Adelle Onyango: Empowering African women through storytelling and advocacy

Adelle Onyango, a name synonymous with African empowerment and media innovation, has successfully transitioned from traditional media to creating her platform, Legally Clueless.

Her journey, though challenging, has been inspiring for many African women and youth seeking authentic voices and stories in a world dominated by mainstream narratives.

When Adelle left the stability of mainstream media, it was not without hesitation.

“First, I quit,” she says with a laugh, acknowledging that stepping away from security was the most daunting part of her journey.

Initially, she did not think she would remain in media.

“I thought I was going into the NGO world,” Adelle shares candidly. But life, as it often does, had different plans for her.

While serving her notice, she stumbled upon podcasting, an area she knew little about.

“A month into my notice period, I came across podcasting. I didn’t know about it before, but I just fell into it,” she says.

Her early episodes, filled with raw honesty about her fears of stepping into the unknown, resonated with many.

By episodes five and six, Adelle knew this was her calling.

“I realized I loved hearing other people’s stories, especially Africans,” she says, noting that mainstream media rarely gave space to the full spectrum of African experiences.

“In traditional media, you don’t see the full range of African stories. It’s always the same narratives. I wanted to amplify everyday African stories,” she adds.

This desire to tell authentic, diverse African stories became the foundation of Legally Clueless, a platform where both women and men share their experiences, with a special focus on the lived realities of African women.

What started as a single podcast has since expanded into three shows and wellness events, all centered on serving the African community.

“We’ve toured East Africa, Paris, Zimbabwe, and Ghana, creating spaces that serve the African community, with a strong emphasis on African women,” Adelle proudly explains.

Women’s Rights

Throughout her work, Adelle has been a staunch advocate for African women and youth, believing that empowerment begins with understanding the unique challenges women face.

“Don’t speak for women. Every woman’s experience is different. My struggles as a privileged Kenyan woman are different from those of women in lower economic areas or women with disabilities,” she says.

Her focus is on creating spaces where women, especially from vulnerable communities, can share their stories.

“The first step is ensuring women’s lived experiences are heard,” she explains.

She also emphasizes the link between governance and its impact on women’s daily lives.

“Bad governance directly affects our lives. It’s why when it rains, you look for your phone charger, or why you budget two extra hours for traffic. That’s bad governance,” she says.

She highlights the often-overlooked connection between political decisions and everyday struggles.

Adelle’s Adelle Onyango Initiative has provided free wellness interventions for women and girls who have survived sexual violence.

She stresses the importance of mental health care, especially for survivors of trauma.

“Therapy shouldn’t be a luxury,” Adelle says.

“It’s like seeing a doctor when you break your hand. It’s essential for healing, especially when dealing with trauma.”

The initiative has impacted multiple groups of women, providing therapeutic support to those often marginalized or unable to access such services.

“It’s all about making these interventions accessible. Sexual violence survivors deserve the same care and support as anyone dealing with physical injuries,” she says.

Adelle is also a vocal advocate for the role of digital platforms in driving conversations about gender equality and social justice.

“When we talk about digital platforms, we’re not just talking about social media. We’re talking about podcasts, online content, and all digital spaces,” she explains.

However, she acknowledges the darker side of digital spaces, particularly for Africans.

“These platforms weren’t made by us, yet we give them value through our numbers. We need to hold them accountable,” she argues.

“We need to make these platforms safe spaces for everyone, especially young people.”

Kenya’s pioneering move to take a social media platform to court over its handling of local content creators is something Adelle is particularly proud of.

“We need to demand that these platforms become safe spaces,” she says, urging a deeper conversation around digital accountability.

Despite accolades such as being named among BBC’s 100 Women and Facebook’s Icon of Change, Adelle remains grounded.

"Recognition is nice," she admits, "but I don’t care too much about being on lists anymore. I already know I’m dope every day. I created something that I knew would have an impact, and that’s enough for me."

For Adelle, true value lies not in external validation but in the empowerment she brings to others.

The She Walks by Johnnie Walker platform is one space where she believes African women can find their voices and realize the breadth of choices available to them.

"I want African women to see they have choices. Whether in business, at home, or self-expression, I want them to know the spectrum is wide,” she explains.

Looking Ahead

Adelle is not slowing down.

Her latest projects include a talk show encouraging women to shed shame and embrace their power, and her first film, which urges African women to reconnect with their bodies and worth.

"We’ve done an incredible job with the film, and I’m excited to take it across the country and the continent," she says.