Lecture Hall – Educational Event
Positively Africana By Aimee | Level 2, 150 Main Street, Northampton, MA and Nationwide
https://www.positivelyafricana.com
Who She Is
Professor Chipo Dendere (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Africana Studies (Political Science) at Wellesley College. She is a Zimbabwean scholar of African politics, democratization, and migration. She publishes with Cambridge University Press and is currently on a 24-school book tour across North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
More importantly, she is exactly the kind of voice Media By Aimee exists to amplify.
She recently visited Positively Africana By Aimee during her tour, and we sat down to talk about her mother’s migration journey, African leadership narratives, what it means to hold space as a Black woman scholar, and what “home” really means when you are part of the diaspora.
On Her Mother’s Journey and the Roots of Her Scholarship
Workshop Moment – Hands-On Learning
Professor Dendere’s mother is her muse.
As a child, she watched her mother build a trade business and make choices that many in African society still judge harshly. Her mother divorced her father, a wealthy businessman, shortly after she was born. In many communities, leaving a wealthy husband, a middle-class home, and the security people expect a woman to accept is viewed as “risky and reckless.”
But for Professor Dendere, her mother’s choices shaped her understanding of migration, agency, and women’s economic power.
Her mother was an “executive risk-taker,” traveling between Zimbabwe and South Africa as a trader, moving by bus, train, and eventually by air. She sold products like the ones in our shop today. That lived experience is now part of Professor Dendere’s scholarship, including her next book on women traders between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“I see their participation as whole and independent human beings engaging in political economies,” she
On Why Her Work Matters Right Now
Professor Dendere’s research is timely, but she describes that timeliness as heartbreaking.
In today’s world, many Africans leave home because politics are unstable, economies are failing, and violence and rigged elections make it difficult to build a future. People migrate to improve their lives.
Africa’s greatest strength is its youth. But she asks an urgent question: What happens when the youth are absent?
When young people leave, the “brains and passions” that could rebuild home are redirected elsewhere. And in many places in the diaspora, Africans still find themselves fighting for acceptance and fair recognition.
She describes it as a cycle that traps African youth.
On the Stereotype She Wants Gone Immediately
When asked what stereotype she wants to disappear, Professor Dendere did not hesitate.
The idea that only African politics has bad leaders.
She points out the double standard in global narratives. When Western leaders do harm, the framing is often softened. But when Africans lead badly, the language becomes a shortcut for dictatorship.
“Was Hitler African?” she asked, her frustration clear.
Her point is not just personal. It is about language, power, and how stereotypes get recycled into “common sense.”
On Womanhood, Teaching, and Becoming Whole
Professor Dendere teaches at Wellesley College, and she shared something beautiful about what that environment has done for her.
Teaching there has strengthened her womanhood. She feels whole, and she does not feel pressure to shrink herself to be taken seriously.
She also spoke about how motherhood has shaped her feminism.
Giving birth to her daughter, and raising her, made her a radical feminist. She wants a world that is better for her daughter and for all little Black girls.
On Holding Space as a Black Woman Scholar
Professor Dendere recently received tenure at Wellesley College. Out of more than 300 faculty members, only 7 are tenured Black women.
She described being “in awe” of herself and the effort it took to get there. She also spoke honestly about how challenging systems can be, and how she is working to move from hurt, anger, and fear toward full joy.
“I still pinch myself knowing I have a very good Cambridge book,” she said. “A book my mom can read.”
On Resilience and Agency
From her interviews and research, Professor Dendere has learned something that breaks her heart.
Too much resilience.
She has met incredible people who keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when obstacles pile up endlessly. She believes that when things get better and easier, people will make big achievements.
On What “Home” Means Now
In 2023, Professor Dendere moved back to Zimbabwe for her sabbatical. It was emotionally difficult.
It was the first time she had lived at home as an adult since leaving at 18. She returned as a mother, with a three-year-old.
Being home brought joy and grief. She felt nostalgia for childhood dreams, including a dream to attend the University of Zimbabwe, study law, and live near her parents. She allowed herself to grieve lost dreams and the loss of loved ones.
After grieving, she arrived at a truth many in the diaspora will recognize.
Home can be a lot of places.
For now, home is where she is with her daughter and husband. She carries Zimbabwe in her heart, and England where her mother lives. She is building home for her daughter where they are.
When We Met Her: What Positively Africana By Aimee Means
Professor Chipo Dendere Speaking
We meet extraordinary people at Positively Africana By Aimee.
Sometimes they come in for a gift. Sometimes they come in for a memory. And sometimes, they walk in and remind us what this brand truly is.
When Professor Dendere walked into our space, she wasn’t just visiting a store. She was encountering something she hadn’t expected to find.
“I had not been back to Northampton in a long time. I certainly didn’t expect to see a vibrant, joyful, Black woman owned and African owned business,” she said.
She bought figurines for her daughter and three nephews. But what moved her most wasn’t the transaction. It was the atmosphere.
“Beyond the purchases I loved most the atmosphere and beauty and a feeling of serenity in the space,” she shared. “Congrats Aimee. I am so happy we found your marketplace. I wish you more success!”
She is now a regular customer. She is returning for the doll. And she is part of the living proof that Positively Africana By Aimee is not only a cultural destination.
It is a sanctuary.
A Sanctuary for Everyone
In Store – Community Moment
A sanctuary for the diaspora. A sanctuary for anyone seeking authentic culture, beauty, and belonging.
Positively Africana By Aimee was created to celebrate African culture in real time, through real people, real stories, and real craftsmanship. But what we have learned is this: when you build with intention, people feel it.
Professor Dendere is Zimbabwean. Her customers include Northampton residents of all backgrounds. Our community is diverse by design—because culture is universal, and belonging is for everyone.
In our brand, people find their place no matter their race, culture, or background. This interview made me reflect on that truth even more deeply: we are building a space where people can breathe.
They feel it in the way the space welcomes them. They feel it in the joy. They feel it in the serenity. They feel it in the representation. They feel it in the dignity of African stories being told with depth.
Who Shops Here
Our community includes:
Scholars and students seeking intellectual rigor and cultural connection
Mothers and families celebrating identity and heritage
Cultural enthusiasts and collectors valuing authenticity
Fitness members and wellness seekers building community
Anyone looking for meaning, beauty, and belonging
When you shop with Positively Africana by Aimee – 25% of profits support women entrepreneurs in the Congo.
About Professor Chipo Dendere
Professor Chipo Dendere
Title: Assistant Professor of Africana Studies (Political Science)
Institution: Wellesley College
Expertise: African politics, democratization, migration, voter behavior
New Book: Death, Diversion, and Departure: Voter Exit and the Persistence of Authoritarianism in Zimbabwe
Published by: Cambridge University Press
Available for preorder: Cambridge University Press | Amazon
2026 Book Tour: North America, Europe, Africa, Australia
Upcoming stops include: University of Indiana Bloomington, Wellesley College, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, Smith College, Boston University, and more.
2026 Book Tour
Connect with Professor Dendere:
Twitter/X: @drdendere
Website: drdendere.com
Visit Positively Africana By Aimee
Positively Africana By Aimee – In Store
Shop online: https://www.positivelyafricana.com
Visit in person: Level 2, 150 Main Street, Northampton, MA and nationwide
About Media By Aimee
Media By Aimee celebrates African excellence, eliminates stereotypes, and expands what everyone believes is possible about culture, leadership, and belonging.
We bring real African stories in real time. Stories that are nuanced, powerful, and worthy of being told with depth.
Positively Africana By Aimee celebrates African culture. It welcomes everyone. Because great culture doesn’t belong to one group—it belongs to anyone brave enough to seek it.
If you have a story to share, reach out: https://www.positivelyafricana.com
© 2026 Positively Africana By Aimee. All rights reserved.
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Stay Connected. Stay Inspired.
Join the Positively Africana community and stay connected to culture, wellness, and impact. Be the first to discover new handmade African arrivals, read Aimee’s monthly blog stories, receive fitness class updates, and get invited to community events — all delivered straight to your inbox.
