I Am African And I Can: Fatima Sesay

'Inside the Diaspora with Fatima'

No One Is Excluded

Straight out of the hurdles the civil war inflected upon Sierra Leone, Fatima Sesay found herself waking up in New York City, where dreams are embedded in skyscrapers. She escaped war, and now is living her dream.

'Are you sure that's what you're going to do? You're not going to make money.' These words were splashed on Sesay's face over and over as she crossed the bridge to self-discovery, simply because she chose to follow a different path; she chose to be a journalist.

"At the end of the day, it's not about where you work, it's about how you present yourself," said Sesay, the young woman who decided to become a journalist instead of a doctor, lawyer, or an engineer --professions which African parents would rather see their sons/daughters pursue.

Despite people's effort to discourage her from pursing her dream, Sesay managed to graduate from Lehman College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Multimedia Journalism, and is even more determined to return this Fall to complete her Masters in Media Studies.

Sesay's journey has been a tug-of-war. She faced an army of people who were devoted to making her give up, but her determination alone was enough man power to make them give in.

Even though there are people who are not happy with the career she has chosen for herself, this is what Sesay feels for others: "I love seeing people do what makes them happy."

The Sierra Leonean journalist works at Sahara Reporters Media Group Inc. as Social Media Manager, and is the official host and producer of "Inside the Diaspora with Fatima."

"'Inside the Diaspora with Fatima' showcases the life and time of people in the diaspora, be it they are from Africa or that they have a personal connection to the Continent and its advancement."

When asked why she introduced "Inside the Diaspora" to the public, the online-show host responded: I felt like there was a lack of connection with the African Diaspora.

Sesay communicated that she is "all about being inclusive," and feels the need to not only showcase events pertaining to Africans in the diaspora, but also "bridge the gap between Africans and African-Americans."

She wants her viewers to understand that "we all go through the same struggles, just in different ways."

Viewers can expect to see on the show social event coverage, music from the diaspora, in-door interviews (highlighting people who are doing positive things), out-door interviews (street trivia) where 'strangers' are asked questions and are expected to give responses without having preparation beforehand.

"You don't have to be a billionaire or Oprah to make a difference," Sesay said thoughtfully.

Everything about the journalist radiates fun and appreciation for life. From the bright colors she wears, to the glow in her eyes when she talks about things that matter, to her warm and welcoming laughter.

John Jay Graduate Marie Toure defined: "Fatima has a TV personality; she can enlighten the room when she walks in and make everyone laugh."

Thus far, only five episodes have been produced and over 3000 viewers tune in to experience what the show has to offer.

Fungai Maboreke, presenter and reporter for Sahara TV, believes"'Inside The Diaspora' will give Africans, African-Americans, Caribbean and others a closer incite on African issues regarding, politics, religion, sport and entertainment. The platform is like a bedrock of the realization and potential of the contribution of Africans in the specific sectors of society."

If you think that Sesay's dreams are big, she's about to pop your lid because this woman has even bigger dreams. In the years to come, she envisions starting her very own media company, an NGO (non-governmental organization) that will provide academic support to students in impoverished African countries, and even considers taking up an acting career.

"Inside the Diaspora with Fatima" does its job in that it paints Africa's image positively, but Sesay enunciated that if Africans unite, the image or perception of Africa will be embellished in the long run.

"We have to stop discriminating against each other. Imagine the impact we would have on the world if all Africans came together."