Power comes in many forms.
For some, power is the ability to control the actions of a multitude of people. Some feel that power is having great physical strength. Others believe that power is having superiority over your conglomerates. Yes, these are all examples of power. However, I feel that power goes beyond control, strength, and superiority. You see, there is power in thought. There is power in vision. There is power in acting upon that vision and transforming those thoughts into something tangible. Those individuals out in the world who take the initiative to act upon their dreams in order to achieve their vision are those who have influence.
Oroma Elewa has influence.
Oroma Elewa is the founder & director of Pop’Africana: a fashion, art & culture publication based out of New York City that’s dedicated to delivering a rejuvenated image of Africans worldwide. To call Pop’Africana just a magazine would be an understatement. To me, Pop’Africana is a movement: a movement towards a newly defined image of Africans. There is so much more to Africa than what you see on the news. The Africa I know is a wellspring of uninhibited creativity, effortless individuality, and raw talent. The Africa that birthed me is a melting pot of cultures so vibrant and so rich; its influence pours over the shores and makes its way across ocean waters to surrounding lands. Unfortunately, this is not the Africa you see in the media, but that is where Pop’Africana comes in. Sometimes it takes pieces of art, such as this magazine, to tear people’s eyes away from the often times grotesque images of Africa and its people that have become a representation of the continent and to see the beauty that lies within. Through fashion, art, and other cultural expressions, Oroma Elewa is leading an initiative that will forever change the way the world views Africa.
A: Pop'Africana came about out of necessity.
The initial idea of Pop’Africana was to create a publication that would help redefine the image of Africa and redirect opinions of the African. There was a certain mediocrity associated with things African that didn't sit well with me, that didn't fully represent our capabilities. This is not to say that I do not love my culture or history but it is important to show more. What's wonderful is that there is no longer need to explain or constantly stress the issue; the change I have been wishing for is already here. Young Africans are already forging individual identities and paths for themselves. There are so many talented designers, musicians, photographers filmmakers, writers, etc. who are doing wonderful jobs showing the world Africa's diversity and the creative capacities of Africans. Theirs, much like Pop'Africana, has a kind of quality of work that can be appreciated on a global scale. Their individualism is inspiring everyone and that’s what I always wanted to see.
So I would say that the continual inspiration for my project is the need to shelter and present these ideas.
Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the magazine industry as a writer or even an editor?
A: I will advise you to have a clear vision and a strong point of view but understand that there's a constant flow of learning and unlearning.
Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the magazine industry as a writer or even an editor?
A: I will advise you to have a clear vision and a strong point of view but understand that there's a constant flow of learning and unlearning.
Here are some photos from Issue 2 of Pop’Africana
Oroma’s passion is contagious to say the least. I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with her over skype a couple of months ago and within the 20+ minutes I spoke with her, I received a generous dosage of that passion. The love she has for her work is palpable. The words of encouragement she gave me that day concerning my blog and what I have done with it thus far are words I will not soon forget. She is truly one of the people that I hold in high regard and her work will be a continuous well of inspiration for me and many others hoping to follow in her footsteps someday. As a young woman of Nigerian descent, it means a lot to me to see other Nigerian women, such as Oroma, becoming so successful. Thank you for daring to live for something bigger than yourself, Oroma. You’ve got that good good.
Learn more about Oroma Elewa by viewing her incredible feature on Vogue Italia’s website (here).
Links:
Oroma's Twitter: @oromatherapy
Oroma's personal blog: www.oromatherapy.com
Pop'Africana: www.popafricana.com
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