Let me first start this article by saying that I do not understand Linda Ikeji personally, we aren’t close friends, and I have actually “satisfied” her just a number of times at social gatherings …
Written By:
Francesca Uriri
Published On:
24 Sep 2016
Odia Joy Iyoha: I compose to amplify the voices the world attempts to silence
Adebimpe Adeniyi: Raising a generation of mentally and purposeful children
Chioma Okafor hosts 60 young performers to acting workshop in Lagos
However with all of that being stated, I also have a deep and abiding regard for her. Is that paradoxical? Perhaps. But I have actually come to comprehend that you can disagree with somebody on something and still appreciate them. Whether you accept it or not, Linda has revealed through her impressive journey of being a blogger and viewpoint influencer, that she is a motivation to numerous people all over the world. She has boot strapped her way to success utilizing a design that was as soon as undesirable and scoffed at. She’s an Outlier, and handles to inspire, prompt and baffle many at one time, and with fervour.
I can’t think about a lot of individuals who have actually run a modelling firm, an events business, a publication and a bunch of other organizations, stopped working at them, and still kept pushing forward. I likewise do not know of anybody else (at least not on this side of the world), who is lawfully making tons of money by blogging.
[ad] I indicate, before Linda, whoever believed it was possible to purchase a home in Banana Island, and open a string of media-related services acquired from the earnings of running a chatter blog site? If the United States of America has the “American dream,” then Linda Ifeoma Ikeji has the “Naija Dream.” Strong, relentless in its pursuit of happiness and hope, and ultimately, effective. Here’s a female who hit ground zero at some point in her life, and is back to level 100. You need to appreciate such grit and determination, due to the fact that as my Sapele individuals will say “E nor simple.”
Linda or “Lin-Lin” as she’s fondly called by those who are close to her turned 36 years old a couple of days ago; and to mark her big day, she posted a 14-minute long video on her blog site. Within hours of her posting this video, social media was buzzing with all kinds of remarks and remarks about it – and I understood that I needed to see it for myself. 3 minutes into the video, I wasn’t rather sure whether I liked it or not, because it came off as somewhat insincere and scripted; plus Linda looked a little unpleasant dealing with the video camera. However, something changed soon after – I’m not even sure what. But the veneer of coolness split, and something more warm, earthy, authentic and susceptible spilled out.
[advertisement] And as Linda began to speak about her failures, her desires, her relationship with God, her belief in the validity of her dreams, her utter amazement at how her life ended up, and the affirmation that she still “strategies to be around for a very long time,” something in me also offered way to the hope and motivation that she was sharing.
And perhaps it was a psychological moment, possibly that thing was fleeting, however I recognized it, and I felt it highly. Because it was genuine, powerful and wholehearted. And in that one special moment, I ignored all the times I disliked Linda, or all the frustrating things she had done, and in that suspended space, in between my laptop screen and her video, I commemorated with her. I cheered her on, and I desperately wanted her to be successful.
So you can envision my inflammation when people took simply a few seconds of that video – of her desiring a remarkable man for a spouse – and turned it into a celebration for unsightly small talk, senseless rhetoric and upsetting remarks. How do you condense ALL she said, and narrow that down to just one segment of her video? What is wrong if she freely (and extremely truthfully I might add), discussed what she wants? Is her desire for a somehow less legitimate or disgraceful because she spoke about it outdoors? If she had discussed additional growing her company or buying another home – would those statements be consulted with derisive comments? Is there not a quiet strength and dignity in such a guileless show of vulnerability? When people truthfully and honestly open themselves, the least we can do, the least we must do as human beings is to accord them the respect and dignity that they deserve.
