The Huffington Post on Wednesday honoured Nigerian-born Yagazie Emezi as one its Black Voices, shedding light on her storytelling talents shared through vlogging, photographing and documenting African stories.
According to her website, Yagazie (26) is a multi-disciplinary artist and photographer based in Lagos, Nigeria.
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Born and raised in Aba, Nigeria, Yagazie emigrated to the United States when she turned 16. She studied Cultural Anthropology and African Studies at the University of New Mexico, where she was introduced to the world of blogging and vlogging in 2011. That in turn gave birth to her passion for photography, eventually leading her back to her birthplace in 2014, on a mission to show the world the true essence of Nigeria.
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Using social media platforms, Yagazie unapologetically speaks about issues around, but not limited to bulimia, social anxiety, the obsession with interracial dating and lots more. She also profiles numerous African photographers and artists, calling this “visual curating”.
Yagazie loves sharing her opinions, and says that thanks to social media she gets to represent the different types of women in Nigeria and Africa at large, opening up conversations with like-minded women and encouraging dialogue and debate.
She told Huffington Post journalist Zeba Blay: “I shudder to think about the limiting views people could have of who and what an ‘African woman’ is in today’s day and age. She is you and I, she is everything and anyone. Her possibilities and versatilities are limitless and I can’t imagine anyone having just one view of who she is or can be.”
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Yagazie’s fanbase of 68 000 Instagram followers, 14 000 YouTube viewers, 14 000 Facebook fans and 6 000 Twitter followers continues to grow, and she is fast-becoming a household name.
She is currently collaborating with Lagos Fashion Week and the annual music celebration in honour of Fela Anikulakpo Kuti, “Felebration”. She’s also set to embark on a road trip across Nigeria in partnership with Invisible Borders, teaming up with other writers, filmmakers and photographers to document life across Nigeria.
The world needs more Yagazie Emezis!
Huffington Post‘s recent post describes Yagazie Emezi as ‘the social media star changing the way people see modern Africa‘, saying ‘she’s on the verge of blowing up‘.Yagazie’s bright smile and lush afro are two of a few things that attract you to her but her unapologetic and authentic personality is what makes you linger.
After moving back to Nigeria 2 years ago, she started sharing details of her life and what it’s been like to move back home on social media. With this she has acquired a large following with her compelling photography, humorous cartoons and intriguing videos on her YouTube channel.With Yagazie, no topics are off limits. She tells Huffington Post what most inspires her, and according to them the answer is quick and definitive: “Stories, stories, stories… No filters, no staging, just the raw truth.”
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