2 December 2015 Last updated at 09:17 GMT
Emi, 22, wrote The Things She Told Me to reflect her own experiences as a woman, but she hopes it will resonate across the world.
The Sudanese-American who originates from Darfur only began writing slam poetry - work that is written for performance and that is often powerful and emotional in tone - when she arrived at university.
She is studying anthropology and molecular biology at Yale, and is one of the BBC's 100 Women 2015
Our 100 Women season showcases two weeks of inspirational stories about the BBC 100 Women and others who defy stereotypes around the world.
Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram using the hashtag #100Women and listen to our programmes here.
Emi Mahmoud, the reigning World Poetry Slam Champion, has written a poem for the BBC 100 Women season.