Taboo
The Stranger Who Shared My Blood
I never imagined that a saliva test could make me question everything about my identity. Like many people during lockdown, I got bored and bought one of those at-home DNA kits. It sat on my shelf for weeks until I finally spit into the tube and mailed it off, expecting nothing more than confirmation of what I'd always been told: half Swedish, half French, and a proud mix of both.
By Hamad Haiderabout a year ago in Confessions
Trump’s African Summit: A Modern Display of Colonial Power
Trump’s African Summit: A Modern Display of Colonial Power On July 9, 2025, the White House became the stage for a troubling diplomatic theatre, as United States President Donald Trump hosted a mini-summit with the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal. What was billed as a friendly summit about economic cooperation quickly revealed itself as a spectacle of domination and submission, raising critical questions about modern-day power dynamics between Africa and the West. Diplomacy Disguised as Control Trump opened the summit with a brief speech, claiming the five visiting presidents were “representing the entire African continent.” This gross oversimplification ignored both the vast cultural, economic, and political diversity of Africa and the reality that these five nations play a relatively minor role in U.S.-Africa trade. Trump’s primary focus was not on partnership but on Africa’s riches: gold, oil, and rare minerals. His praise for these nations centered not on their people, culture, or innovation, but on the wealth buried beneath their soil. The meeting’s timing only sharpened the contradictions in Trump’s message. On the same day, his administration escalated its global trade war, imposing new tariffs on eight countries, including African nations Libya and Algeria. The contradiction was glaring: while the U.S. president spoke of “strengthening ties with Africa,” he was simultaneously penalizing African economies elsewhere. Critics argue that this is the true face of Trump’s Africa policy—where “partnership” means compliance and where rewards are conditional upon submission. A Scripted Performance of Deference The summit quickly turned into a carefully choreographed performance. Trump, playing the role of master of ceremonies, invited—though effectively instructed—his guests to speak to the media. Each African leader played their part, offering Trump glowing praise in a manner that seemed rehearsed and reluctant. Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who had served as the African Union (AU) Chair in 2024, led this display of flattery. In a particularly surreal moment, he declared Trump a global peacemaker, bizarrely crediting him with stopping a war between Iran and Israel. This narrative ignored the U.S.'s ongoing military support for Israel’s devastating assault on Gaza—an act that the African Union itself had condemned. Ghazouani’s silence on Palestine, in exchange for possible economic favor, was a painful reminder of the compromises leaders sometimes make on the global stage. Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, once a symbol of anti-imperialist politics and youthful reform, was particularly disappointing. Having campaigned on breaking away from neocolonial structures, Faye instead requested that Trump build a golf course in Senegal—an ask that symbolized not independence, but submission to foreign leisure interests. Trump’s response was to compliment Faye on his youthful appearance, brushing aside the request like a schoolteacher humoring a child. Gabon’s President Brice Oligui Nguema tried to discuss “win-win partnerships,” only to be met with lukewarm interest. Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai impressed Trump, but not for his policy ideas. Instead, Trump marveled at his English fluency, asking in astonishment, “Where did you learn to speak so beautifully? Where? In Liberia?” The question betrayed not only ignorance of Liberia’s founding by freed American slaves in 1822 but also a racist surprise that an African leader could be articulate in English. Colonial Attitudes in the Modern Era Trump’s remarks and attitudes throughout the summit echoed a long history of colonial condescension. His surprise at Boakai’s language skills mirrored the colonial-era belief that Africans who adopted Western customs or languages were anomalies, curiosities to be admired for their proximity to whiteness rather than their own merits. Similarly, at a previous White House event, Trump reduced an Angolan journalist, Hariana Veras, to her looks, publicly calling her “beautiful” during a peace ceremony between the DRC and Rwanda—another deeply inappropriate and objectifying comment that continued the legacy of sexualizing and diminishing Black women. The summit was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern in Trump’s dealings with Africa: transactional, dismissive, and rooted in old imperial power dynamics. His foreign policy has repeatedly shown little regard for Africa’s agency, focusing instead on what the continent can offer in terms of natural resources and political compliance. Contrast with Biden’s Approach The contrast with President Joe Biden’s U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in 2022 could not be starker. Biden welcomed over 40 African heads of state and representatives from the African Union, civil society, and the private sector. His summit emphasized peer-to-peer dialogue, respect for African development agendas like the AU’s Agenda 2063, and sought genuine partnership rather than subordination. Where Biden sought engagement, Trump sought obedience. The Real Cost of Compliance Perhaps the most painful aspect of the July 9 summit was the lost opportunity. In a moment when African leaders could have asserted their nations' sovereignty, challenged Trump’s condescending tone, and defended Africa’s dignity, they instead bowed—metaphorically and literally. Their compliance secured a fragile reward: Trump promised that their nations would not face new tariffs “because they are friends of mine now.” It was a transactional victory purchased at the cost of dignity. For the African leaders present, the choice was stark: protect their economies from Trump’s wrath or risk challenging a president who thrives on punitive diplomacy. But their silence and flattery only emboldened Trump’s imperial performance. A Reminder of Unfinished Decolonization The summit’s optics were impossible to ignore: a powerful Western leader extracting loyalty and resources from compliant African heads of state. It was a modern-day colonial tableau, reminiscent of 19th-century encounters where African kings were forced to bow before European emperors. Despite decades of political independence, economic and diplomatic relations between Africa and the West often remain shaped by uneven power dynamics. President Faye’s capitulation was especially disheartening. He had risen to power as a voice for African dignity, promising to reclaim sovereignty and reject neocolonialism. Yet, in Washington, he followed the script, failing to challenge Trump’s narrative and thus betraying the ideals that brought him to power. The Illusion of Partnership In the end, Trump didn’t build bridges; he built a stage. He didn’t engage with equals; he orchestrated a performance where he alone was the master. The African leaders, by participating in this spectacle without protest, helped perpetuate the very systems of control and exploitation they once promised to dismantle. If Africa is to break free from these cycles of dominance, its leaders must resist such public humiliations and redefine engagement on their own terms. Genuine partnership cannot be built on flattery and fear; it must rest on mutual respect, shared interests, and the courage to speak truth to power. Until that happens, summits like Trump’s will remain not forums for cooperation but stages of colonial theatre—where the master still holds the script, and Africa plays a supporting role.
By Ikram Ullahabout a year ago in Confessions
🚪 Liminal Music: The Sound of In-Between Moments . AI-Generated.
You’ve felt it before. That strange unease in a hotel hallway at 3AM. The silence in an empty classroom after school. An airport at sunrise, where the world hasn’t fully woken up yet.
By The Yume Collectiveabout a year ago in Confessions
The Day I Climbed Over Fear
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been terrified of heights. Mortified. Even the thought of standing near a ledge makes my knees do that weird wobble thing. If heaven and hell really are in the sky and underground, I think I know which one I’d rather be closer to—and it’s not because of fire or damnation.
By ArshNaya Writesabout a year ago in Confessions
The House of Cards
My entire life is built on one colossal lie. One gust of truth, and everything I cherish could vanish like smoke. The House of Cards My entire life is built on one colossal lie, and I live in constant dread that it will all come crashing down. Every achievement, every loving word from my wife, every proud glance from my parents — they're all tainted by the deception that has been the foundation of my existence for the past fifteen years. I built this beautiful house of cards, and now the slightest breeze of truth could send it tumbling into irreparable ruin. It all began in my final year of university. I was a mediocre student, drifting aimlessly, burdened by the immense expectations of my family. My older brother, Omar, was a brilliant academic — the golden boy destined for medical school. I, on the other hand, was barely scraping by, plagued by anxiety and a pathological fear of failure. The thought of disappointing my parents, especially my father who had sacrificed so much, was a crushing weight. As graduation approached, the pressure became unbearable. My grades were abysmal. I knew, deep down, that I wouldn't graduate with the honors my parents expected — I might not even pass some of my crucial final exams. The shame was suffocating. Then, in a desperate moment born of panic and self-preservation, a terrible idea took root. It happened during the final exam for "Advanced Calculus" — a subject that had consistently baffled me. The exam hall was packed. Proctors paced the aisles. My mind was blank. Just as despair took hold, I noticed him — a student in the row ahead, hunched over his paper, writing furiously. He was a known genius, always acing every exam. And in that moment of sheer, unfiltered panic, fueled by fear of disgrace, I did the unthinkable. I cheated. Not subtly. Not carefully. I risked everything. I craned my neck, copied answers when the proctor wasn’t looking, praying I wouldn’t be caught. I wasn’t. Against all odds, I passed. Not just passed — excelled. It was the turning point. That single act of deception opened a floodgate. I realized I could fake it. I could mimic success. I graduated with a respectable GPA — not stellar like Omar’s, but enough to please my parents. They were ecstatic. They threw a celebration. They praised my "hard work." I swallowed every compliment like a bitter pill, each one adding another brick to my wall of lies. The deception grew. I used a falsified transcript to gain admission into a prestigious master’s program, where I continued to scrape by — relying on charm, avoiding difficult coursework, skating through on strategy and surface. I eventually landed a job at a respected firm, again through exaggeration and luck. I became adept at talking the talk, even if I couldn’t walk the walk. My shattered confidence transformed into a polished, confident façade. Then I met Sarah. She was everything I wasn’t — honest, grounded, sincere. She admired my supposed ambition, intelligence, and drive. I fell deeply in love with her. And with her love, the lie became heavier. How could I tell her that the man she loved — the man she planned a future with — was a fabrication? That his life was built on sand? Our wedding was a beautiful, joyous day. My parents beamed. Omar, now a successful surgeon, toasted my "meteoric rise." Every word of praise felt like a shard of glass in my soul. I looked at Sarah, her eyes shining with love and trust, and nausea gripped me. She deserved the truth. But by then, the lie had grown too big — too deeply woven into our lives. It wasn’t just mine anymore. It was the foundation of our shared future. Now, fifteen years later, the fear is constant. It lurks in every casual conversation about the past. Every time someone mentions university. Every time my parents brag about my “achievements.” I live with a permanent knot of anxiety, terrified of being exposed — by an audit, an old classmate, a misplaced document. Just last week, a former university acquaintance joined our firm. I vaguely recognized him — couldn’t quite place him — but he’s there, in meetings, in the cafeteria. Every glance from him makes my heart pound. Has he recognized me? Does he remember who I really was? The mediocre student? The cheat? Is he waiting for the right moment? I have nightmares — vivid dreams where I stand naked in a lecture hall, my fraudulent transcript projected on a giant screen. I wake up drenched in sweat, the fear so real it takes minutes to remember it was only a dream. I’ve imagined the conversation with Sarah countless times. Her expression when she finds out. The hurt. The betrayal. The look in my parents’ eyes. The shame that would haunt Omar. If I confess, everything unravels — the life I built, the love I cherish, the respect I’ve earned. All gone. My house of cards would fall, leaving nothing but dust and regret. I’ve thought about confessing. Truly. I long for relief. But how do you admit to a lifetime of lies without destroying everything? How do you tear down a false identity without erasing yourself entirely? So I continue. I smile. I accept praise I don’t deserve. I tell myself it’s for their sake — to protect them from the truth. But in my heart, I know it’s for me. I’m a prisoner in a golden cage, trapped by my own deceit. And every day, I pray the wind doesn’t blow too hard — that the truth stays buried. That my house of cards stands one more day. Because if it falls… I fall with it. And there will be no one there to catch me.
By Noman Afridiabout a year ago in Confessions
How Social Media Is Quietly Changing Who We Are
It was all fun when we first joined Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. We felt a little more connected to the world because we were able to communicate with friends who lived far away, share photos, and write about our feelings. However, gradually, something began to alter. We used more than just social media — We began to change as a result. It started to shape how we see ourselves, how we talk, and how we feel slowly and quietly. It began to quietly rewrite our identity.
By kaykobadabout a year ago in Confessions
Caught in Her Web: The Night That Broke Every Rule
The city never slept, and neither did temptation. The rooftop bar was a glittering jungle of clinking glasses and whispered promises, the kind of place where deals were made and morals were left at the door. The city thrummed under a relentless downpour, rain hammering the streets like a drumbeat of desire. The rooftop bar was a haze of neon and wet skin, glasses clinking amidst the steam rising from soaked bodies. I was there for business, suit pristine, but my resolve melted the moment she emerged. Her red dress, a scandalous slip of fabric, clung to her curves like a second skin, soaked through and translucent under the flickering lights. Her eyes, dark and predatory, locked onto mine, sending a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the rain.“You look like you need to get wetter,” she purred, her voice a sultry caress as she slid beside me, water dripping from her hair onto the bar. Her perfume—jasmine laced with sin—mixed with the rain, intoxicating me. I should’ve bolted. I had a fiancée, a life of order, but her smile was a siren’s call, pulling me into her storm.“Make it quick,” I managed, my voice rough as her fingers brushed mine, igniting a spark. She ordered shots, the liquid fire sliding down my throat as rain streaked the windows. Her touch lingered, nails tracing my wrist, and the bar dissolved into a blur. It was just us, the rain a curtain shielding our reckless dance.“Let’s escape,” she whispered, lips grazing my ear, her breath hot against the cool rain. I followed, mesmerized, as we plunged into the downpour. The elevator was a pressure cooker—her body pressed close, wet dress molding to every curve, her hands sliding up my chest. By the penthouse, restraint was a distant memory.The door slammed, and she was on me, rain-slicked skin against mine. Her kiss was a wildfire, tasting of rain and rebellion. The dress hit the floor, a puddle of red, revealing her in all her drenched glory. Water cascaded down her body, catching the city lights, as she pulled me into her orbit. My hands roamed her wet skin, her moans blending with the storm outside. She was a tempest, her nails raking my back, urging me deeper into the scandal.“Who are you?” I gasped, lost in her heat, rain dripping from us both.
By Ahmad Mahsudabout a year ago in Confessions
