[Music] but I like you guys to indulge me
but I like you guys to indulge me
but I like you guys to indulge me they’re going to be a few mental
they’re going to be a few mental
they’re going to be a few mental exercises through this talk and we’ll
exercises through this talk and we’ll
exercises through this talk and we’ll just go right into the first one so
just go right into the first one so
just go right into the first one so please close your eyes go on close them
please close your eyes go on close them
please close your eyes go on close them eyes are still open
eyes are still open
eyes are still open okay now I’m going to give you a word
okay now I’m going to give you a word
okay now I’m going to give you a word and I like it so imagine somebody who is
and I like it so imagine somebody who is
and I like it so imagine somebody who is synonymous with the word I’ll give you
synonymous with the word I’ll give you
synonymous with the word I’ll give you are you ready dreadlocks now open your
are you ready dreadlocks now open your
are you ready dreadlocks now open your eyes I come back that’s 75% of you
eyes I come back that’s 75% of you
eyes I come back that’s 75% of you thought Bob Marley yeah magic fashek
thought Bob Marley yeah magic fashek
thought Bob Marley yeah magic fashek okay all right the other 25% of you
okay all right the other 25% of you
okay all right the other 25% of you thought someone along the lines of
thought someone along the lines of
thought someone along the lines of somebody who is mentally ill on the side
somebody who is mentally ill on the side
somebody who is mentally ill on the side of the road or somebody with some
of the road or somebody with some
of the road or somebody with some affiliation with some Christian
affiliation with some Christian
affiliation with some Christian religious sect or perhaps somebody who
religious sect or perhaps somebody who
religious sect or perhaps somebody who is extremely creative maybe a footballer
is extremely creative maybe a footballer
is extremely creative maybe a footballer a visual artist or a musician so you see
a visual artist or a musician so you see
a visual artist or a musician so you see we’ve come all the way back to Bob
we’ve come all the way back to Bob
we’ve come all the way back to Bob Marley
Marley
Marley so father illustrate by points I would
so father illustrate by points I would
so father illustrate by points I would like you guys to please watch this one
like you guys to please watch this one
like you guys to please watch this one minute video that was filmed on the
minute video that was filmed on the
minute video that was filmed on the streets of Lagos a few years ago by
streets of Lagos a few years ago by
streets of Lagos a few years ago by battabox Daniel hey sky that doesn’t fit
battabox Daniel hey sky that doesn’t fit
battabox Daniel hey sky that doesn’t fit before actually makes them look good to
before actually makes them look good to
before actually makes them look good to me
me
me it’s an African thing so it’s
it’s an African thing so it’s
it’s an African thing so it’s traditionally Africa to me it’s not
traditionally Africa to me it’s not
traditionally Africa to me it’s not something good this English things
something good this English things
something good this English things anything if they say the way you dress
anything if they say the way you dress
anything if they say the way you dress is really a dress same people put on on
is really a dress same people put on on
is really a dress same people put on on this regular summer that is not as
this regular summer that is not as
this regular summer that is not as responsible
that is okay
that is okay is mr. Samson Kali da da in the Bible is
is mr. Samson Kali da da in the Bible is
is mr. Samson Kali da da in the Bible is rich toward God acquittance is good
rich toward God acquittance is good
rich toward God acquittance is good afternoon
afternoon
afternoon you should look nutria and just be
you should look nutria and just be
you should look nutria and just be yourself instead of looking like sorry
yourself instead of looking like sorry
yourself instead of looking like sorry you saw the mud first exception to
you saw the mud first exception to
you saw the mud first exception to entertainment of some thank you I’m glad
entertainment of some thank you I’m glad
entertainment of some thank you I’m glad you enjoyed it but very very interesting
you enjoyed it but very very interesting
you enjoyed it but very very interesting news most of the views that were shared
news most of the views that were shared
news most of the views that were shared in this box walkway mostly negative you
in this box walkway mostly negative you
in this box walkway mostly negative you know
know
know Dead Sea not something good not
Dead Sea not something good not
Dead Sea not something good not responsible mad person rogue a trough
responsible mad person rogue a trough
responsible mad person rogue a trough this stop being the brain however there
this stop being the brain however there
this stop being the brain however there are a few positives that came out of it
are a few positives that came out of it
are a few positives that came out of it so that’s not dwell on the negatives
so that’s not dwell on the negatives
so that’s not dwell on the negatives some people said it was African some
some people said it was African some
some people said it was African some people said it was you know our
people said it was you know our
people said it was you know our tradition and someone did mentioned some
tradition and someone did mentioned some
tradition and someone did mentioned some natural thing about sets but when I said
natural thing about sets but when I said
natural thing about sets but when I said those words dreadlocks earlier many of
those words dreadlocks earlier many of
those words dreadlocks earlier many of you did not see me an architect an ideas
you did not see me an architect an ideas
you did not see me an architect an ideas woman and an entrepreneur so how did
woman and an entrepreneur so how did
woman and an entrepreneur so how did somebody as normal as myself end up with
somebody as normal as myself end up with
somebody as normal as myself end up with this hairstyle that is considered the
this hairstyle that is considered the
this hairstyle that is considered the most unacceptable in Nigeria and perhaps
most unacceptable in Nigeria and perhaps
most unacceptable in Nigeria and perhaps the entire world I’ll go ahead and say a
the entire world I’ll go ahead and say a
the entire world I’ll go ahead and say a very short story of how I got to this
very short story of how I got to this
very short story of how I got to this points so sometime in 2006 I was in
points so sometime in 2006 I was in
points so sometime in 2006 I was in architecture school and I wanted to have
architecture school and I wanted to have
architecture school and I wanted to have looks because I thought it was cool so I
looks because I thought it was cool so I
looks because I thought it was cool so I mentioned to my mom you know like mommy
mentioned to my mom you know like mommy
mentioned to my mom you know like mommy I want to get locks and my mom who is
I want to get locks and my mom who is
I want to get locks and my mom who is very supportive and will never say
very supportive and will never say
very supportive and will never say anything negative towards me didn’t
anything negative towards me didn’t
anything negative towards me didn’t really see much until we were driving
really see much until we were driving
really see much until we were driving down the road and she saw someone who
down the road and she saw someone who
down the road and she saw someone who was mentally ill Whitlock’s and she says
was mentally ill Whitlock’s and she says
was mentally ill Whitlock’s and she says id see what you wants to do to yourself
id see what you wants to do to yourself
id see what you wants to do to yourself so of course I immediately was
so of course I immediately was
so of course I immediately was discouraged and forgot about this idea
discouraged and forgot about this idea
discouraged and forgot about this idea fast forward now to 2009 I had graduated
fast forward now to 2009 I had graduated
fast forward now to 2009 I had graduated landed myself in one of Nigerian
landed myself in one of Nigerian
landed myself in one of Nigerian Nigerian stop leading architecture firms
Nigerian stop leading architecture firms
Nigerian stop leading architecture firms strivings making mark in my chosen
strivings making mark in my chosen
strivings making mark in my chosen profession and my tutu for our bimonthly
profession and my tutu for our bimonthly
profession and my tutu for our bimonthly salon visits became a boy
salon visits became a boy
salon visits became a boy having to choose a hairstyle now and
having to choose a hairstyle now and
having to choose a hairstyle now and then I didn’t want to relax my hair
then I didn’t want to relax my hair
then I didn’t want to relax my hair anymore and I didn’t want to wear weaves
anymore and I didn’t want to wear weaves
anymore and I didn’t want to wear weaves anymore so the only solution that seemed
anymore so the only solution that seemed
anymore so the only solution that seemed logical was to cut my hair which was
logical was to cut my hair which was
logical was to cut my hair which was fine but there was another problem I
fine but there was another problem I
fine but there was another problem I wasn’t going to comb my big kinky
wasn’t going to comb my big kinky
wasn’t going to comb my big kinky African roots so my possible solution
African roots so my possible solution
African roots so my possible solution was to lock my hair so one Monday
was to lock my hair so one Monday
was to lock my hair so one Monday morning in November 2009 I was in the
morning in November 2009 I was in the
morning in November 2009 I was in the architecture firm then I’ll get into
architecture firm then I’ll get into
architecture firm then I’ll get into work with short spiky hair my colleagues
work with short spiky hair my colleagues
work with short spiky hair my colleagues did not waste time to make me subjects
did not waste time to make me subjects
did not waste time to make me subjects or vertical Chiti okay we’ll call me
or vertical Chiti okay we’ll call me
or vertical Chiti okay we’ll call me terrible waste at every chance he got on
terrible waste at every chance he got on
terrible waste at every chance he got on phone called me to the side in the
phone called me to the side in the
phone called me to the side in the lunchroom and it’s like you know why are
lunchroom and it’s like you know why are
lunchroom and it’s like you know why are you trying to lose your fine girl status
you trying to lose your fine girl status
you trying to lose your fine girl status with this ridiculous thing that you have
with this ridiculous thing that you have
with this ridiculous thing that you have on your hair I shrugged off every
on your hair I shrugged off every
on your hair I shrugged off every negativity and consent comments with the
negativity and consent comments with the
negativity and consent comments with the words you will get used to it but the
words you will get used to it but the
words you will get used to it but the truth is that even I did not see my hair
truth is that even I did not see my hair
truth is that even I did not see my hair as beautiful at the time I’ll find
as beautiful at the time I’ll find
as beautiful at the time I’ll find myself having to make up with having to
myself having to make up with having to
myself having to make up with having to make to do excessive makeup and wear big
make to do excessive makeup and wear big
make to do excessive makeup and wear big jewelry just that I can’t fit in as
jewelry just that I can’t fit in as
jewelry just that I can’t fit in as opposed to standing out well about a
opposed to standing out well about a
opposed to standing out well about a year into my hair journey I had a
year into my hair journey I had a
year into my hair journey I had a conversation with my friend and
conversation with my friend and
conversation with my friend and colleague delaqua James she wore her
colleague delaqua James she wore her
colleague delaqua James she wore her hair loose natural and she had lived in
hair loose natural and she had lived in
hair loose natural and she had lived in England for a long time and had this
England for a long time and had this
England for a long time and had this self-consciousness about her hair from a
self-consciousness about her hair from a
self-consciousness about her hair from a perspective of race so I wondered why
perspective of race so I wondered why
perspective of race so I wondered why the Lacroix would be carrying this like
the Lacroix would be carrying this like
the Lacroix would be carrying this like natural hair all the time and I asked
natural hair all the time and I asked
natural hair all the time and I asked her why he dreams this year so why not
her why he dreams this year so why not
her why he dreams this year so why not just like get a perm way weave or
just like get a perm way weave or
just like get a perm way weave or lockets and she made me understand that
lockets and she made me understand that
lockets and she made me understand that her hair was has has cementing and has
her hair was has has cementing and has
her hair was has has cementing and has to careful I’m most importantly there
to careful I’m most importantly there
to careful I’m most importantly there was nothing wrong with her natural hair
was nothing wrong with her natural hair
was nothing wrong with her natural hair I suebdo Lacroix’s words and made them
I suebdo Lacroix’s words and made them
I suebdo Lacroix’s words and made them mine and immediately I said to see my
mine and immediately I said to see my
mine and immediately I said to see my hair as mine beautiful as it was created
hair as mine beautiful as it was created
hair as mine beautiful as it was created natural and most importantly there was
natural and most importantly there was
natural and most importantly there was nothing wrong with it
nothing wrong with it
nothing wrong with it so the next few slides
so the next few slides
so the next few slides kind of show me developing from that
kind of show me developing from that
kind of show me developing from that very awkward short looking hair to
very awkward short looking hair to
very awkward short looking hair to someone who had said embracing our hair
someone who had said embracing our hair
someone who had said embracing our hair I was still in architecture then next
I was still in architecture then next
I was still in architecture then next like this yeah so growing up in it and
like this yeah so growing up in it and
like this yeah so growing up in it and this is me six years visa so with this
this is me six years visa so with this
this is me six years visa so with this short story I’ve told you now an
short story I’ve told you now an
short story I’ve told you now an interesting question is why are
interesting question is why are
interesting question is why are dreadlocks so dreadful when is something
dreadlocks so dreadful when is something
dreadlocks so dreadful when is something that is part of our DNA I did some
that is part of our DNA I did some
that is part of our DNA I did some research so I’ll help you insights the
research so I’ll help you insights the
research so I’ll help you insights the most popular history of locks points
most popular history of locks points
most popular history of locks points back to Jamaica and sometime in 19th
back to Jamaica and sometime in 19th
back to Jamaica and sometime in 19th century early 19th century in Jamaica
century early 19th century in Jamaica
century early 19th century in Jamaica you had our fellow guys over there also
you had our fellow guys over there also
you had our fellow guys over there also trying to oppose colonial norms he had
trying to oppose colonial norms he had
trying to oppose colonial norms he had the anti conformist the people who did
the anti conformist the people who did
the anti conformist the people who did not want to conform to colonial rule and
not want to conform to colonial rule and
not want to conform to colonial rule and Western standards of of civilization
Western standards of of civilization
Western standards of of civilization this top scum India he as a form of
this top scum India he as a form of
this top scum India he as a form of rebellion and we’ve been young
rebellion and we’ve been young
rebellion and we’ve been young oftentimes comes violence so you had
oftentimes comes violence so you had
oftentimes comes violence so you had these people with uncombed hair
these people with uncombed hair
these people with uncombed hair performing all sorts of violence and
performing all sorts of violence and
performing all sorts of violence and dreadful acts on the streets of Jamaica
dreadful acts on the streets of Jamaica
dreadful acts on the streets of Jamaica we very quickly became known as the
we very quickly became known as the
we very quickly became known as the dreadful people with locks you put those
dreadful people with locks you put those
dreadful people with locks you put those two together it becomes dread locks so
two together it becomes dread locks so
two together it becomes dread locks so whilst the history of the Jamaicans is
whilst the history of the Jamaicans is
whilst the history of the Jamaicans is not my history or the history of anybody
not my history or the history of anybody
not my history or the history of anybody on the African continent were students
on the African continent were students
on the African continent were students where their hair looks you can actually
where their hair looks you can actually
where their hair looks you can actually draw some parallels they were also
draw some parallels they were also
draw some parallels they were also colonized we also continually find
colonized we also continually find
colonized we also continually find ourselves in that place we ask where we
ourselves in that place we ask where we
ourselves in that place we ask where we are so coming to Western standards you
are so coming to Western standards you
are so coming to Western standards you know colonial looms in the way we think
know colonial looms in the way we think
know colonial looms in the way we think the way we dress the food we eat
the way we dress the food we eat
the way we dress the food we eat everything just leans back to the west
everything just leans back to the west
everything just leans back to the west and we too often ignore what is ours
and we too often ignore what is ours
and we too often ignore what is ours well the last seven years plus of
well the last seven years plus of
well the last seven years plus of carrying my hair natural has actually
carrying my hair natural has actually
carrying my hair natural has actually made me learn some life lessons and life
made me learn some life lessons and life
made me learn some life lessons and life values most of them are self confidence
values most of them are self confidence
values most of them are self confidence self worth
self worth
self worth self love self acceptance
self love self acceptance
self love self acceptance self-consciousness patience taking
self-consciousness patience taking
self-consciousness patience taking ownership of my black hair problem and
ownership of my black hair problem and
ownership of my black hair problem and solving it with my own black hair
solving it with my own black hair
solving it with my own black hair solution and of course a little bit of
solution and of course a little bit of
solution and of course a little bit of rebellion
rebellion
rebellion so now it’s time for second missile
so now it’s time for second missile
so now it’s time for second missile exercise hey guys ready
exercise hey guys ready
exercise hey guys ready excited open your eyes don’t close them
excited open your eyes don’t close them
excited open your eyes don’t close them this time I like you to go further and
this time I like you to go further and
this time I like you to go further and open your minds
open your minds
open your minds I like you to see the people I’m about
I like you to see the people I’m about
I like you to see the people I’m about to show you this is doctor boss ad a
to show you this is doctor boss ad a
to show you this is doctor boss ad a renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist
renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist
renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist professor of medicine at Lagos
professor of medicine at Lagos
professor of medicine at Lagos University Hospital she’ll had a look
University Hospital she’ll had a look
University Hospital she’ll had a look for four and a half years Queen at legal
for four and a half years Queen at legal
for four and a half years Queen at legal practitioner four and a half years as
practitioner four and a half years as
practitioner four and a half years as well Junaid owned a business software
well Junaid owned a business software
well Junaid owned a business software consultants which siege his we looked
consultants which siege his we looked
consultants which siege his we looked for about over a year lisanna
for about over a year lisanna
for about over a year lisanna she’s a fashion entrepreneur she’s right
she’s a fashion entrepreneur she’s right
she’s a fashion entrepreneur she’s right here looks for three years
here looks for three years
here looks for three years Pamela a human rights activist looks for
Pamela a human rights activist looks for
Pamela a human rights activist looks for about five years now
about five years now
about five years now bang colleague at sec journalist looks
bang colleague at sec journalist looks
bang colleague at sec journalist looks for about four years all these people
for about four years all these people
for about four years all these people are my heroes all breaking the
are my heroes all breaking the
are my heroes all breaking the stereotype trying to change the norm of
stereotype trying to change the norm of
stereotype trying to change the norm of the standards of how we think as a
the standards of how we think as a
the standards of how we think as a society for no good reason
society for no good reason
society for no good reason all of them are striving and making a
all of them are striving and making a
all of them are striving and making a mark in whatever they have chosen to do
mark in whatever they have chosen to do
mark in whatever they have chosen to do and the truth is that’s how they wear
and the truth is that’s how they wear
and the truth is that’s how they wear the hair does not affect they are brain
the hair does not affect they are brain
the hair does not affect they are brain so now the point of this conversation
so now the point of this conversation
so now the point of this conversation seems to be about me trying to get you
seems to be about me trying to get you
seems to be about me trying to get you to love me I love my hair or except
to love me I love my hair or except
to love me I love my hair or except looks as standard or a hairstyle that
looks as standard or a hairstyle that
looks as standard or a hairstyle that should be accessible to everybody but
should be accessible to everybody but
should be accessible to everybody but it’s really not about that it’s deeper
it’s really not about that it’s deeper
it’s really not about that it’s deeper than that
than that
than that this conversation is about looking
this conversation is about looking
this conversation is about looking inwards taking ownership of yourself
inwards taking ownership of yourself
inwards taking ownership of yourself seeing your black skin seen your
seeing your black skin seen your
seeing your black skin seen your environments and only needs and thereby
environments and only needs and thereby
environments and only needs and thereby the only way we can build on that as an
the only way we can build on that as an
the only way we can build on that as an architect I can’t help but draw a small
architect I can’t help but draw a small
architect I can’t help but draw a small architecture architectural reference
architecture architectural reference
architecture architectural reference there’s no reason why in 2017 we
there’s no reason why in 2017 we
there’s no reason why in 2017 we building concrete’s in Africa when we
building concrete’s in Africa when we
building concrete’s in Africa when we could have Advanced Mode as a building
could have Advanced Mode as a building
could have Advanced Mode as a building material that will help us leave any
material that will help us leave any
material that will help us leave any better sustainable environments there’s
better sustainable environments there’s
better sustainable environments there’s no reason why some young men still wear
no reason why some young men still wear
no reason why some young men still wear three-piece suits on that stone to go to
three-piece suits on that stone to go to
three-piece suits on that stone to go to work when we could have developed and
work when we could have developed and
work when we could have developed and evolved our own traditional African
evolved our own traditional African
evolved our own traditional African fabric into something that is corporate
fabric into something that is corporate
fabric into something that is corporate and responsible yeah so I guess
and responsible yeah so I guess
and responsible yeah so I guess those points you’ve got some my points I
those points you’ve got some my points I
those points you’ve got some my points I would please ask everyone when you’re
would please ask everyone when you’re
would please ask everyone when you’re doing stuff look inwards and sue
doing stuff look inwards and sue
doing stuff look inwards and sue yourselves be true before I go I have
yourselves be true before I go I have
yourselves be true before I go I have one last person to show you this is my
one last person to show you this is my
one last person to show you this is my mom the woman who thought that looks
mom the woman who thought that looks
mom the woman who thought that looks ridiculous
ridiculous
ridiculous she’s a retired civil servant from
she’s a retired civil servant from
she’s a retired civil servant from Nigeria Immigration Service and she’s
Nigeria Immigration Service and she’s
Nigeria Immigration Service and she’s been locked for twenty half years now
been locked for twenty half years now
been locked for twenty half years now thank you
thank you
thank you [Music]
”
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