Aisha Rimi

1 week ago | hyphenonline.com | Aisha Rimi

When Mariya Majid became a teacher in 2017, her expectations were idealistic. She imagined herself guiding young people to academic success and offering the kind of support she wished she’d had at school. As someone who had rarely seen teachers who looked like her, she hoped that her presence in the classroom could be an inspiration for children of all backgrounds.

1 month ago | hyphenonline.com | Aisha Rimi

Eid is often dubbed the Muslim Met Gala, with social media flooded with images of people dressed up to the nines in celebration. For many Muslim women across the African diaspora, it’s also a moment to honour their culture and identity through fashion. Whether it’s a hand-dyed adire dress from Nigeria, a bazin boubou from Senegal or a beaded gown from Gambia, the clothes worn on Eid day often tell a story of heritage, family, friendship and faith.

1 month ago | hyphenonline.com | Aisha Rimi

Photograph courtesy of Salma IbrahimSalma Ibrahim can’t pinpoint the exact moment she knew she wanted to become a writer, but storytelling had always been second nature to her. From an early age, books were a source of comfort and allowed her to understand people and places she’d never experienced. “That feeling made me want to create stories of my own,” she says. Her debut novel Salutation Road, published in February, first took shape as a short story she wrote at university.

1 month ago | hyphenonline.com | Aisha Rimi

Muslim history is British history and must be acknowledged as such. That was the message conveyed by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi at the official launch of Muslim Heritage Month in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday. Speaking to Hyphen at the event, the former Conservative minister called for a change in how Muslim communities are viewed and understood in the UK. She also stressed the importance of challenging the idea that Islam is somehow “alien” to life in the UK.

1 month ago | hyphenonline.com | Aisha Rimi

Zainab Asunramu, 36, never planned to enter politics. Raised in Thamesmead, in the south London borough of Bexley, she envisioned a career working for international human rights organisations. But after years spent working as a researcher, and frustrated by what she saw as a lack of opportunities and progression in the field, she decided to change lanes. “I took everything I learned in terms of advocacy, campaigning and fundraising, and applied it all to politics,” she said.