What We Don't Know About Tenacity. | Maryam Bukar Hassan | TEDxBauchi

Maryam Bukar Hassan, a passionate poetry speaker and advocate, takes us on an inspiring journey in her talk, “What We Don't Know About Tenacity.” She begins by sharing the story of how she discovered her love for poetry. At just 16, Maryam presented her first poem, Violence Has No Religion, which garnered over 3 million views on YouTube. The poem was inspired by the tragic experiences of her two aunts who endured abuse at the hands of their husbands.

Through her powerful words, Maryam Bukar highlights how tenacity can transform lives. She explains that tenacity is more than just persistence—it’s the defining factor that shapes how you overcome challenges and achieve greatness. She urges us to see tenacity as the bridge between our goals and the resilience required to attain them.

“It is a distinguishing factor between the weakling and the brave,” Maryam declares, reminding us that the strength to persevere is what sets us apart in the face of adversity.

Her talk is a call to action, encouraging us to embrace tenacity as a core value. By doing so, we unlock our potential and create pathways to success, no matter the obstacles we face. Maryam Bukar Hassan, known as Alhanislam, is a Nigerian poet, speaker, and advocate for gender equality, peace, and social justice. Using poetry and public speaking, she amplifies marginalized voices, especially women’s. Alhanislam has performed on global stages, including COP28 and UNGA 2024's Summit of the Future, and spoken at key events like the Global Women’s Forum in Paris and the UN SDG Awards in Rome. She founded the "True My Voice" initiative, empowering youth through creative advocacy, which was recognized as a UN SDG Awards finalist. Her "Peace Begins with Me" campaign, co-curated with UN Peacekeeping, highlights art's role in reconciliation. Honored with the Sustainable Africa Award at COP28, Alhanislam exemplifies transformative advocacy, blending art and activism to inspire lasting societal change This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx