Kemi Osobukola

Kemi Osobukola joined the Stuart Hall Foundation Scholar and Fellow network in September 2024 after being awarded the prestigious WRDTP Studentship to pursue her PhD in Social Research at the Sheffield Methods Institute. Her research focuses on the mental health challenges faced by Black Christian women in Sheffield, examining the intersections of misogynoir, ableism, and faith-based coping mechanisms to integrate the cultural and spiritual realities of Black communities.

One of Kemi’s most personal and transformative projects is KEMI: A Letter to My Younger Self, a documentary that premiered at Sheffield DocFest 2024. Produced in collaboration with national award-winning filmmaker Tanicha Toro, the film chronicles Kemi’s journey through activism, mental health advocacy, and poetry, offering a cinematic retelling of her life and the challenges she has navigated. Kemi describes her poetry as prophetic, drawing heavily on her Yoruba heritage. She incorporates the Yoruba language and traditional instruments like the shekere into her work, exploring themes of mental and spiritual abuse, healing, and empowerment.

Kemi also serves as a Research Facilitator for projects such as Exploring the Role of Black-led Community Organisations in Promoting Mental Well-being in Black Communities. This work has contributed to significant reports, including Spaces of Black Unity and Joy, supported by the Three NIHR Schools for Mental Health and the University of Sheffield’s Sociological Studies department. In 2023, Kemi was a speaker at the Mental Health Abuse & Culture in the Black Community ADIRIA church conference, where she addressed the stigmas surrounding mental health in Black communities.

As a presenter for The SCAR Radio, Kemi covers a range of topics, including a special feature on the intersection of mental health and sports through a mental health football match. Through this platform, she amplifies marginalised voices and explores creative approaches to mental health advocacy.

In addition, Kemi works as an Expert by Experience with Rethink Mental Health, collaborating on projects aimed at reducing health inequalities and improving access to mental health services for underserved communities. Her role at Rethink allows her to shape policies and initiatives that better reflect the needs of Black and marginalised populations.

You can connect with Kemi on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kemi-osobukola-78827b247.