
An Invitation
I invite you to explore these facets of my work and discover how, together, we can co-create a future grounded in truth, liberation, and flourishing. Through unlearning, narrative change, dialogue, and art, we can nurture new pathways to collective well-being and societal renewal.
Unlearning Work
At the core of Learning 2 Unlearn is a commitment to deconstructing materialist ways of being that have shaped how we see ourselves and one another. True transformation—whether in an organization or across society—begins within. By addressing how white supremacy and racism manifest in our hearts, minds, and everyday actions, we create the conditions for authentic change. Through carefully designed workshops, speaking engagements, and strategic consultations, I guide leaders to embrace spiritual coherence and walk their talk. This work is grounded in an Unlearning Framework informed by a heart, head, and hand praxis, inviting you to step into accountability and reclaim your epistemic freedom.
SOIF2025 strategic foresight retreat
I was invited to be the opening moment of delight for School of International Futures (SOIF) strategic foresight retreat this year. It's amazing how art remains a timeless medium of touching the human spirit. I carry difficult message for people who fancy themselves system change stewards of regenerative futures and I've found that if the difficulty of the message is covered in art and wrapped in poetry people are more willing to engage. This makes me happy because speaking truth to power is part of my purpose, something I do with deep love. It really is up to you to decide if you will listen and all I can do is pray that "my sacred spoken seeds find fertile soil in the ground of your soul." Thank you to the School of International Futures (SOIF) team, it was an absolute privilege and honour to be with you for a few days Lainston House with its gorgeous green trees
Systemic Investing Summit 2025
In March 2025, Transcap Initiative held the second Systemic Investing Summit in London, UK with their partners TWIST: Investing for systems change. I was asked to open the conference and help set the tone and ambition of the Summit. In preparation for this delivery I took a hike up Table Mountain (Cape Town) and asked Mother Earth what she wanted me to say to a room full of powerful and wealthy people. Me being a black South African woman travelling to the centre of empire. This is the message I was tasked to carry into that space.
Trialogue Business in Society Conference 2025
I was invited to deliver a poetic provocation at the Trialogue Business in Society conference 2025. This was a TRI talk address on Day 1 (13 May) of the conference. The title of this provocation is called "The bones of the business: Reimagining impact and legacy in South Africa.
Advaya Future of Consciousness Summit
I was invited to feature as a speaker unpacking my thoughts on the nature of the work required to realise social transformation. Learning 2 Unlearn white supremacy is part of the work. Unlearning the stories we have learned and relearning a new way, a new human story in order to walk through the world differently.
Waking Youth Podcast
I was invited to speak with Carlotta Guedes about the courage it takes to live our calling and the role of intuition in our lives. In this episode I speak to Carlotta about what I believe my calling is - helping leaders walk their talk and become more aware of the responsibility the hold for this time of immense civilisational change.
Denizen Podcast
I was invited to speak with my dear friend Jenny Stefanotti about my unlearning principles that I believe can support us in coming into alignment with ourselves. We grapple with questions ofhow we can decolonize ourselves through deep inner narrative work and how this spiritual work intersects with consciousness.
Next Frontiers Conference 2024
Together with Vicki Purewall, I co-curated the conference program for the 2024 Joseph Rowntree Foundation Next Frontiers Conference.








Waking Life Festival 2024
"Gifts of Consequence" is a poetry performance I did with Rita Carreiras as the closing act of the Apuro Stage @ Waking Life Festival in Portugal. The sacred spoken seeds I carry for people often comes through really intense experiences with the unexpected that occurs in life. I pray that the soil of your soul is well tilled to receive that which is for you.
Open Book Fest 2024
I was invited to host intimate 30-minute conversations with authors Margie Orford, Lesedi Molefi and Zukiswa Wanner As part of a series of pre-festival interviews conducted by Ashanti, this video series serves as an enticing teasers for the rich discussions and insights that happen at the 2024 OBF festival.



Expresso Show
I was invited as a guest on the Expresso Show to talk about racism in South Africa
Open Book Fest 2022
This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2022. In this discussion Gertrude Fester, Pumla Dineo Gqola and Margie Orford speak to Ashanti Kunene about the importance of creativity as a driver for change and a tool of resilience. This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.
Boom Festival 2022
I was invited to share my musings on what "Decolonising the Self" entails for the Liminal Village at the 2022 Boom Festival. In this presentation I discuss the spiritual and pedagogical process of decolonising the 'self', learning 2 unlearn the deeply personal conditioning of the anthropocentric human in Western society
SABC News
I was invited to speak about South Africa's complex racial history and our cultural heritage on SABC news with Mr. Stanley Henkeman who was the Executive Director of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR). This was the last time I was able to engage with him before his passing. He really was a great leader and made a deep impression on my as a young activist.
Black Roses
I wrote a poem for Shekhina's Rosefest 2020 Digital Music Experience. This was a celebration of an all women line up on the international day of the girl child and all profits went to LifeLine PMB to support the Our Bright Future Initiative.

RoseFest 2020
RoseFest 2020
Rosefest was started to address the inequalities in the music industry that women face consistently, this year we are broadening the conversation to address Mental Health and Gender Based Violence. Rosefest has partnered with Lifeline SA to host change – focused discussions and community centered deep dives into the issues women and society are facing. We aim to bridge the gap between those affected and the organisations set up to assist.These conversations will be moderated by the phenomenal Ashanti Kunene, a social justice activist passionate about open, honest conversations that encourage people to learn how to unlearn toxic beliefs and behaviors. We will involve carefully curated panels of speakers we hope will open the conversation in an informative and progressive light.
Open Book Fest 2018
For my first book chapter publication I got to be in discussion with Joy Watson, Rebecca Davis and prof. Amanda Gouws aboutthe book "Nasty Women Talk Back" as part of OBF2018, chaired by Prof. Thuli Madonsela we delve into our ideas of what a nasty woman is and our feminist ideologies.
TedX Talk 2018
In 2018 I gave my first TedX talk titled "An African Future: The awakening of the young lions of Africa" I had recently graduated Cum Laude from Stellenbosch University and was fresh from the #FeesMustFall student movement.
#FeesMustFall 2016
ASHANTI KUNENE performing at the YOU'RE IN CHAINS TOO solidarity concert, Kruiskerk, Stellenbosch, Friday 18th November 2016. still photography by Tonys Houz, camera by Kurt Orderson, sound recording by Jonathan Eato MC Nkululeko Mabandla produced by Africa Open, JISA and The Stellenbosch University Staff Student Collective