Storytelling, one of Africa’s oldest traditions, is being reimagined as a transformative tool that connects communities, inspires empathy, and influences policy across the continent.
Once confined to firesides and village gatherings, storytelling is now shaping conversations around gender, health, and human rights in Kenya and beyond.
At the centre of this growing movement is The Moth, a global nonprofit arts organisation that has spent nearly three decades training storytellers to use personal narratives as instruments of change.
The Moth Executive Producer Sarah Austin Jenness said storytelling remains one of the most effective ways to shift perspectives and inspire understanding.
“When people tell their truths, no one can tell them they are wrong; emotion transcends argument. I have seen stories change hearts and even move policies,” she said.
She cited examples such as Kenyan activist Roseline Orwa, whose story on widowhood inspired a 2022 United Nations resolution to protect widows from discrimination.
She also cited Indian advocate Masooma Ranalvi, whose storytelling helped mobilise a global movement against female genital mutilation.
Jenness emphasised that storytelling should also be ethical and emotionally safe. “No one should ever be pressured to share before they are ready,” she said.
“We teach people to tell from a scar, not a wound. The process should heal, not harm,” she added.
She added that The Moth has trained more than 800 storytellers from 50 countries, many of them from Africa, who are now shaping narratives around gender, health, and equality.
“Every story told is an act of courage and connection; stories build bridges and remind us that we are more alike than different. Through courage and empathy, storytelling continues to be Africa’s greatest agent of change,” she said.
Jenness noted that while digital platforms have made storytelling more accessible, live storytelling remains unmatched in its power to move people.
“Scrolling connects us, but storytelling transforms us,” she said.
“When we remove filters and algorithms, what remains is pure human connection,” she added.
Storyteller Founder and Head of Business Development and Partnerships at Nyayo Moms Sokos Limited Maureen Amakabane said storytelling continues to be the heartbeat of African wisdom and identity. “Our stories still have the power to move us and to change lives,” she said.
“Even in the digital age, storytelling preserves memory and belonging.”
She observed that authenticity gives a story its power and connects people on a deeper level. “It is not about perfection,” she said.
“It is about truth and courage letting people see your humanity. Our stories are no longer just entertainment, they are bridges between pain and healing, between ignorance and understanding.”
Caroline Onwuezobe, a Nigerian storyteller and gender rights advocate said that learning to tell her story turned pain into power.
After attending a Moth storytelling workshop, she began using storytelling to create safe spaces for survivors of gender-based violence.
“Learning to craft my story gave me courage,” she said. “Telling my story brought healing and opened doors for others to speak and for donors to see the human impact behind the statistics,” she said.
Onwuezobe said responsible storytelling ensures dignity and prevents retraumatisation. “We help storytellers share what they are comfortable with and protect them from backlash, it is about empowerment, not exposure,” she said.
She also noted that social media can amplify advocacy when used responsibly.
“A single story shared online can spark a movement, but we must preserve context and dignity so that stories inspire, not sensationalise,” she said.
Ugandan innovator Brian Turyabagye said storytelling has helped him connect his innovation work to humanity.
“Through storytelling, I connect my work to real lives. What began as a business idea evolved into a project that now saves children from pneumonia,” he said.
He added that vulnerability helps audiences connect deeply.
“When people see your imperfections and your courage, they see themselves. Africa’s future lies in reclaiming authenticity and telling lived experiences that humanise statistics and make people care,” he said.
By Naif Rashid
