Fatu M. Kaba is no stranger to transformation.
From surviving a civil war in her home country of Liberia to stepping onto the red circle of TEDx Oshawa as a powerful storyteller, leadership coach, model, and mental health advocate, Kaba is now launching something even bigger: she’s bringing TEDx to Halifax.
Kaba’s journey to the TEDx stage began with a moment of determination. Kaba had always wanted to tell her story to others and share her experience to help facilitate change. “I saw a post on Instagram, and I knew this was my sign to apply to speak at TEDx,” she recalls. “So I pitched my story to two places. I didn’t hear back from one, but I heard back from TEDx Oshawa.” That single acceptance marked the beginning of a life-changing chapter.
Her TEDx Oshawa talk explored the impact of non-violent action in peacebuilding, rooted in her personal experience as a survivor of civil war. “As someone who survived a civil war, what was and is happening in the world was triggering to me. So I decided to do something about it. I pitched my story to blogs,” she shares. The result was not only cathartic but transformative. “Internal relief,” she says, describing the feeling of sharing her story on stage. “And I got to talk about my experience and have my story make an impact.”
But the impact didn’t stop there.
“Talking about mental health is not bad, and it should not be treated as a taboo topic,” Kaba explains. Her advocacy work continued well after the applause faded, as she connected with others who had lived through similar experiences. “It created an opportunity to meet people who have had the same experiences as me and just talk about it.”
Maria Hussain first heard of Kaba when attending the 2024 Mills Halifax Fashion Week. “She was the only model wearing a hijab and I felt so seen and represented.” Hussain turned to social media to “stalk” Kaba and was shocked. “She is so much more than just a pretty face, she is an activist, a leader, a teacher, and a storyteller.”
Hussain believes that Kaba is, “the beacon of light for immigrants who can have it all, she is everything she wants to be, and she lifts others with her.”
“You are the first TEDx speaker I know,” someone once told Kaba. “And that comment hit me hard,” she says. “It is not like people do not have stories to tell. I wanted to bring TEDx to be more human and allow more stories to be told.”
With a vision rooted in inclusivity, empathy, and impact, Kaba is now launching TEDxArgyle in Halifax on Aug. 9. Her goal is to amplify untold stories from the city, turning local voices into global conversations.
“My hope is to make TEDxArgyle an annual event in Halifax,” she says. “We are living in one of the big cities in Atlantic Canada, and stories from here need to be told.”
For Kaba, inspiration is not a distant concept—it’s a daily commitment. “I am inspired by a lot of things,” she says. “What inspires me the most is making a difference. One person can create a ripple effect. My voice and action have an impact in the community I serve.”
As Halifax prepares to host its first TEDxArgyle event, the city stands on the edge of a new chapter—one where stories have the power to heal, inspire, and connect. And at the heart of it is Kaba, using her voice to ignite change.
The event is set to take place on August 9 from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm at the Light House Arts Centre. Tickets can be purchased from the TEDx Argyle page or their website.
This article appears in Jun 1-30, 2025.