I’ll tell you a little story when I was two years old and I was in kindergarten
two years old and I was in kindergarten
two years old and I was in kindergarten my mother used to my mother used to drop
my mother used to my mother used to drop
my mother used to my mother used to drop us off with my landlady’s mother who was
us off with my landlady’s mother who was
us off with my landlady’s mother who was like a grandmother to us and she would
like a grandmother to us and she would
like a grandmother to us and she would leave us downstairs and my mama’s caja
leave us downstairs and my mama’s caja
leave us downstairs and my mama’s caja mama mama didn’t know to speak any other
mama mama didn’t know to speak any other
mama mama didn’t know to speak any other language besides Yoruba and every time
language besides Yoruba and every time
language besides Yoruba and every time you know we would my brother and I we
you know we would my brother and I we
you know we would my brother and I we were with her she would sing to us and
were with her she would sing to us and
were with her she would sing to us and she we will dance and she would tell us
she we will dance and she would tell us
she we will dance and she would tell us stories and these stories were told in
stories and these stories were told in
stories and these stories were told in Yoruba I didn’t understand I was two
Yoruba I didn’t understand I was two
Yoruba I didn’t understand I was two years old
years old
years old but then in school there was this
but then in school there was this
but then in school there was this end-of-the-year thing where children are
end-of-the-year thing where children are
end-of-the-year thing where children are made to come out and sing nursery rhymes
made to come out and sing nursery rhymes
made to come out and sing nursery rhymes everybody’s parents were there and
everybody’s parents were there and
everybody’s parents were there and children come out and sing songs and
children come out and sing songs and
children come out and sing songs and children were coming up and the first
children were coming up and the first
children were coming up and the first child you know sang twinkle twinkle
child you know sang twinkle twinkle
child you know sang twinkle twinkle little star baa baa baa sheep you know
little star baa baa baa sheep you know
little star baa baa baa sheep you know London Bridge is falling down and then I
London Bridge is falling down and then I
London Bridge is falling down and then I come out on stage and I’m telling I was
come out on stage and I’m telling I was
come out on stage and I’m telling I was – my mother has a picture and I get
– my mother has a picture and I get
– my mother has a picture and I get there and I start doing all ooh I can t
there and I start doing all ooh I can t
there and I start doing all ooh I can t pay pay pay pay period be Arnie Arnie my
pay pay pay pay period be Arnie Arnie my
pay pay pay pay period be Arnie Arnie my mother said she put her hand in her head
mother said she put her hand in her head
mother said she put her hand in her head and said what kind of child is this and
and said what kind of child is this and
and said what kind of child is this and her my teachers were like madam what are
her my teachers were like madam what are
her my teachers were like madam what are you teaching this girl and it seemed
you teaching this girl and it seemed
you teaching this girl and it seemed like there was a problem it seemed like
like there was a problem it seemed like
like there was a problem it seemed like something was wrong it seems like Oh
something was wrong it seems like Oh
something was wrong it seems like Oh because she cannot sing the foreign you
because she cannot sing the foreign you
because she cannot sing the foreign you know Nursery Rhymes she’s not having it
know Nursery Rhymes she’s not having it
know Nursery Rhymes she’s not having it right we know we need to tell her the
right we know we need to tell her the
right we know we need to tell her the right stories and I am glad because even
right stories and I am glad because even
right stories and I am glad because even at that stage my mother said to leave me
at that stage my mother said to leave me
at that stage my mother said to leave me alone it was fine and it was good and I
alone it was fine and it was good and I
alone it was fine and it was good and I was raised with Nigerian language that I
was raised with Nigerian language that I
was raised with Nigerian language that I was raised you know with those stories
was raised you know with those stories
was raised you know with those stories and then fast-forward to some timely
and then fast-forward to some timely
and then fast-forward to some timely time in my life we would watch a lot of
time in my life we would watch a lot of
time in my life we would watch a lot of television and they’ll be things like
television and they’ll be things like
television and they’ll be things like tilled by moonlights which I hope that
tilled by moonlights which I hope that
tilled by moonlights which I hope that many people in this room know about yes
many people in this room know about yes
many people in this room know about yes okay good
okay good
okay good and and the world has evolved and
and and the world has evolved and
and and the world has evolved and storytelling has changed and in many
storytelling has changed and in many
storytelling has changed and in many ways stories are told not from the oral
ways stories are told not from the oral
ways stories are told not from the oral tradition anymore which i think is one
tradition anymore which i think is one
tradition anymore which i think is one of the priceless ways to tell stories
of the priceless ways to tell stories
of the priceless ways to tell stories because
because
because as a filmmaker and as a storyteller we
as a filmmaker and as a storyteller we
as a filmmaker and as a storyteller we take things we take reality and we put
take things we take reality and we put
take things we take reality and we put it on stage and we put it in a film and
it on stage and we put it in a film and
it on stage and we put it in a film and we put it in a script and many times
we put it in a script and many times
we put it in a script and many times we’ll come and say oh this film is not
we’ll come and say oh this film is not
we’ll come and say oh this film is not good enough and I ask them what is the
good enough and I ask them what is the
good enough and I ask them what is the reality what do you understand that the
reality what do you understand that the
reality what do you understand that the reality is one of the things that has
reality is one of the things that has
reality is one of the things that has made Nollywood such a successful
made Nollywood such a successful
made Nollywood such a successful industry is the fact that many people
industry is the fact that many people
industry is the fact that many people watch the Nollywood films and can
watch the Nollywood films and can
watch the Nollywood films and can identify there’s some level of
identify there’s some level of
identify there’s some level of authenticity there’s some level of
authenticity there’s some level of
authenticity there’s some level of originality the films that were made in
originality the films that were made in
originality the films that were made in Hollywood may not have had the best
Hollywood may not have had the best
Hollywood may not have had the best technical you know size may not have had
technical you know size may not have had
technical you know size may not have had the best performances are the best
the best performances are the best
the best performances are the best costuming but as far back as the days of
costuming but as far back as the days of
costuming but as far back as the days of idea idea for lying or ideal of and
idea idea for lying or ideal of and
idea idea for lying or ideal of and Hubert’s a good day they were telling
Hubert’s a good day they were telling
Hubert’s a good day they were telling stories are way authentic and they were
stories are way authentic and they were
stories are way authentic and they were real and the and the and the tradition
real and the and the and the tradition
real and the and the and the tradition of telling stories orally and verbally
of telling stories orally and verbally
of telling stories orally and verbally which is something I think is becoming
which is something I think is becoming
which is something I think is becoming missing in today and so if there’s
missing in today and so if there’s
missing in today and so if there’s nothing else that you take away from
nothing else that you take away from
nothing else that you take away from this talk it is the fact that we need to
this talk it is the fact that we need to
this talk it is the fact that we need to preserve the power of telling our own
preserve the power of telling our own
preserve the power of telling our own stories yes we are telling the stories
stories yes we are telling the stories
stories yes we are telling the stories on bigger platforms and the world is
on bigger platforms and the world is
on bigger platforms and the world is looking at us but you see the place
looking at us but you see the place
looking at us but you see the place where we need to tell the stories from
where we need to tell the stories from
where we need to tell the stories from one person to the other I’m an advocate
one person to the other I’m an advocate
one person to the other I’m an advocate of mentorship I believe in sitting with
of mentorship I believe in sitting with
of mentorship I believe in sitting with older people and just hearing things one
older people and just hearing things one
older people and just hearing things one of one of my mentors jockette silver one
of one of my mentors jockette silver one
of one of my mentors jockette silver one of the best things I have learned from
of the best things I have learned from
of the best things I have learned from how was at a point in my life in 2011 I
how was at a point in my life in 2011 I
how was at a point in my life in 2011 I was done with my masters and I was at a
was done with my masters and I was at a
was done with my masters and I was at a point where you know I wanted more I had
point where you know I wanted more I had
point where you know I wanted more I had studied first-degree second-degree I had
studied first-degree second-degree I had
studied first-degree second-degree I had started to work I had won an award but I
started to work I had won an award but I
started to work I had won an award but I knew that there was more until I knew
knew that there was more until I knew
knew that there was more until I knew that I needed something something more
that I needed something something more
that I needed something something more than just what I would watch on
than just what I would watch on
than just what I would watch on television I am NOT saying the internet
television I am NOT saying the internet
television I am NOT saying the internet isn’t great I’m not saying that
isn’t great I’m not saying that
isn’t great I’m not saying that technology isn’t fantastic in fact many
technology isn’t fantastic in fact many
technology isn’t fantastic in fact many people who hear of this talk today
people who hear of this talk today
people who hear of this talk today because of technology but then I
because of technology but then I
because of technology but then I submitted myself to her and I said you
submitted myself to her and I said you
submitted myself to her and I said you know what I want to follow you around
know what I want to follow you around
know what I want to follow you around and for like a year I carried her back I
and for like a year I carried her back I
and for like a year I carried her back I followed her around I start with her and
followed her around I start with her and
followed her around I start with her and said I want to help you
said I want to help you
said I want to help you I was appeared with EPA to repeal you
I was appeared with EPA to repeal you
I was appeared with EPA to repeal you know and I followed her around and every
know and I followed her around and every
know and I followed her around and every time when she was working I would watch
time when she was working I would watch
time when she was working I would watch her and after a tick I remember she
her and after a tick I remember she
her and after a tick I remember she would do a take and then she will have a
would do a take and then she will have a
would do a take and then she will have a conversation with me she would tell me
conversation with me she would tell me
conversation with me she would tell me you know in this take I’m doing this so
you know in this take I’m doing this so
you know in this take I’m doing this so that when we’re in post-production the
that when we’re in post-production the
that when we’re in post-production the editor will have some things to choose
editor will have some things to choose
editor will have some things to choose from nobody could have taught me that in
from nobody could have taught me that in
from nobody could have taught me that in school nobody could have helped me
school nobody could have helped me
school nobody could have helped me understand that and then I will sit with
understand that and then I will sit with
understand that and then I will sit with filmmakers like Julio falaya and he
filmmakers like Julio falaya and he
filmmakers like Julio falaya and he would tell me how his father made a
would tell me how his father made a
would tell me how his father made a certain film I would watch a deal of
certain film I would watch a deal of
certain film I would watch a deal of films and I will see these special
films and I will see these special
films and I will see these special effects in those films from that time
effects in those films from that time
effects in those films from that time and I’m wondering the thing that the
and I’m wondering the thing that the
and I’m wondering the thing that the storytelling is just evolving and
storytelling is just evolving and
storytelling is just evolving and sometimes I feel depressed because I
sometimes I feel depressed because I
sometimes I feel depressed because I wonder in my time we’re not doing as
wonder in my time we’re not doing as
wonder in my time we’re not doing as much yet we have so much more than these
much yet we have so much more than these
much yet we have so much more than these people have and so when I understand for
people have and so when I understand for
people have and so when I understand for example how a deal of started out and
example how a deal of started out and
example how a deal of started out and how a clapping I know is working I can’t
how a clapping I know is working I can’t
how a clapping I know is working I can’t decide how I want to be in the next five
decide how I want to be in the next five
decide how I want to be in the next five years I can’t decide how I want stories
years I can’t decide how I want stories
years I can’t decide how I want stories to be told in the next five years in the
to be told in the next five years in the
to be told in the next five years in the next ten years in the next 15 years I
next ten years in the next 15 years I
next ten years in the next 15 years I sit here and I say to myself nobody’s
sit here and I say to myself nobody’s
sit here and I say to myself nobody’s gonna tell my children about how or
gonna tell my children about how or
gonna tell my children about how or surety Bostock looked before freshly
surety Bostock looked before freshly
surety Bostock looked before freshly sanitized it’s who’s going to tell them
sanitized it’s who’s going to tell them
sanitized it’s who’s going to tell them that how are they going to know I
that how are they going to know I
that how are they going to know I probably will tell them because I am a
probably will tell them because I am a
probably will tell them because I am a fan of storytelling but if we do not
fan of storytelling but if we do not
fan of storytelling but if we do not realize and see the importance of it
realize and see the importance of it
realize and see the importance of it who’s going to trap it in a documentary
who’s going to trap it in a documentary
who’s going to trap it in a documentary who’s gonna put it in something that we
who’s gonna put it in something that we
who’s gonna put it in something that we can now use the tools of today to
can now use the tools of today to
can now use the tools of today to advance the stories of yesterday so that
advance the stories of yesterday so that
advance the stories of yesterday so that when we know the password coming from we
when we know the password coming from we
when we know the password coming from we understand where we are and then we have
understand where we are and then we have
understand where we are and then we have the power to shape the future that we
the power to shape the future that we
the power to shape the future that we desire instead of complaining instead of
desire instead of complaining instead of
desire instead of complaining instead of saying we don’t know what is going on we
saying we don’t know what is going on we
saying we don’t know what is going on we don’t know what to do oh this is bad and
don’t know what to do oh this is bad and
don’t know what to do oh this is bad and just pointing fingers one of the
just pointing fingers one of the
just pointing fingers one of the problems I have with my generation is
problems I have with my generation is
problems I have with my generation is the sense of entitlement and I mean
the sense of entitlement and I mean
the sense of entitlement and I mean that’s your a lot of I think a lot of us
that’s your a lot of I think a lot of us
that’s your a lot of I think a lot of us are in the same generation we come and
are in the same generation we come and
are in the same generation we come and we say oh we know how to do it better
we say oh we know how to do it better
we say oh we know how to do it better we don’t these people don’t know what
we don’t these people don’t know what
we don’t these people don’t know what they’re doing they are old school they
they’re doing they are old school they
they’re doing they are old school they don’t understand technology but I dare
don’t understand technology but I dare
don’t understand technology but I dare say that there’s something that they
say that there’s something that they
say that there’s something that they know that you and I don’t know there is
know that you and I don’t know there is
know that you and I don’t know there is something that they’ve seen their things
something that they’ve seen their things
something that they’ve seen their things they’ve seen just because they were on
they’ve seen just because they were on
they’ve seen just because they were on the earth on earth before you and so if
the earth on earth before you and so if
the earth on earth before you and so if we will just not be so entitled we will
we will just not be so entitled we will
we will just not be so entitled we will understand it people who don’t know
understand it people who don’t know
understand it people who don’t know where they’re coming from cannot
where they’re coming from cannot
where they’re coming from cannot understand where they’re going to and so
understand where they’re going to and so
understand where they’re going to and so if if if today you hear nothing it is
if if if today you hear nothing it is
if if if today you hear nothing it is that storytelling is the true that we
that storytelling is the true that we
that storytelling is the true that we need in every in every genre in every
need in every in every genre in every
need in every in every genre in every sphere in every sector in every area of
sphere in every sector in every area of
sphere in every sector in every area of influence you would probably listen to
influence you would probably listen to
influence you would probably listen to somebody who puts something in a story
somebody who puts something in a story
somebody who puts something in a story form first before you listen to somebody
form first before you listen to somebody
form first before you listen to somebody who puts something in a lecture form
who puts something in a lecture form
who puts something in a lecture form when you are in a home when you have a
when you are in a home when you have a
when you are in a home when you have a child when you tell your child stories
child when you tell your child stories
child when you tell your child stories those stories will stick faster those
those stories will stick faster those
those stories will stick faster those stories will stick quicker and
stories will stick quicker and
stories will stick quicker and as you equip that child with tools to go
as you equip that child with tools to go
as you equip that child with tools to go into the future that child is able to
into the future that child is able to
into the future that child is able to use those stories – I was able to use
use those stories – I was able to use
use those stories – I was able to use those stories as a point of reference as
those stories as a point of reference as
those stories as a point of reference as well and then creates that future and
well and then creates that future and
well and then creates that future and then not make the same mistake know
then not make the same mistake know
then not make the same mistake know people say experience is the best
people say experience is the best
people say experience is the best teacher I say know what that people’s
teacher I say know what that people’s
teacher I say know what that people’s experience is the best teacher why do I
experience is the best teacher why do I
experience is the best teacher why do I want to make the same mistake when they
want to make the same mistake when they
want to make the same mistake when they are people who have gone before me who I
are people who have gone before me who I
are people who have gone before me who I can learn from who can tell me exactly
can learn from who can tell me exactly
can learn from who can tell me exactly what happened who can tell me and I say
what happened who can tell me and I say
what happened who can tell me and I say I am a product of stories I am a story
I am a product of stories I am a story
I am a product of stories I am a story child my middle name is it all and I
child my middle name is it all and I
child my middle name is it all and I like to say that a loss stories surround
like to say that a loss stories surround
like to say that a loss stories surround me once there is a story I’m there
me once there is a story I’m there
me once there is a story I’m there because I find that it even makes me a
because I find that it even makes me a
because I find that it even makes me a better person it makes me it makes my
better person it makes me it makes my
better person it makes me it makes my experiences whole it definitely adds
experiences whole it definitely adds
experiences whole it definitely adds more to my work but storytelling I think
more to my work but storytelling I think
more to my work but storytelling I think is the tool that we need to move through
is the tool that we need to move through
is the tool that we need to move through our past our present and our future
our past our present and our future
our past our present and our future thank you very much
”
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