More than 100 women gathered in Nairobi for the first live recording of For Mannerless Women, as Kenyan podcaster Adelle Onyango brought conversations from her digital community into a physical space.

The gathering, held at Trademark Suites at Enaki Town, was created by Onyango through her podcast platform Legally Clueless in partnership with Spotify.

Held to coincide with World Podcast Day, the event explored identity, ageism, boundaries and the pressure placed on African women to conform to societal expectations.

The main topic of conversation or discussion was the idea of what it means for African women to live without allowing society to determine who they should become.

Explaining the decision to name the podcast “mannerless”, Ms Onyangi said it was not about disrespect but about refusing to shrink oneself, question one’s voice or seek external permission to live authentically.

The programme featured panel discussions examining how women’s priorities, relationships and sense of agency change through different stages of life.

Women leaders, influencers and media personalities

The discussion on women in their 30s focused on becoming, challenging expectations of the self-sacrificing African woman and encouraging women to embrace rest and presence.

Panellist Dushy Kuria told the gathering: “We contain multiple women, and in different seasons there is each steering the ship.”

For women in their 40s, the conversation shifted towards career changes, self-advocacy and setting personal boundaries. Media personality and advocate Janet Mbugua said women needed to become comfortable with taking up space.

“Showing up as ourselves is uncharted territory for African women. Set the boundaries, listen and hear yourself, and move that way,” Mbugua said.

The final session, focused on women in their 50s and beyond, examined personal freedom and the changing importance of public opinion.

Panellist Sally Sawe reflected on her own evolution, saying: “People’s opinions stopped mattering. Freedom is choosing yourself every day.”

The live recording demonstrates the growing ability of podcasts to extend beyond digital platforms and create communities around shared experiences.

“Stories have the power to bring people together, and podcasts give creators the space to have conversations on their own terms,” said Ncebakazi Manzi, Podcast Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa, Spotify.

“We’re proud to support creators like Adelle who are using audio to explore the experiences that matter to their communities.”