Thursday (March 19) AMAKA Editorial Director and Editor-in-Chief, Ivie Ani, sat down for a conversation with legendary supermodel, activist, businesswoman and actress Naomi Campbell. After having just come back from Africa after a three-month stay, Naomi lights up when she talks about her love and passion for the continent. This was emphasised when she was asked by Ivie what city or country inspires her the most both professionally and personally. Without a moment’s hesitation she says, “The continent. Absolutely the continent,'' adding, “I come back always extremely inspired and want to get things moving”.
Naomi was recently appointed the Magical Kenya International Tourism Ambassador, she works on her YouTube series “No Filter”, and organizes charity fashion events for her charity Fashion for Relief. She also works amplifying and promoting designers and creatives across Africa. Though her career is in its 35th year, with so many accolades and achievements to her name as she remains one of the most recognisable models of all time, Naomi reveals she doesn’t see herself as a “celebrity.” She does, however, view herself as a “communicator” and a “connector” who shares what she loves and learns with others. She thoroughly appreciates her team and supporters who she credits for getting her to where she is today. For her, success boils down to what she calls, “the three D’s— determination, drive, and dedication.”
While discussing how the perception of African people and African culture has shifted by the Western world over the past few years to, arguably, to a more positive viewpoint, Naomi firmly says she’s never listened to what has been misconstrued about the continent and never understood the negative impressions. But she firmly believes things are changing and improving as a whole, saying passionately, “We are on an uprise!” She later notes that people are now realizing that Africa can be a place for investment, opportunity, and embracing roots.
Another moving moment during Naomi and Ivie’s conversation was her remembrance of the late Nelson Mandela. Affectionately referring to Mandela as tata- meaning granddad— she relishes in the many things he taught her about how to navigate the journey of life. She admits that one specific piece of Mandela’s advice didn’t really resonate with her until a later stage of her life— her purpose of helping and sharing with others.
Inspiring, genuine, raw and very real, Naomi remained open and personal. When asked how she wants to be remembered, she pauses and says, “Just... to be remembered” is enough.
Image courtesy of Getty
Key Quotes from Naomi Campbell’s Instagram Live with AMAKA:
On how Africa inspires her:
“I feel very motivated and inspired when I’m in Lagos, when I’m in Joburg, when I’m in Ghana, when I’m in Rwanda, Kenya. I don’t know… there’s a little bit of chaos, organized chaos as my good friend Rich says but there’s also peace at the same time. And I feel like that you can think, and get things done.”
On the change of the perception of Africa:
“It’s a very exciting time to see what’s about to happen in many different ways. You got people from the diaspora that want to go back home. You have people now that want to know their roots beyond just being African American. ‘What does that mean?’ ‘Where do I really come from?’ they’re asking themselves…. I know when I am there how I feel. This is where I come from through the channels of the slave trade, of generations, we end up in different places all over the world but when you’re there, you know, and that’s the inner peace I feel. That’s where I come from.”
“I don’t even look at it that I’m in a movement. This is a new way of life. This is where we are today. We are not going back.”
On her work in Africa:
“I have given myself to the continent since ‘93 initially in understanding it. And then from that point on, ‘94, my commitment has never faulted."
On the importance of educating people about Africa:
“We want to educate those people, we want to educate them and the only way to educate is to show them, and so the more people that they recognise on TV or movies, that’s the way it has to be… We have to use our platforms now. In this times that we’re in, I feel like I embrace social media and I never thought I would. I have to tell you in 2012 I’m like ‘I’m not touching it’ cause I was just intimidated by it to be honest. But it’s important that we use our platforms - yes, we have to promote our work and of course we have to do all that stuff, that’s just what we do. But we also have to use it to promote the passions and the things we love, whether it’s hip, it’s trendy or not, just be you. Whoever gets it, gets it, who doesn’t get it, fine. Not everyone’s going to love you, not everyone’s going to love us, and everyone has the right to their opinion, but right about now - you want to find peace, you want to find natural beauty - the continent.”
“Education is absolutely key. It’s absolutely key. That’s one of the things that fascinates me about our continent of Africa - how educated everyone is.”
You can watch the full interview on our IGTV, below: