Where do you consider home and why?
There was a time in my life, where the answer would have been exclusively Hamburg. That was until I set foot on Ghanian soil—a memory that I treasure very dearly.
The first time I experienced Ghana as home was through its unique fragrance. It simply smelt like home. So Germany is my home and Ghana is my distant home. Both places individually represent and nurture the feeling of belonging, visibility and a sense of comfort.
List three words or phrases that come to mind when you think of home:
- “Kennst du…”
- “Eti sein?”
- Gerne.
Have you ever been homesick? Tell us the circumstances.
Yes! When I went to study in the south of Germany, my first day started with the sight of a goat crossing the street and ended with the understanding that I did not really belong there, and that I would have to work hard to fit in. This is when I had actively came to appreciate how much of a city girl I am. Even today, I look at my city, in particular my neighbourhood, with warm affection—the familiarity, the merchants, the fact that you run into people that you went to school with, knowing that you will be greeted with a smile. This grounds me and greets me like a warm embrace.
What is your opinion about brain-drain?
Being born and raised in the diaspora, I have been approached with the idea of bringing what you learned to Africa. I have not yet fully formed an opinion on the issue. We attend community empowerment events in Germany that seek to encourage the youth of African descent to acquire education, skills and experience. At these events, ambassadors from various African countries come to promote and encourage people to bring these skills to Africa. From my perspective, there is an interest in collaborative opportunities in African countries.
In what way does your physical location impact your creative output?
To quite an extent, I would say. It appears that my mind follows a simple logic: If a place is beautiful in terms of its interior design and has colours that meet my taste and produces a certain atmosphere, then it is very likely that I will be productive.
What is your preferred mode of travel and why?
It usually depends on the distance but I like travelling by bus and by car because I like the movement. I fall asleep easily and I like looking out of the window.
What does the phrase “freudian dreams” mean to you?
This is a very good question. I would like to ponder on it and will bring the answer with me when I come to Lagos.
The mission to establish a colony of humans on Mars is becoming a realistic proposition. Would you agree to be one of the founding members?
No. At the Film Festival in Hamburg, I watched a movie, where a group of people had this exact wish. Even after it has been cinematically mapped out for me, I still didn’t want to be a founding member.
First timer…
This is my very first time at Ake and I am expecting to be overwhelmed and fascinated by the sheer amount of creative and brilliant minds. I am expecting to have an incredible time, to extend my “to read list”, to have amazing stories to tell when I get back to Hamburg that would put people in awe. I am expecting to learn new proverbs that I can deploy to show off my newly acquired wisdom.
What does Africa need now?
A very good question. I think this question might be better answered with collective intelligence.