The NDINI Podcast

This week, we have one of the masterminds behind the Canada-based African festival, Bring On The Sunshine. She is the BOTS Artistic Director and founder, Jacqui Terry-Carroll.

Jacqui grew up in Zimbabwe, and is very keen with her roots and upbringing in Africa. With a background in Fine Arts, Jacqui has always had the knack for bringing people together for things that matter. As an African-Canadian currently based in Ontario, she has worked on non-profit fundraising, education, and other advocacies focused on African culture and heritage.

Coming to Canada, Jacqui noticed that the African youth in their community did not know where they fit in terms of being African. They did not feel connected to their heritage, and were not even proud of it. This drove Jacqui to partner with an organization called Adventure For Change and start the African Camp. This camp was a one-week day camp open to African children, children of African descent, and children interested in African culture. Children in the African camp were  exposed to people of African heritage who are working professionals and important members of the community. This experience aimed to change the mindset of the African youth about their heritage, and even teach them leadership.

The success of the African Camp led to an idea of getting people together to celebrate the diverse culture, music, and arts on Family Day. They soon realized the amazing reach and influence of their advocacy when 750 people showed up at the their first event! This was the birth of Bring On The Sunshine festival. Now at their 9th year of celebration, BOTS hosts an audience of about a thousand each year, and continually growing. The festival features a full musical stage line up, a marketplace with diverse and artisan items, and workshops such as drumming and dance. Each year there is a unique auction showcasing some of the artistic talent of Africa. Bring On The Sunshine festival, as Jacqui would describe it, is for Africans to "be all of who you are," to have confidence living in Canada, and to realize their opportunities.

"When you grow up in somewhere like Zimbabwe, we were surrounded by smart, educated, talented, ambitious, creative black people. That was normal. When people move here, there's not always a space for them to be that person, even if that's who they were back home. So, if I'm finding storytellers in the community, I'm giving them this opportunity to share this gift to open up culture to young people and beyond."

Jacqui also talks about the struggles of being African-Canadian, but also the opportunities this brings her. She embraces her role to be a bridge builder among cultures, opening doors for communication. With their advocacies being completely volunteer driven, she talks about her dream to expand BOTS, and the sustainability of the African Camp.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN

• Jackie’s background growing up in Zimbabwe
• What drove her to create the African Camp
• How they change the mindset of the African youth in their community about their heritage
• How Bring On The Sunshine festival started
• All about the BOTS festival and what it features
• How she curates the BOTS festival and gives opportunities to local talents
• The struggles and opportunities of being African-Canadian
• And much more!

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Joining us for this week's episode is a true trailblazer in the corporate world. Our guest this week is Justina Omokhua, currently the  Global Head of Content & Lifestyle Strategy at Apple.

Justina, who is of Nigerian descent, was raised in Toronto. She’s held senior positions at major corporations including L'Oreal, Nokia, PepsiCo, Verizon, and Wal-Mart. She’s currently the highest ranking black woman at Apple.  In her position, Justina oversees marketing for all of Apple’s content and lifestyle platforms. She told us that her job is to enable meaningful engagement with Apple’s millions of content consumers on their various platforms.

In our interview, Justina talked about her early education, and how she thought she’d be a lawyer.  When she went to college, she realized that which she enjoyed the debate element, the application of law was just too rigid for her.  She switched to Psychology, and then ended up shifting to Sociology with a focus on business.

Justina started her career  as a Business Analyst at L’Oreal, then rose to become an Account Manager.  It was in this position that she honed her brand management skills, and her understanding of consumers and the market. Career progression led her to New York, where she eventually landed in tech with Nokia. Justina had always had an interest in technology, and working for the company that spearheaded the development of mobile phones was the ideal place for her.

Her experience at Nokia really got her to pay attention to the marketplace and study technology trends.  That’s why when the first iPhone was launched in 2007, she saw what many didn't -- the potential for the iPhone be a "force to reckon with." It wasn’t long after that she got the call from Apple to work with them.

"Rewrite the rules that don't sing to your soul or speak to your spirit. Create the environment that will foster your personal growth. Transcend the expectations foisted upon your life. Surround yourself with the people that will always encourage you to be your best." - Justina Omokhua

Justina shares how her consistent expectation for greatness and excellence from herself has driven her to achieve and exceed her goals. She tells us about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people -- people who look out for others, and who recognize their position of privilege. This has led Justina to where she is now as a trailblazer.  

Join us and listen to Justina's amazing journey, and how her ventures have led her to the coolest places and events, including meeting and hanging out with people like Oprah, Mary J. Blige, and President Barack Obama!

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

• Justina’s career journey from being a business analyst for commercial brands, to holding a high ranking position at Apple.
• How her drive for greatness and excellence has led her to amazing opportunities
• How choosing to surround herself with the right people helped her grow in her career
• Her insight on “breaking down the walls and chains” on people being regarded as a “token” in the workplace
• How Justina leads by example by fostering and celebrating difference in the workforce
• Justina’s “superpower”
• How advice from her mother has always helped her put life into perspective
• Some of the amazing experiences she’s had
• The people who inspire her the most
• And much more!

Struggle and success are just two of the many things people can relate to. Spread across our lifetime and in varying degrees, we all have our own struggles and successes that are instrumental in telling our story. This week on NDINI, I interview a phenomenal and unapologetically authentic African sister determined to share one such story – Vivian Kaye, the Founder and CEO of KinkyCurlyYaki. What does it take to build a business by yourself from the ground up? How does being ‘real’ fit in this hyper filtered world? Discover how Vivian’s authenticity and grit became her brand and why she’s passionate about sharing her (not-so) secret to success with the world.

“I’ve always been that circle, and everyone kept trying to put me into this square and I couldn’t quite fit. I don’t want to be a square. I want to be a circle or a star, whatever it is, but I don’t want to be that square.” – Vivian Kaye

Vivian Kaye’s family was originally from Tema, Ghana. She’s the second born and has 3 siblings – all women! Like any African family, hers was tightknit, loving, and held education as their highest priority. When she was 2 years old, they migrated to the predominantly white neighborhood of Hamilton, Canada. As an immigrant, she struggled with your usual case of bullying and lack of media representation. Despite these setbacks, Vivian’s resolve to step up and shine in her own way stayed strong.

By the time she went on to university, Vivian started to change. She felt like everyone else would excel, but not her. She felt out of place and wasn’t aware then that she had fallen into depression. Luckily, her mother took notice of her behavioral changes and brought her back home to recover.

Vivian proceeded then to take on job after job, juggling roles that grew her skill set. It eventually came to a point where she became the go-to person if you wanted to get anything done, and done well. She worked in a marketing firm, dealing with and helping other entrepreneurs with their business. This was where her entrepreneurial spark was born!

Thanks to a bad experience with her sister’s wedding decorators, her first business, Vivian’s Decor & Designswas born. She slowly built her authority in the wedding planning scene, taking on $500 gigs, and eventually landing bigger ones.

But being a wedding decorator and planner had its own struggles. Seeing as weddings are usually formal events, she needed hair that looked “presentable.” She needed her hair to be flexible yet authentic. She looked for high-quality textured hair extensions and was disappointed at how unnecessarily difficult it was to find some. So she did what any sane woman would do, she took the situation to her own hands and found a solution that fit her needs. Unbeknownst to her, there were others who needed and wanted the same thing! After being asked about her hair one day, she wondered if there could be more to her hair extensions than what she was seeing. This is how KinkyCurlyYaki came to be and now, it has grown into a multimillion business.

There’s more to this story than Vivian’s building a successful business though! Aside from entrepreneurship, Vivian’s calling has branched out to coaching and public speaking. She has hosted several events where she shares her un-glazed entrepreneurial journey. She’s also done one-on-one coaching, giving actionable advice so others can attain success through authenticity. All this she credits to her inclination to keep trying and constantly learning from her experiences.

“If I give freely, then I will receive abundantly.” – Vivian Kaye

This interview was such a delight! Vivian is probably what ‘joy’ would be like if it were to become a person. She possesses the confidence and positivity that is both comforting and contagious. Our conversation was a beautiful reminder that being and staying true to yourself is the key to living a purposeful life. So, don’t miss this opportunity to listen to her story and share it with those you know would need to hear her message!

 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE Vivian Kaye, her African family dynamics and what it’s like growing up as a black immigrant

• The who, what, and why of KinkyCurlyYaki
• Who Vivian Kaye looked up to as a child for inspiration
• Why taking on different roles is instrumental in learning and personal growth
• What inspired her to pursue her entrepreneurial vision

• What it was like having created 2 successful businesses from the ground up
• Why communicating your vision is vital in nurturing and sustaining a business
• How Vivian’s resolve to stay authentic became the key to her success
• And so much more!

 

NDINI has celebrated it’s the first anniversary early this year and it has been an absolute joy to have been given this opportunity and mission: to share the stories of African women who are earnestly changing Africa’s narrative to one that radiates hope, resilience, wisdom, and love for humanity.

From activists to thought leaders, artists and socio-environmental entrepreneurs, I have learned that women – all women – ultimately, desire the same thing: a world that encourages everyone to embrace their truth, their potential, and their purpose.

That’s why it has been such a blessing to have met dozens of phenomenal and trailblazing African sisters dedicated to doing their part to create and leave a legacy for the future generation. Just by having these African women from different parts of the continent declare their “I am” and owning their purpose with fierce dedication is leading us to a powerful mindset shift.

“There is so much more to us as African Women.” – Sandra Chuma Over a year ago, Leymah Gbowee’s quote inspired me to step up and create this platform. In her book, she wrote, “You have never heard my story. It is an African woman’s story because so rarely are our stories told.”

This week, I bring to you my truth, voice, and purpose — how I became and how I evolved in my becoming.

This year, I commit myself to overcome this fear of fully sharing my story. This year, I shall be even more resolved to continue this quest towards greater courage, love, and faith. I’m letting go of all the, “What would people think? What would people say?” Because really, how bad would following my heart and soul be?

So, THANK YOU, for joining me and keeping me accountable, for supporting and inspiring me to do what I love, and for encouraging me to serve the world in the best way I know how.

I am Sandra Chuma, this is my story.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE - What it was like growing up in Zimbabwe - Why my family was passionate about education - How migrating to Canada changed our lives - How my struggles shifted my mindset and turned out to be a blessing - What inspired me to create a storytelling platform focused on sharing trailblazing African women’s stories - Why it’s my mission to talk about African women’s extraordinary and untold stories with pride

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Website: http://www.ndini.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NDINImedia/ Twitter: @NDINImedia Instagram: @ndinimedia

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Follow NDINI on:

Website: http://www.ndini.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NDINImedia/ Twitter: @NDINImedia Instagram: @ndinimedia

Follow The NDINI Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher and SoundCloud

This week on the NDINI podcast, we interview trailblazing Multimedia Journalist, Feminist and SocEnt Lawyer – Ony Nwaohuocha.

Ony Nwaohuocha is a Nigerian-American woman whose family fled Africa during the Biafra War and settled in Bronx, New York. Her parents were her greatest role models, along with 4 very strong-willed sisters. They helped her become the well-rounded and grounded person she is today. She shares how her love for Africa and storytelling was fostered at home when her father would recall stories about Nigeria over dinner. It’s her father’s storytelling that led to her ever-growing fascination for Africa — its culture and its people.

Her first career had been in law as a SocEnt lawyer working with entrepreneurs and organizations. Ony believed that for-profit businesses had both the capability and the capacity to do good in their communities. She had been a consultant for the African Women’s Development Fund which allowed her to travel around Africa. This helped her learn and get better acquainted with the continent’s issues. She then focused her passion for social good by being an advocate for women’s rights addressing issues in reproductive health, sexual education, and domestic violence.

Of course, Ony doesn’t stop there! Wanting to be better equipped in her quest to show more diverse representations of Africa, she decided to take the leap and enroll in one of the leading journalism schools in the world, the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. This allowed her to work with CNN and BBC tackling current events and later focusing on women affairs.

“I know I probably won’t impact the whole world before I die, but at least for an African girl, the impact that I would love to have is to let her really understand that she really can do anything… she can see someone like herself being able to do so much more than she ever thought that she could, she has the confidence and the ability to speak up for herself and to understand that she can change her circumstance for the better.” – Ony Nwaohuocha

You might be wondering, “how does she juggle her careers and fight for women’s rights without burning herself out?” Well, Ony’s journey wasn’t all sunshine and butterflies. “I don’t look what I go through!” she jokingly shares. In fact, sometimes she appears unfazed and composed on the surface but frantic on the inside. The journalism scene in West Africa often proves to be a challenge due to its socio-cultural dynamics and infrastructural limitations. But this, of course, only makes her resolve to challenge issues that are taboo in Africa even greater.

Join us and learn more about our innovative African sister’s golden insight for those who want to pursue the same!

 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• How Ony Nwaohuocha transitioned from one career to two — journalism and law
• Why Ony is passionate to telling a more diverse story about Africa?
• How being Nigerian-African helps her in understanding both worlds
• The challenges of being a woman journalist in Africa

• Why it’s our inherent duty to show tell our story with integrity, love, and sensitivity
• Why journalism isn’t really as impartial and objective as we think it is
• How her mother’s advice helps her overcome day-to-day challenges
• Her advice to those who want to pursue journalism in Africa

 

EPISODE LINKS

 Ony Nwaohuocha

• Ony on LinkedIn
• Ony on Twitter
• Ony on Instagram 
• Ony on Facebook

 

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In this week’s NDINI quickfire round, we have the Founder and Executive Director of Southern Africa Embrace Foundation – Sindy Zemura-Bernard. Sindy is a humanitarian and philanthropist driven to support and empower marginalized communities. She currently serves in various international boards, committees and working groups in both private and public sectors.

This week, we have fellow humanist & storyteller, Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr ready to share her wit and humor over our quickfire round.

“I’ve been on a journey of freeing myself and unlearning, to free myself to be who I am… I free myself every day, there’s always something to free myself from – insecurities, doubts, questions, and fears.” – Chidiogo Akunyili

Chidiogo Akunyili is the fascinatingly brilliant African woman behind She ROARs – Reimagining Our Africa Rising. SheROARsAfrica.org is an organization with a mission to empower women across Africa to unleash their full potential.

In episode 40, we dive into the story of how Chidiogo came to unravel the truth that was burning inside her – ready to captivate, enlighten, and empower those around her.

With the ability to speak 7 of the world’s languages and paired with an unbridled passion to change the world, Chidiogo embodies a positive force that tends to awaken people to their purpose and in turn builds bridges amongst communities – locally and globally. Which really comes to no surprise especially once you consider the power hidden behind her given name! Chidiogo Blessing Akunyili-Parr’s name roughly translates to ‘God is gracious with blessings and my cup overflows’ – the perfect name to match her impressive capacity to love, lead, and listen.

In case you were wondering, Chidiogo’s list of accomplishments stretches pretty far and wide. In fact, she was voted as one of the ‘100 most influential Young Africans’ in 2016 by the Africa Youth Awards, and The Guardian’s ‘100 Most Influential Nigerians‘ back in 2018. To this day, she continues to walk her journey guided by the African concept of Ubuntu – ‘I am because you are.  You are because we are’.

Interviewing Chidiogo had been such an amazing treat! Please join us as we engage yet another trailblazing African sister in a lighthearted segment filled with laughter and wisdom.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Who’s the first person that comes to Chidiogo’s mind when she hears the word ‘successful’
• What’s her favorite thing about where she lives
• Chidiogo’s favorite time of day and why
• The 2 people she’d like to have dinner with and why
• What’s something she can’t get through the day without

• What’s Chidiogo’s worst habit
• What does Chidiogo want more in her life
• What’s a question that she wished more people would ask her
• What is Chidiogo Akunyili’s “I AM…”
• and so much more!

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This week's quickfire round is with Dr. Nothabo Ncube, an inspirational African doctor who had gone on to become an International Speaker and Millenial Mentor. "Dr.Thabo" envisions a world where women and young girls are empowered to forge their own path and be free to share their brokenness as well as their breakthroughs. She is now on a mission to educate the willing on how to wield adversity and use it to become better prepared in embracing their purpose.

"I feel humbled to have been given peace by the universe." - Dr. Nothabo Ncube

We had the distinct pleasure of sharing a conversation with Dr. Nothabo back in episode 39. She talked about the loss of her mother and how it became the defining moment in identifying her purpose. At just 14 years old, Dr. Nothabo's promise to become a servant-leader through medicine had been her guiding light. She studied relentlessly and graduated top of her class in high school. Dr. Nothabo had earned herself a scholarship to pursue medicine in one of Canada's top universities.

But becoming a doctor is easier said than done. Motherless and crushed under school pressure, she soon found herself struggling with depression. Getting up in the mornings suddenly became a chore. She started missing classes and soon found herself kicked out of the scholarship program. Her dream seemed bleak especially since she didn't have the means to casually re-enroll.

Dr. Nothabo was not one who would give up though. After an insightful talk with her father, she had a renewed sense of hope. This hope and a lot of hard work enabled her to eventually get accepted into medical school. Getting accepted is one thing, but having to afford the expenses of studying medicine was another challenge. She tried to pool the money, but it wasn't until she did the unthinkable that she unlocked her breakthrough moment -- she sent Oprah Winfrey a letter and had gotten invited to attend Oprah's Lifeclass.

That was when Dr. Thabo received the greatest gift -- self-belief. The life class' key takeaway: "You become what you believe," had allowed her to dig deep and understand herself. This was it, her moment of transformation.

Despite not having the monetary means then, her inspiring journey continued to unfold. Suffice to say, Nothabo Ncube had succeeded in her goal to become a medical doctor. But her journey didn't stop there as she continues her pursuit to serve, only now as a motivational speaker and coach.

Join us in this quickfire segment to learn more about Dr. Nothabo Ncube. From the 3 words that best describe her, to her favorite book, to what her "I am" statement is -- this episode was fast but noteworthy.

 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• The 3 words that Dr. Nothabo picks to describe herself
• The first person that comes to her mind when she hears the word 'successful'
• What's Dr. Thabo's favorite book
• The one thing she can't get through the day without
• What does she carry around with her every day
• The song Dr. Nothabo picked as her life's theme song
• Dr. Thabo shares her worst habit
• What does she wish she had more of in her life
• Dr. Nothabo Ncube's "I am..."

Watch Dr. Nothabo's complete interview episode on https://ndini.com/podcasts/039/

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This week’s featured quick fire round is with the electrifying “Queen of Afropop,” African superstar – Yemi Alade.

“I do what I love, and I’m grateful to be able to do this!” – Yemi Alade Yemi’s powerful vocals, bubbly energy, and charm is definitely a force to reckon with.

If you didn’t know her already, Yemi Eberechi Alade is the Nigerian singer-songwriter behind Mama Africa: The Diary of an African Woman.

This is actually her second album following her multi-nominated, ‘Kings of Queens.‘ Yemi has garnered significantly positive reviews from critics with Filter Free adding, “Yemi has managed to craft a collection of songs that have the potential to appeal to fans in every African country close to the equator.”

Yemi was such a delightful guest and had a phenomenal personality to match! We had so much fun in our interview back in episode 38, where she shared what it was like growing up and how winning Peak Talent Show changed her life.

We talked about her songs, the inspiration behind it, and why she does what she does. She also shared her insight on how she deals with the double standards that make it hard for women to succeed.

And dare we say, it’s impossible not to share a hearty laugh with someone as personable as Yemi Alade.

So, tune in on this hilarious Q&A and get a glimpse of just how fun this trailblazing African woman is!

IN THIS EPISODE: - The three words Yemi picked to describe herself - Who is the first person who pops in her mind when she hears the word ‘successful’ - What is Yemi’s favorite gift to give and receive - Yemi’s favorite time of day and why - Who are the two people Yemi would love to have dinner with - What is Yemi’s favorite food - What Yemi picked as her life’s theme song - The one thing she cannot go a day without - What is Yemi’s “I am…” - And much more!

Watch Yemi's full episode on http://www.ndini.com/podcasts/038/

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On this week's NDINI quickfire segment, we have the Afro-soul powerhouse and philanthropist - Zahara.

Back in episode 37, I met and interviewed internationally renowned South African singer-songwriter, Zahara.

"It's knowing who you are, and what you were born for." - Zahara

Born as Bulelwa Mkutukana, she showcased her love for music at just 6 years old when she sang for the school choir. She soon garnered wider attention when she had gotten appointed as the lead singer at a local Sunday school choir because of her powerhouse vocals.

Zahara had started her journey to fame in 2011 when she released her debut album - Loliwe. It took the country by storm and went platinum in 13 days AND double platinum by 17 days. She has won numerous awards, including "Best Female Artist" and "Album of the Year," among other things. She even sang for the late Nelson Mandela at his bedside! Her stage name, "Zahara," actually means "blooming flower" which fits her ever-blossoming career.

Despite Zahara's fame, she remains ever humble and true to herself. She sings in her native language, Xhosa, and even has songs in Shona (my mother tongue!) and English.

It was such an amazing moment to finally meet her in person and get a better understanding of what she's like as an artist as well as a trailblazing African woman.

Join us as we celebrate a sister thriving, growing, and evolving in her element!

 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Zahara describes herself in three words
• The people who come to her mind when she hears the word 'successful'
• What's her favorite book
• Zahara's favorite gift to give and receive
• Zahara's favorite time of day and why
• The people she wants to have dinner with and why
• What's Zahara's favorite food
• The one thing she can't go a day without
• What is Zahara's "I am..."
• Plus so much more!

Follow NDINI on:

Website: http://www.ndini.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NDINImedia/ Twitter: @NDINImedia Instagram: @ndinimedia

Follow The NDINI Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher and SoundCloud