My journey towards self liberation | anaiis | TEDxLondonWomen

How many of us find that we can stand up for our friends, our neighbours or people we’ve never even met - but not for ourselves? As a child, the shock of moving between countries and the struggle to reconcile different aspects of her identity led anaiis to stop speaking altogether. The less noise you make, the lower the chance of getting into trouble - right? But as she grew older and started to witness injustice, she realised she would have to speak up. Looking to her mother and grandmother for guidance she saw a reflection of herself, women who had compromised themselves in the service of others. And so she turned to her art to help her to find self-acceptance and, in the process, self-liberation. A multi-talented singer and musician, anaiis has lived multiple lives. Moving from Toulouse, to Dublin, to Dakar, to California, to New York and finally to London, anaiis’s feeling of belonging everywhere and nowhere has added many colours to her creative palette. Her music explores narratives of blackness, but purposefully seeks to defy any attempts to reduce Blackness into a singular narrative, instead showing human nature in all its complexity. anaiis’s style transcends genres; her tone is fearless and urgent, her sound a languid haziness. Paying homage to Nina Simone, anaiis’ debut single “Nina” touches on themes of reclamation and freedom. Her latest project “Darkness At Play” carefully exposes a world in decay, yet resists the temptation to minimise this world to its doomed fate and goes on to explore political contradictions, selfhood, and the divine feminine. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@ruthtouhey7382]

Yes self love is a difficult concept for me to embrace

[@victoriadaversa6808]

This needs to go viral...everything.... Every part of this needs heard...thank you Anais for being brave and so powerful ❤❤❤

[@smathe7]

so glad I found this Ted talk. This was so touching and resonated with me deeply.

[@asyastolbina8372]

you're such a beautiful soul Anaïs

[@smoothsheep]

Absorbing this wisdom with an open heart and mind, while manifesting acts and thoughts of self-love ❤
Thank you Anaiis, for your gift and effort of sharing your life and wisdom through words, through your music. Your song "Vanishing" touches my soul deeply.
Thank you TED Talks for this initiative!

[@vannahloveforever]

Me too. Ive been listening it it for hours everyday. Its beautiful

[@tulin6820]

Breathtaking harp renditions and beautiful words. Thank you ❤️

[@yumikoyears]

She is amazing😭💗

[@dmvmeu7140]

Thank you for introducing me to anaiis even if it's 4 yrs later, I love her music

[@donniedube150]

How does this not have more views and likes!

[@Ty-cg3fi]

Love these songs 🎧 stand brave and courageous fellow queen 👑

[@TheTonyAndreas]

This was amazing! LOVE UR ART!!!💫💫💫

[@yourwriter4life]

Beautiful💕

[@gabby20316]

This is so beautiful

[@ajmanthrower4637]

This was Angelic!

[@AnaisAida]

thank you Ajman, hope you're well

[@elianecabral4070]

Ótimo

[@taridagana5129]

Beautiful

[@nopalesconfrijoles]

❤️❤️❤️

[@merkaba2214]

Harfa :) amazing video❤️

[@archiecoolsdown5854]

The only country in the world that encourages this sort of reflection is America. God bless this beautiful country.

[@hamzaibrahim9953]

I like to music 🎶

[@foggycraw6758]

Stop sleeping on this chick!!!