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:
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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

Netflix's The Polygamist has sparked conversations around the world—but how much of what we see on screen reflects real life?

In this episode of Ladies of SOSA, hosts Christine and Sahra are joined by a diverse panel of two women and three men for an open, respectful discussion about polygamy across Africa and within the African diaspora.

Together, we explore the cultural, religious, historical, legal, and emotional realities behind one of the continent's most debated family structures. Rather than treating Africa as one culture, we examine how experiences differ by country, ethnicity, religion, and personal choice.

In this episode we discuss:
• Did Netflix accurately portray polygamy?
• Why did polygamy become common historically?
• Women's experiences and emotional realities
• Men's perspectives on tradition and modern relationships
• Children growing up in polygamous families
• Religion, culture, and customary marriage
• Polygamy in the African diaspora

This conversation isn't about telling people what to believe—it's about creating space for honest dialogue, challenging stereotypes, and hearing perspectives that are often overlooked.

💬 Join the conversation:
Would you marry someone who already has a spouse?
Can polygamy ever be fair?
Has modern society changed how people view polygamy?

Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments.

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more authentic conversations that explore African culture, identity, relationships, and the stories shaping our communities.

#LadiesOfSOSA #Polygamy #Africa #AfricanDiaspora #Relationships #Culture #Marriage #Netflix #PanelDiscussion #SouthSudanese #Tradition #Faith #Podcast

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

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Ladies of SOSA, hosts Sahra Benjamin and Christine sit down with Monica Deng to discuss one of the most debated topics in South Sudanese culture: polygamy.

Monica shares her firsthand experience of discovering that her husband had taken another wife without her knowledge. She opens up about the emotional impact, feelings of betrayal, the role of family, and the difficult questions that followed.

Together, we explore whether the real issue is polygamy itself or the lack of honesty, communication, and consent. We also examine the historical roots of polygamy in South Sudan, how perspectives are changing within the diaspora, and whether traditional practices still fit modern relationships.

This conversation is not about judging those who support or oppose polygamy. It is about creating space for honest dialogue, understanding lived experiences, and discussing how culture, religion, marriage, and personal choice intersect in today's world.

Topics discussed:
• Discovering a secret second wife
• The emotional impact of betrayal and secrecy
• Polygamy in South Sudanese culture
• Marriage, trust, and communication
• Religion and polygamy
• Modern relationships in the diaspora
• Can polygamous marriages succeed?
• Healing, self-worth, and lessons learned

We invite you to join the conversation in the comments:

Would you want to know beforehand if your spouse wanted another partner?
Can polygamy work if everyone involved agrees?
Is the biggest issue polygamy—or the secrecy surrounding it?

Subscribe to Ladies of SOSA for authentic conversations, diverse perspectives, and unfiltered stories from the South Sudanese diaspora.

#LadiesOfSOSA #SouthSudanese #Polygamy #MonicaDeng #SouthSudan #Marriage #Relationships #DiasporaVoices #AfricanCulture #MarriageTalk

Hosts:
Sahra - @SoSahra
Christine - @ChristinaLado

Guest:
Monica Deng -

#Tribalism #EndTribalism #UnityOverDivision #IdentityAndCulture #DiasporaVoices #CulturalConversations #CommunityHealing #HardConversations #GenerationalChange #SouthSudanese #SouthSudanDiaspora #SouthSudanYouth #SouthSudaneseVoices #SouthSudanesePodcast #NileNation #EastAfricanDiaspora #LadiesOfSosa #SudanesePodcast
#LivePodcast #YouTubeLive #PodcastClips #PanelDiscussion #CommunityDialogue

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

Welcome back to Crimes of Nubia — brought to you by Ladies of Sosa. In this episode, we discuss the heartbreaking and mysterious death of Ashley Jenae Robinson, a young Black woman whose story sparked conversations across social media about online cruelty, cyberbullying, exploitation, and the way virality can dehumanize real people.
As details surrounding Ashley’s death circulated online, so did speculation, mockery, and harmful commentary. This episode examines not only the circumstances surrounding her passing, but also the dangerous culture of internet virality that often turns Black women into targets instead of treating them with compassion and humanity.
We explore:
🤎 The known timeline surrounding Ashley Jenae Robinson’s death
🤎 The role social media played before and after her passing
🤎How online audiences normalize cruelty for entertainment
🤎The emotional toll of public humiliation and digital harassment
🤎 Why protecting Black women must go beyond hashtags

At Crimes of Nubia, we aim to tell these stories with empathy, accountability, and respect for the victims and their loved ones.

Why do so many development projects across Africa start strong — but don’t last?

We’ve all seen it.
A newly paved road that crumbles in a few years.
A well built by an NGO that stops working and is never repaired.
A hospital building that looks impressive — but lacks staff, supplies, or electricity.

In this episode, Sahra Benjamin and Christine unpack the deeper systems behind infrastructure struggles across the continent. This is not about blame — it’s about understanding.

We explore:

• How colonial-era infrastructure was designed for extraction, not community development
• The role of governance, corruption, and weak accountability systems
• Why some foreign aid models prioritize visibility over sustainability
• How rapid urbanization in cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Kinshasa strains old systems
• The impact of climate pressures in regions like the Sahel
• Brain drain and the loss of skilled engineers and professionals
• And most importantly — what is actually working in places like Rwanda, Botswana, and Ethiopia

Development isn’t just about pouring concrete.
It’s about building institutions, training people, creating maintenance systems, and designing for long-term growth.

So the bigger question becomes:

Is Africa’s development challenge financial, political, structural — or all of the above?

Let’s talk about it.

Hosts:
Sahra - @SoSahra
Christine - @ChristinaLado

Panel:
Tariq - @Arnabi20
Vaida - @VaidaJoe
Willy - @WillyFast_

#Tribalism #EndTribalism #UnityOverDivision #IdentityAndCulture #DiasporaVoices #CulturalConversations #CommunityHealing #HardConversations #GenerationalChange #SouthSudanese #SouthSudanDiaspora #SouthSudanYouth #SouthSudaneseVoices #SouthSudanesePodcast #NileNation #EastAfricanDiaspora #LadiesOfSosa #SudanesePodcast
#LivePodcast #YouTubeLive #PodcastClips #PanelDiscussion #CommunityDialogue #SouthAfrica #Xenophobia

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

In this special episode of Ladies of Sosa, we’re unpacking the rising tensions and xenophobic violence currently unfolding in South Africa.

With a live caller joining us from Pretoria, South Africa and another voice calling in as a Nigerian American, we’re holding space for honest, layered conversation. This isn’t about headlines. It’s about history, hurt, survival, and solidarity.

We break down:

What’s happening on the ground right now
Why economic frustration often turns into scapegoating
How misinformation and viral protest videos fuel fear
The lasting impact of apartheid-era systems
Where policing, protection, and policy are falling short
And most importantly — what real solutions could look like

This conversation centers dignity. It refuses easy blame. And it asks a deeper question:

What happens when people who have shared oppression begin to see each other as competition instead of community?

This episode includes discussions of violence and xenophobic language. Listener discretion advised.

Our goal is not to inflame — but to inform, humanize, and explore paths toward healing.

Hosts:
Sahra - @SoSahra
Christine - @ChristinaLado

Panel:
Tariq - @Arnabi20
Vaida - @VaidaJoe
Willy - @WillyFast_

#Tribalism #EndTribalism #UnityOverDivision #IdentityAndCulture #DiasporaVoices #CulturalConversations #CommunityHealing #HardConversations #GenerationalChange #SouthSudanese #SouthSudanDiaspora #SouthSudanYouth #SouthSudaneseVoices #SouthSudanesePodcast #NileNation #EastAfricanDiaspora #LadiesOfSosa #SudanesePodcast
#LivePodcast #YouTubeLive #PodcastClips #PanelDiscussion #CommunityDialogue #SouthAfrica #Xenophobia

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