For National Women’s History Month, we’re recognizing one of our most influential Speakers, Wambui Bahati, for her dedication to empowering women and preventing domestic abuse. For more information, visit Wambui’s GigSalad profile.
Wambui Bahati is an accomplished speaker, an artistic theatrical performer, and an inspirational mentor to thousands of victims of domestic abuse and mental illness. However, her path to this vocation was not an easy one. She spent the majority of her young life struggling with debilitating bouts of depression which put her in and out of mental health facilities. Along with this battle, Wambui was a victim of violent domestic abuse. These dark times were woven into her youth between her theatrical studies and her mission to become an actress. When Wambui was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, doctors led her to believe that her life would be controlled by this illness. Instead of yielding to their diagnosis and terms, she made the decision to overcome.
Wambui began her path to recovery by refusing the idea of defeat. She spent her time researching empowering messages and focusing on decisions that produced a positive result. The daily work and constant energy put into this mindset created an entire new way of thinking for Wambui.
“Being able to honor myself—this is how I got out of the mental health system. This is how I got out of depression. I was crazy enough to start believing I was strong!” Wambui takes time to let out a great, lively laugh. “I began to tell myself, ‘You know what? You’re okay! I like you!'”
As she relates her passage to health, Wambui notes the importance of a positive perspective.
“If I had sought some help, I may have had a whole different journey. But I look back on all those times and know that the journey is what makes us who we are. We can let these things take us down or we can become stronger.”
Wambui delivers more than a speech for those in need of guidance. The combination of her talents creates a moving production that illuminates the heartache, the betrayal, and the fear associated with domestic abuse. With her one-woman show, “I Am Domestic Violence,” Wambui leads her listeners through these emotions and cultivates the healing that inevitably follows. “It’s a win-win situation,” she said. “It allows me to present the message in a theatrical environment. It eases the stats and facts into the stories. And I bring in a little humor. We need that relief sometimes.” Wambui’s humorous commentary isolates the dark reality of domestic violence making the contrast even more sobering.
The powerful words and moving performances Wambui offers have inspired victims to reclaim their self-esteem. She delivers these speeches in order to “remind you of your magnificence.”
“In society, we encourage people not be in love with themselves. We honor a lot of other things: our country, our celebrities, our belongings. But we have to learn self-respect, self-honor, self-love. Once this is realized, people will be less likely to allow someone to hurt them. And they will be less likely to hurt others. It’s time to break this cycle and create loving, respectful relationships.”
Wambui Bahati is a winner of several awards. She has written, produced and starred in the one-woman musical, Balancing Act, and is the author of several books including You Don’t Know Crazy – My Life Before, During, After, Above and Beyond Mental Illness. Book Wambui Bahati for your next event!