Women@Mandela: Azra wears many hats: she’s an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, the Social Media Coordinator for the Faculty of Humanities and an advisor to Nelson Mandela University’s chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
But at the heart of it all, she’s deeply committed to helping people find their voice, starting with herself.
“As a decolonial linguist and academic, empowerment means being able to speak up, being confident in who I am, and living in a way that feels true to me,” she says.
“In my work, it’s about creating spaces where others, whether students, communities, or people engaging with my research, can do the same.
"It’s about challenging systems that hold people back and encouraging them to take control of their own stories.”
Her approach to teaching and research is grounded in recognising and valuing her students' diverse backgrounds.
She draws on Southern ways of knowing and humanising education practices, which means creating classrooms where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued, regardless of the language they speak or where they come from.
“An inclusive classroom is one where students don’t feel like they have to hide parts of themselves to be accepted,” she explains. “Real transformation in education isn’t just about who’s in the room - it’s about whose knowledge counts.”
Azra’s work also focuses on making space for the voices of Black women, especially in academic and cultural spaces where they have historically been excluded. She challenges Eurocentric ideas by centring African feminist and decolonial theories, and by celebrating the creativity and intellect of Black women. A lot of her work looks at music, especially hip hop, as a powerful tool for self-expression and resistance.
Artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Moonchild Sanelly, she says, flip the script by showing how women’s sexuality can be a source of power, not something to be ashamed of.
“Pop culture is one of the most influential ways ideas get spread,” she says. “For Black women and queer people, it’s a space that can be both limiting and liberating. That’s why it’s so important to take it seriously and ask: who gets to tell their story, and how?”
Whether she’s teaching, researching, or speaking out, Azra’s goal is clear: to challenge the status quo and shine a light on the power structures that are often hidden in everyday language. She stays rooted in African knowledge systems and refuses to believe that real scholarship only comes from the Global North.
To young Black women thinking about joining academia, her advice is bold and clear: “Just being here is already powerful. Academia wasn’t made with us in mind, but we’re here anyway. Take up space. Speak out. Don’t let anyone define what womanhood should look like for you.”
Azra hopes her work will help normalise seeing women, especially Black women, in places of influence, creativity, and knowledge. Whether through teaching, research, or activism, she wants to build a legacy where women’s voices are not only heard but celebrated, not just as survivors, but as creators and change-makers.
“My dream for South Africa is one where we treat multilingualism as a strength, where knowledge is built on African foundations, and where who you are is seen as an advantage, not something to hide,” she says. “We need an education system that reflects our histories, our realities, and helps the next generation challenge the systems that once tried to silence them.”
This Women’s Month, her message to women at Nelson Mandela University and beyond is both a call to action and a reminder of their power:
“Your voice is your inheritance. Don’t wait for permission to use it. Support each other, mentor others, speak the truth even when it’s hard. We are strongest when we refuse to be silent, and when we rise, we bring others with us.”