Nigerian | English/Uruguayan
My Mother is from Nigeria, my Father is from England and Uruguay. They met through work I think. My Mother is the strongest human being I have ever come across. She taught me how to love unconditionally, how to forgive those who hurt you, and to look for good in every person. I think my poetic side definitely comes from her, she had a way with words and often spoke to me in parables and idioms. She was a single Mother of 5 and a very successful farmer/developer/ entrepreneur. She did much to empower her community and those around her. Unfortunately she passed when I was 17, but the values and examples she gave me will be with me forever.
I have never intentionally hidden my identity, more like gone along with someone's assumptions. I felt a little bit ashamed but a little bit relieved because it meant I didn't have to explain why I exist. I know a few British Nigerians but none born in Nigeria that live in the UK. I have a lot of siblings so it has helped me feel less isolated. I have learnt to become open to every culture I encounter and become respectful of many different, and at times contradicting, ways of life. Although I sometimes feel like I don't fully fit in anywhere.
I have been privileged enough to live in both England and Nigeria but have never been to Uruguay. I'm very familiar with both of my contrasting cultures and see myself in both of them, even though they are totally different. Different music, different food. Just opposite worlds. My favourite artists are from both my cultures. I draw inspiration from artists like Fela Kuti and even Ben Howard. The way they structure their lyrics and the type of metaphors they use are all so different, so listening to a wider range of music and lyrics definitely gives me a wider perspective to write from.
I'm more Nigerian than I am anything else, culturally and genetically. I love the food, the music, the clothing and print in particular! I was born in the Yoruba part of Nigeria and my Mother is originally from the Igbo region, so even as a Nigerian I don't have a clearly defined culture. I really wish I could speak Yoruba or Igbo fluently but there's still time to learn. I love the sense of community and general respect you find across the country. There's also a certain level of realness in most of the people. I found in Nigeria you could have a passionate conversation with someone and just never see them again, people there are so energetic and usually straightforward. Generally speaking.
I think what I love about my English side is the respect for other cultures, people always speak on the intolerant side and the imperialist side of England. But English people also have a way of embracing and celebrating other cultures which I think is wonderful, I think that's why London is so diverse. Also it sounds simple but being able to speak English is also a privilege, English literature is a passion of mine too! It’s a very convenient and a really valuable language to know. I also love British humour and how polite people are.
I am not connected to my Uruguayan side culturally at all, I would like to know more in the future, because my Uruguayan Grandmother’s work was one of the things that inspired me to become an artist, and I'm sure her work must have some cultural influences too!
If I had the opportunity to be reborn I would want to return as a mixed person. I love being me. I think with being mixed you either feel invisible or opaque, you can either feel like you don't belong and are left out. Or that the spotlight is on you and the difference you carry is highlighted. I think the most irritating part is sometimes being treated like a ‘diet Black person’ by institutions (i.e. they expect you to have watered down culture, and not fit so many stereotypes and yet still tick the diversity box). In other words we are sometimes treated like the human compromise to systematic racism. E.g. Obama has never ever been referred to as a mixed president even though that's what he is, his Blackness is conveniently highlighted as a mark of a progressive society. I can draw many more examples like this from my own experience.
I'm a visual artist and tutor so life during the pandemic has been up and down. I'm really lucky to get to work from home most days and do what I love for a living. So initially the virus didn't affect me that much, but after a while all my workshops and exhibitions were cancelled, and there was nowhere I could share my passion with other human beings. The lockdown began to drain and demotivate me, luckily I got to take part In a chain poem about lockdown organized by (Khila poetry), which was featured on BBC radio, and also did an interview with BBC news on how the lockdown has affected artists, so ironically I gained a lot of exposure from being locked at home.
A personal Challenge for me is balancing creativity with productivity. I find that productivity comes from routine and creativity comes from spontaneity, and I've struggled previously balancing the two. I think the key is to create structure around creativity, i.e. have a general routine to your day that allows you some free time to think and create without external pressure.