Dr Ava Kanyeredzi
Posted by Jenni James on 13 August 2025We mourn the loss of Dr Ava Kanyeredzi — a brilliant Black British feminist scholar, educator, and advocate for justice, who pioneered research into the response of Black majority churches to domestic violence that was pivotal in creating space, understanding and support for women of African-Caribbean heritage.
Ava’s book Race, Culture and Gender: Black Female Experiences of Violence and Abuse remains a seminal text for those working at the intersections of feminism, race, and mental health. Her lectures on identity, faith, and domestic violence will help you see the contribution she has made and you can read more about her findings on domestic abuse and Black churches.
Ava’s work shone a light on women’s stories too often unheard, and her fierce intellect was matched by her kindness and compassion. Even in her final battle with a rare cancer, she showed strength, dignity, and unwavering courage. She lost that battle on the 2nd August 2025.
Her legacy will live on in her lasting contribution to our understanding of the experiences of Black British women in relation to violence, faith and identity and in the project she helped to found, the Black Domestic Abuse Forum.