your first international trip, you're a seasoned traveler, or you're still waiting to get that passport stamped, this conversation is for you.

🌍 LET'S TALK IN THE COMMENTS:

What's the best country you've visited?

What country exceeded your expectations?

Have you ever experienced racism or discrimination while traveling?

Do you think Black men and Black women have different experiences abroad?

And what's the ONE country every Black person should visit at least once?

Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE with your travel crew!

Real stories. Real conversations. Real perspectives from the South Sudanese diaspora and beyond.

#LadiesOfSosa #TravelingWhileBlack #BlackTravel #BlackTravelers #GreeceTravel #PortugalTravel #AfroNation #BlackMenTravel #BlackWomenTravel #AfricanDiaspora #SouthSudanese #TravelPodcast

Hosts:
Sahra - @SoSahra
Christine - @ChristinaLado

Panel:

Willy - @WillyFast_
Janet - @JanetAkorikin
Rougui -
Tariq - @Arnabi20
KK - @TruckingWithKK

Please feel free to engage and challenge the perspectives, but please keep comments respectful.

Thank you so much for watching! Don't forget to like and subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday!

Peace and love to our Sosa Fam :) 🇸🇸❤️

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💬CONNECT WITH US:
https://linktr.ee/ladiesofsosa