In Conversation with Aminata Conteh-Biger
by Jasmine MayheadAminata Conteh-Biger dances with life, meaning she celebrates each day. It’s a little like how we want the children who wear Printebebe to feel – like life is for living and every moment matters. “I laugh, I eat, I love, I cry, but more than anything, I dance with life,” says Aminata. “Like my mama says, whether you dance or not, the music still continues.” There’s so much you will learn from Aminata – true resilience, gratitude, and courage. As an author, speaker and founder of the Aminata Maternal Foundation, she’s endlessly inspiring.
Subtitle Goes Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut ornare lectus sit amet est placerat in egestas erat. At risus viverra adipiscing at in. Nulla aliquet porttitor lacus luctus. Elementum facilisis leo vel fringilla est. Ut porttitor leo a diam sollicitudin tempor id. Cras adipiscing enim eu turpis egestas pretium. Sed lectus vestibulum mattis ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt. Orci phasellus egestas tellus rutrum. Nibh mauris cursus mattis molestie a iaculis at erat pellentesque. Cras ornare arcu dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum. Lobortis feugiat vivamus at augue. Eget nulla facilisi etiam dignissim. Lacus vel facilisis volutpat est velit.
Morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada. Faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat ac tincidunt. Feugiat in fermentum posuere urna nec tincidunt. Ullamcorper malesuada proin libero nunc consequat interdum varius. At ultrices mi tempus imperdiet nulla malesuada. Amet nisl purus in mollis nunc sed id semper. Sodales ut etiam sit amet. Ultrices neque ornare aenean euismod elementum nisi. Venenatis tellus in metus vulputate eu. Volutpat est velit egestas dui id ornare. Aliquam purus sit amet luctus venenatis lectus magna. Placerat orci nulla pellentesque dignissim enim sit amet venenatis. Aliquam ultrices sagittis orci a scelerisque purus semper eget duis. Viverra tellus in hac habitasse platea dictumst vestibulum rhoncus est. Hac habitasse platea dictumst vestibulum rhoncus. Ac turpis egestas integer eget aliquet nibh praesent tristique. Enim ut tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo. Sed risus pretium quam vulputate dignissim suspendisse in est ante. Neque egestas congue quisque egestas. Lectus urna duis convallis convallis tellus id.
"Like my mama says, whether you dance or not, the music still continues."
What does being a woman mean to you?
As a woman, I don’t have the luxury to think about what being a woman means; I just live it. Personally, I feel like there is a pressure for us to think about womanhood or sisterhood only on a day like International Women’s Day. I see that as not being progressive to the change we want to see happen.
What does true connection with people mean to you and how do you seek it in your daily life?
For me, true connection with people is being present and treating people the way you like to be treated – always with respect.
As a mother of two, what has been the greatest chapter of your motherhood journey?
I believe the greatest chapter is the unexpected love that you receive being a mother, and also is the idea that whatever we have planned, the outcome is completely different, and I have learned to embrace the unknown of what motherhood should be.
What has been the hardest part of motherhood for you?
It didn’t come with a menu or recipe. But sincerely, the hardest part is when you sometimes feel like you’re doing it alone, but you are not really alone.
What is your mission with the Aminata Maternal Foundation?
My mission with the foundation is to end infant maternal mortality in Sierra Leone. Motherhood should mark the beginning, not an end. If motherhood was to mark an end, where would we all be today? Maternal health is not a disease, and we should not treat it as such. Sadly, I believe that women do not acknowledge this as their problem.
Can you tell me about the women you work with and the change you’re making in their life?
The women that we work with are simply remarkable. They are full of pride, strength, and I truly believe, in my opinion, they are the true definition of resilience. More importantly, they are some of the most capable women on the planet. I think it’s just right to say that we are making changes together.
You wrote a memoir entitled Rising Heart. How did it feel sharing your story and whole truth?
As much as it’s my personal story, I am deeply and sadly aware that it is the story of millions of girls in Sierra Leone and around the world. Telling the truth of my story is a gift to them.
Finally, to future generations of women, what is your advice?
I don’t give advice, but I do set an intention on how I live my life. Meaning, I only have now so I live it fully which means in my world, I laugh, I eat, I love, I cry, but more than anything, I dance with life. Like my mama says, whether you dance or not, the music still continues.
