This archive report was first published on 19 May 2020.
Victoria Rubadiri, a Malawian journalist, has spoken candidly about her struggles with fitting in after returning to Kenya after 14 years in the US.
According to Rubadiri, she tried to fit in but found it increasingly difficult, leading her to accept her differences and use them to her advantage.
‘I’ve always wanted to fit in. I’ll admit it’s been a weakness of mine,’ Rubadiri said, reflecting on her experiences.
She recalled feeling like an outsider in both America and Kenya, struggling with her ‘funny accent’ and ‘funny name’.
However, Rubadiri found solace in her career as a journalist, which allowed her to become a student of her Kenyan people, language, and culture.
She noted that her experiences as an outsider gave her a unique perspective on the world, which she used to inform her storytelling.
‘Not having the comfort of “belonging” kept me hungry to learn more and strive to tell a story as it is,’ Rubadiri said.
She advised others who may be struggling to fit in to celebrate their differences and use them to shape the world around them.
‘Celebrate your difference, while daring to shape the world around you,’ Rubadiri said.
