Valentina Acava

My skills

Valentina Mmaka is a writer, educator and activist. She advocates to raise awareness on Female Genital Mutilation. She has 20 years of experience working with immigrants (Adults and Children/Youth) in Africa and Europe. She coordinates writing and theatre workshops to encourage less privileged communities to create something, which can make impact. Her project KUMA’ (which in the bambara language means "word") aims to encourage youth to engage in activism for social justice through art and creative work.
She has published eight books: Cercando Lindiwe (Epoché 2007), Il Viaggio Capovolto (Epoché 2010), Io donna immigrata (EMI 2004), l'Ottava Nota (Prospettiva 2002), Il mondo a colori della famiglia BwanaVal (Kabiliana 2002), Jabuni: il mistero della città sommersa (EMI 2003), I nomi della pace. Amani (EMI 2004), The Cut: Voci globali del cambiamento. Per rompere il silenzio sulle Mutilazioni Genitali Femminili (Edizioni dell'Arco 2015).
She is a free-lance collaborator of several international magazines such as , Warscapes, Authors in Africa, Pambazuka, IMO, Alma, Munyeri.
Her work has been widely praised for promoting diversity and several university thesis have been dedicated to her work and life.

She is the founder of the Kumà Project, a creative educational space dedicated to youth where she promotes diversity and social activism through Arts.
She is also the founder of Kabiliana Mag, an online blog dedicated to children's and Ya books.

As an activist advocating to end FGM, she coordinates educational workshops for children and adults ing Female Genital Mutilation. She is touring with her performance THE CUT, produced out of the collective Gugu Women Lab, founded in South Africa in 2011 that has the power to break the taboo on FGM.

She visits schools for book presentations, seminars and workshops.