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A wise woman once told me, “you’re who you say you are.” That was at a time when I had issues with my identity. Born in Sierra Leone but raised in Liberia until adolescence, and attended high school in Sierra Leone and The Gambia and post-secondary education in the United States. At school, I was crazy about the arts, and especially literature. Moreover, I could write songs, rap, act, play, dance, and produce music. That is who I am; I even write poetry.
I did well in both fields but was terribly unhappy with them”
Some cynics second-guessed my decision to study theater. My own family belittled this alternative as an unprolific one. As a result, the younger me also decided to study chemistry and phlebotomy. I did well in both fields but was unhappy with them. When I seized another chance, it was to study accounting or commerce. I considered both but was still unsatisfied with those fields’ sedentary lifestyles. I wanted to write and act in plays, produce powerful Hip Hop songs and rap, and, you guessed it, author some literature. There is so much going on in life, and I want to be one who documented some of them, especially in our current politically incorrect era when traditions are a thing of the past.
African by heredity, American by nationality. My identity was such that even as an African because I moved around a lot. This was partly because everyone close to me then wanted me to be what they wanted and not naturally who I am. The only time I had felt settled up to that point was in the United States. And that was after I left my parents and went on my own. So here I was, a severely distressed 9-5er by day and an excited artist, author, and poet by night. I was a US naturalized Canadian with a massive identity crisis.
And that was after I left my parents and went on my own. So here I was, a seriously distressed 9-5er by day and an excited artist, author…”
Who am I? One of Sierra Leone’s? I was born there, but I only lived in the country for five years. One of Liberia? I grew up there for 11 years and was only 13 when the civil war led me to jump into the bushes. I also lived in The Gambia and Senegal; I can claim that as part of my heritage. They represent my teenage. Maybe I’m an American. I have many American families who carry passports, and because of my Liberian roots, I live, think and speak American. But who am I? A phlebotomist? An Accountant? An artist? An actor? An author? A publisher? This was when the wise lady told me, “you’re who you say you are.”
When I’m surrounded by literature, music, poetry, that’s when I’m being me.”
That gave me a lot of closure. “You’re who you say you are” made me realize it was not up to my parents, siblings, relatives, friends, co-workers, or anyone to tell me who I should be. I declared who I am. When I’m surrounded by literature, music, and poetry, that’s when I’m me. Once I made that determination, then came the next step – to be unapologetic for who I am. This released me. It set me free! My mind was disconnected from the false guilt and responsibility to please others instead of myself. Then, I began to reflect on my influences and how they helped shape my natural journey. That was when I focused on my craft and built on my legacy. My ten most prominent effects in Literary & publishing are:
To be continued… *
