Author Spotlight Interview With The Africa Laureate Award-Winning Author, Syndia A Payne

In this episode of The Laureate Conversation, Mariam Obaijoko speaks with Syndia A. Payne, the Jamaican author, educator and storyteller behind How I Became a Cowgirl: One Woman’s Journey with Rare Migraine Disease, the book that earned her The Africa Laureate Award. Syndia’s memoir grows out of more than twenty years of living with a rare and often misunderstood neurological illness. But How I Became a Cowgirl is not just a book about disease. It is a personal account of identity, family, Jamaican heritage, survival and learning to make room for joy even when life becomes difficult. In their conversation, Syndia talks about what led her to tell this story, the realities she has faced living with rare migraine disease, and the place writing has found in her life. She also speaks about her life as an educator, the importance of self-love and advocacy, and the extraordinary companionship of her migraine alert dog. With a body of work that includes poetry, memoir and reflections on Jamaican culture and history, Syndia has always used writing as a way of making sense of the world and speaking for experiences that are too often left unheard. Featured author: https://www.theafricalaureateawards.o...