𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞: Bridging Cultures, Sports & Social Change Through Media
Monina Soumare, a 24-year-old student sports journalist, pharmacy assistant and founder of the podcast Visions and Talks, is establishing herself as one of the most compelling voices at the intersection of sports, media, and social change in Spain - Catalonia. Fluent in five languages and rooted in both Mauritanian heritage and Catalan upbringing, Monina embodies the power of intersectionality—blending health expertise, cultural fluency, and a fearless commitment to justice.
Visions and Talks: A Voice for the Unheard
Launched in October 2022, Visions and Talks is more than a podcast—it's a safe space for candid dialogue about race, identity, belonging, and cultural pride. Monina’s conversational yet incisive style has helped the platform grow rapidly, gaining hundreds of followers in its first months and attracting high-caliber guests from across disciplines.
Notable episodes have featured:
- Keita Baldé, professional footballer
- Desirée Bela-Lobedde, antiracism activist and writer
- Kaba Gassama, elite handball player
- Omar el Pretinho, businessan and content creator
- Wiz Problema, humorist hand social voice
- And most recently: Alejandro Balde, FC Barcelona and Spain national team footballer
Her interviews are thoughtful, bold, and deeply human—drawing out stories often left untold in mainstream media.
Sports Journalism with Purpose: The Mini Copa África
On Saturday, June 21, Monina played a key journalistic role at the Mini Copa África, a grassroots football tournament in Barcelona celebrating African youth, culture, and identity. Held at 15:30, the event gathered players, families, and community leaders to highlight sport’s unifying force.
As part of the event’s coverage, Monina interviewed special guest Alejandro Balde — left-back for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team — widely regarded as one of the world’s most prominent young athletes. This exclusive moment underscored her growing profile in sports journalism and her commitment to authentically representing racialized voices in athletic spaces.
Her presence wasn’t just symbolic — it reflected the broader mission of the Mini Copa África: to elevate African heritage and empower a new generation of youth through visibility and pride.
Follow the initiative here: @minicopaafrica
From Pharmacy to Public Leadership
Monina's academic and professional career began in Cassà de la Selva.
She is currently continuing her studies. However, she has already made her first contributions to the scientific community, creating accessible, multilingual health content, such as public guides on the types of syringes and their safe use.
Her ability to combine healthcare with her journalistic skills gives her a rare competitive advantage in sports debates.
Civic Engagement & Cultural Moderation
Monina is also a trusted moderator and public speaker. Her leadership is regularly sought after by institutions organizing conversations around race, gender, and civic equity:
- March 2024: She moderated “How Do We Build an Antiracist City?” at Barcelona’s City Hall for the International Day Against Racism.
- March 8, 2024: She led a Women’s Day roundtable in Cassà, focused on female empowerment and spatial justice.
- Top Manta Antiracist Run: She helped organize a visibility campaign with Catalan celebrities like Frank T, Miki Esparbé, and Yolanda Sey, contributing to an “antiracist cheer grandstand.”
Her ability to balance grassroots activism with institutional dialogue makes her a key cultural connector in contemporary Catalonia.
A Multicultural Catalyst for Change
What truly sets Monina apart is her remarkable gift for bridging worlds. Fluent in Catalan, Spanish, English, French, and Soninké, she crafts conversations that don’t just cross boundaries—they dissolve them, creating space for real connection and cultural exchange.
On her podcast, she blends sharp insight with humour and storytelling to unpack topics like microaggressions, systemic inequality, and resilience—particularly for racialised professionals navigating spaces like healthcare and sports.
Her voice is bold yet empathetic, her tone both reflective and uplifting—making her a powerful force for dialogue, dignity, and change.
Why Monina Soumare Matters
- Trailblazer in representation: As a Black, Muslim, multilingual woman in pharmacy and media, she’s breaking new ground in visibility.
- Credible & rooted: Her background gives her authenticity—she’s not parachuting into causes but rising from within them.
- Sport and media synergy: Through events like the Mini Copa África, she’s proving that sport, journalism, and identity can align in powerful ways.
- Voice of a generation: Whether moderating civic panels or chatting with elite athletes, she is crafting a new kind of leadership: one that’s informed, inclusive, and intersectional.
Strategic Value for Media & Brands
Why featuring Monina benefits your platform:
- Authentic representation: She reaches audiences who rarely see themselves reflected in media.
- Cross-sector appeal: From STEM to sports to social justice—her story intersects many trending themes.
- Engagement potential: Her relatable yet radical content resonates across age groups, especially younger demographics seeking role models.
Monina Soumare is more than a pharmacist or podcast host. She’s a movement.
She’s what happens when precision meets passion, when heritage fuels dialogue, and when a young woman takes the mic not just to speak—but to change the narrative.
From Visions and Talks to the pitch of the Mini Copa África, she’s carving space for stories that matter, voices that endure, and communities that rise.
