“Pray as if you will die tomorrow and work as if you will live forever.” – Cheikh Aamadu Bamba Mbàkke
Madagascan migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. ©Simba Russeau
Spiritual Revolution
It’s time for a spiritual revolution.
We live in a sacred world.
Life is our source of wisdom and knowledge.
Without real purpose, our life is just a physical existence. A walking shadow.
You don’t have to continue worshiping false idols like consumerism and world leaders.
Liberate yourself from imprisonment and awaken to life’s true meaning.
Your inner light needs to be released through inner alchemy so that it can work creatively in the world.
Inner transformation is key to transforming the world.
Iraqi refugees at the Insan center in Lebanon. ©Simba Russeau
Life Is Our Greatest Teacher
My mission with Witnessing Life is to spark a spiritual revolution by awakening the souls of the world to the purpose of creation.
This blog is dedicated to utilising the sacred art of journalism to discover your authentic self, inspiring mindfulness of the world through storytelling and human rights. It’s also about challenging mainstream media’s single-story of the world.
As a storyteller, I will share interviews with entrepreneurs, bloggers, political analysts, human rights and spiritual activists as well as the voices of people who continue to rise in the face of war, occupation and poverty.
That’s what Witnessing Life is about. Be an artist of life and join me!
Somali refugee Hawiyeh Awal fled Libya to Tunisia’s Choucha camp. ©Simba Russeau
Meet the Spiritual Ruckus Maker
My name is Simba Shani Kamaria Russeau and I’m an award-winning self-taught multimedia storyteller using the sacred art of journalism to challenge mainstream media’s single-story. My passion stems from working as a maid and living on the streets. Some of my credits include The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Inter Press Service and Every Human Has Rights Media Award.
I’m also the founder of Taste Culture, which is a cultural revolution magazine dedicated to challenging stereotypes and creating a community that’s connected under one citizenry, as well as the 24/7 campaign, which I created in Beirut, Lebanon to raise awareness to the plight of migrant domestic workers.
Why a spiritual ruckus maker? Because my life is used as an instrument of change.
For seven years I lived on the streets. My life changed when a very kind retired English professor, whose house I used to clean, one day felt compelled to give me $1500. That money helped me get off the streets and into my first flat in Harlem, NY.
It was a section 8 building, which meant that everyone living there was on welfare. When I went to view the flat, the manager of the management company asked for references and legal papers. I had neither but what I did have was honesty. I told him that if he gave me a shot, I would always have the rent on time. His reply, “I don’t know what it is about you but I want to help you.”
The building was old and many of the appliances and heating systems were pre-civil war. After some time, we started having major problems in the building but the management company wasn’t interested in listening or responding.
So what did I do? I went to the Lower Eastside (LES) and found a tenant’s rights association. Started learning my rights. Went downtown to the housing court and started a case to demand that the building be inspected and put in order.
The other residents were afraid to join in because they feared losing their flats. I had been homeless before so I thought what else have I got to lose. In the end, I represented myself in court and won my case. Keyword: SELF-EMPOWERMENT.
First week of Egypt’s revolution. ©Simba Russeau
Sacred Art of Journalism
When you become a journalist of life and go in search of your truth then the wall of lies built up by governments, politicians and society come tumbling down.
Journalism is sacred to me and I hope that the stories that I share will aid you in harmonising yourself so that together we can harmonise the world. Stick around, I will share more of my journey via the blog posts.
Lebanese rapper MC Moe. ©Simba Russeau
A Little Extra
I have also conducted several workshops with street children, ex-prisoners, children of migrant workers and refugees on the use of photography and interviewing as a tool for self-empowerment in underrepresented communities as means of dealing with racism, poverty, prejudice and war.
Thank you to Cheikh Aamadu Bamba Mbàkke for his wisdom and light.
