“Failure and loneliness are my greatest fears…“: Leading Ladies Africa speaks to Yagazie Emezi

by Francesca Uriri

Through the relentless and clever use of social media, visual curator, cartoonist and vlogger, Yagazie Emezi has created a platform where social issues and a plethora of diverse topics, rarely discussed in African communities, are de-mystified and addressed thoroughly. She talks about what drives her, and why the African woman needs to re-define her purpose and re-invent herself. She is the Leading Lady Africa for the week. Be inspired!

 

 

 We dont want to ask the typical who-is-Yagazie-Emezi question lol, but for those who dont know, who are you?

Goodness! That is a tricky question as I am still on a path of self-discovery. This question usually translates to, “What do you do?” But personally, I’d like to think I’m this carefree (I’m really not, but deep down I want to be!) woman on a quest to be a better person and do good in the world. I believe in freely expressing oneself though art and and words. I am a young creative who tries her best not to place monetary value on things that I’ve be taught ought to make me happy. I’m constantly searching for ways to keep myself and those around me happy.

 

You are of mixed heritage, tell us about that?

Perhaps I could answer this question better if it were, Would you say that being of mixed heritage has given you certain advantages in life? or, Has your  Nigerianess ever been challenged due to being of mixed heritage? You must understand that this particular question is no different from being asked, You are black, tell us about that? Where does one start? It’s best to keep it simple so as to avoid writing a book. My father is Nigerian (Igbo) and my mother is Malaysian (Tamil). I was born and raised in Aba so I identify as Nigerian. My story has very little to do with my parents’ backgrounds, but everything to do with who they are as individuals and how that has shaped me today. I am proud of my ethnic backgrounds and I fully acknowledge them both.

 

How old were you when you moved to the States, and what was the process of you settling in to a culture that was very different from yours?

I moved just as I was about to turn 16. I don’t think it fully sunk in for me for a while that I was away from home. I had it in my head that I would return in two years before entering university. But that was not the case, I didn’t see home again for eight years. It took me a couple of years to assimilate the American culture. I was horribly shy and alone. I got a job within 2 months of arriving and worked throughout high-school and college. And that honestly helped me to get used to the culture; throwing myself out there. I fully settled in when I started attending university, but I still had difficulty making friends and finding a space in which I could have a sense a belonging. It was only AFTER college that I entered a more creative mind-space and was able to find people within the same niche as myself, and that I was comfortable enough to say that I belonged somewhere in the States.

Yagazie Emezi 4

Has anyone ever told you that your (Ibo) accent is gloriously regal and authentic? How did you manage to sustain it after all that time in the States?

Thank you! I was living with my mother so I always spoke to her in my Igbo accent because that was home. However, in school, I quickly learnt to use an American accent because it annoyed me how much people would exotify my accent. People weren’t listening to what I was saying, but how I was saying things.  After some time, I went back to talking normally because I couldn’t fight who I was just to fit in.

 

You say that your website is dedicated to the cultural preservation of the African aesthetic; what exactly does that mean?

My academic background is in Cultural Anthropology and African Studies. I didn’t go to graduate school because I don’t believe in putting myself in financial debt in order to educate myself and with no guarantee of a good job after. Creating the website was a way of pursing the passion I have for what I studied. Photography is a fantastic way of freezing time. Working with African photographers and archiving their work is a method to preserve what we have today. Every shot that a photographer captures in whatever African country that they’re in is cultural preservation because these are the images that we will be looking back at to remember how things once where and how some of it can be retained or at least, not simply forgotten.

Yagazie Emezi 3

Lets talk about your vlog posts, what is the idea behind them? How did you start?

I started off blogging, but realized that I could vocalize a point more than I could write it. I simply started by talking about how I felt. There was no strong goal besides merely expressing and sharing myself.

 

What are your worst fears, and how have you overcome them?

Failure and loneliness. I don’t overcome them. I constantly battle them and that’s what keeps me going. Personally I feel that without fears, there will be nothing to keep pushing me to ensure that I don’t ever encounter them. Some understandably believe that without fears, there’s nothing to stop you. But you can get complacent. You can end up just being ‘okay’ with everything and I’d rather keep running.

 

You seem to be interested in many things. There is the art, the photography, and of course, the very interesting and engaging Youtube Channel. How does everything come together for you?

It simply does. I didn’t do it all at once. These are all interests that I have developed over time and simply pursued. A lot of folks have asked me, Why dont you do just one? and I’m usually confused by that. We keep getting programmed into believing that we can only be great at one thing. JUST be a doctor. JUST be an artist. JUST be a lawyer. The rest of what you love will become ‘hobbies’ and ‘interests’ that you may indulge in every now and then. I believe that if you have time, you CAN do it all and be happy. It all comes together because I have a genuine passion for them, nothing is forced.

Yagazie Emezi 2

Have you always been this bold, zany, creative woman with long braided hair down her waist (on occasion), or did it take you a while to morph into this person?

I’ve always been out-spoken, but with time and maturity, more comes my way. With age, I’m learning when to keep quiet and when to speak up, when to be fearless and when to be cautious; I’m finding a balance.

 

You are popular for addressing topics that Africans rarely discuss; from serious issues like bulimia, to your hilarious posts on Dickmatization, sex and self-love. Why do you think its important to talk about these things?

They are important to discuss because like you already mentioned, these topics are rarely addressed. And because they are rarely addressed, you have men and women (especially our young girls) having to deal with so many issues on their own and carrying those issues silently into our communities. You have people going through eating disorders and low self-esteem because they see that no one is talking about it so they stay behind their closed doors. By talking about these things, people don’t have to feel alone or ashamed of their thoughts. I sometimes get the feeling that my viewers (the majority being African) are drawn to my videos not just by the topic but also drawn in by the way I present it. I want to represent the fact that there is no set standard on how an African woman ought to think and talk. There’s no playbook on how to be yourself despite society’s attempt to mold you into another grey blob.

Yagazie Emezi 1

Has social media helped you to express some of your thoughts on these issues more, if yes, tell us how?

I didn’t start off writing and submitting to newspapers or speaking in public spaces. I did it all online. Social media not only helped me through the obvious method of expanding online demographic, but it also helped me to become more confident. Sharing your opinions online is quite different from doing it in front of people. There are no nerves and seeing as I do have social anxiety and I am huge introvert, social media helps. It’s a bit of a disadvantage because most people now think that I’m extremely extroverted, but fail to realize that with my online work, I’m simply alone in a room in front of a camera or computer. Social media allows me to efficiently put my work out there without distractions.

 

You recently started the Yagazie Lunch Series, collaborating with Innovation Factory and The Social Place, what was that about?

It is one of my first steps to pull myself away from the online world and into physical reality. The Lunch Series is all about bringing young women (men are always welcome) together to discuss. It’s about creating a space of openness and sharing. We don’t need to discuss the social issues we go through behind closed doors and just amongst ourselves. Speak about it openly now and take that practice back home with you so that young girls and boys will learn how not to keep their stresses to themselves. Lead by example, if you will. Working with Innovation Factory and The Social Place was a pleasurable taste what of collaborating with fellow Lagosians can be like, and gave me the sense that I wasn’t alone in my quest!

Yagazie Emezi 5

In one of your vlog posts, you talk about the stressful nature of relationships amongst women. How do you think women can learn to collaborate more?

I actually addressed the importance of maintaining female friendships over that of male companionships. Personally, I find that women work well together despite what people say about us being snarky, jealous and competitive with each other.

 

You obviously like to travel, where are some of your favourite places?

I have been given the opportunity to travel through family, school and hard-work. A few of my favorite visits were in Malaysia, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. I believe that the most effective way to truly live life is to see how others live theirs.

 

If you could, what would you tell your younger self?

I would tell her not to worry so much about being liked.

 

Now that youve relocated back home, what are your plans?

As I’m not from Lagos, the first is to properly settle down and get used to this life! It’s quite different from Aba. Then I’ll be able to fully focus on expanding and building my online platforms; use my website to encourage other young creatives to pursue their dreams, my Youtube channel to push more of us to speak up and hopefully create more laughter with my cartoons.

 

The Leading Ladies Africa Series is a weekly interview series that focuses on women of African descent, showcases their experiences across all socio-economic sectors, highlights their personal and professional achievements and offers useful advice on how to make life more satisfying for women.

 

It is an off-shoot of Leading Ladies Africa; an initiative that seeks to effectively mentor and inspire women, with particular emphasis on the African continent.

Do you know any woman of African descent doing phenomenal things? Send an email to [email protected]  and we just might feature her.

One comment

  1. I love this interview. Yagazie and her sister are such an inspiration to me and to so many others.I like that Yagazie addresses issues that are not always addressed in the African community.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail