Boniface Mwangi is a Nairobi-based social justice activist fighting for equity in his home country and abroad. In 2007 his photos of violence following the national election went viral and spawned global attention on political instability and corruption in Kenya.
He is the subject of the Sundance-award winning documentary Softie and the author of the photojournalism book Unbounded which has been hailed by Hilary Clinton and President Barack Obama.
Over two million people follow him @bonifacemwangi on Twitter and Facebook where he remarkably fearlessly calls attention to untold cases of abuse, corruption, and cronyism. For his work he has been beaten, arrested for “organizing a revolution”, and had his home burned down.
His 2014 TED Talk is called “The Day I Stood Alone” and in it he shares that he’s called a heckler, troublemaker, irritant, rebel, activist, and … the voice of the people. He continues to fight for justice every day alongside his wife Hellen Njeri Mwangi and their three children.
Boniface joined me from Nairobi, Kenya and I think you’re going to feel as inspired and energized by this conversation as I was.
We talk about what it’s like advocating for the most vulnerable, whether we can trust photographs today, how you deal with intimidation, how you live in fearlessness, how you bring back dignity to an oppressed people, why we must all seek to become activists, and, of course, what are Boniface’s 3 most formative books.
This is an exciting, engaging, passion-filled conversation.
Let’s flip the page into Chapter 104 now…
Chapter 104: Boniface Mwangi combats corrosive Kenyan corruption with courage and kindness
What You'll Learn:
How do we advocate for the vulnerable?
What was the single greatest act of giving in the modern world?
How do you deal with intimidation when you have a family?
How do you become an activist?
What are the biggest issues in Kenya right now?
Why is it so hard to travel as a black person?
What should African unity bring?
How was the mafia brought down in Italy?
How do you live in fearlessness?
Why must we all be activists?
Notable quotes from boniface:
“Activism comes from a place of love.” Boniface Mwangi #3bookspodcast
“Traveling as a black person is hard work.” Boniface Mwangi #3bookspodcast
“Other countries have a mafia. In Kenya, the mafia has a country.” Boniface Mwangi #3bookspodcast
connect with boniface:
word of the chapter:
Resources Mentioned:
Boniface’s first book [2:55]
Boniface’s second book [13:54]
Boniface’s third book [26:50]
Lead, Care, Win by Dan Pontrefact
Do More Great Work by Michael Bunger Stanier
You Are Awesome by Neil Pasricha
The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha
The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma
Everyday Hero by Robin Sharma
