• STYLES
    • ALL STYLES
    • NATURAL
    • WEAVES & WIGS
    • STRAIGHT
    • BRAIDS
    • CORNROWS
    • LOCS
    • PROTECTIVE STYLES
    • SHORT STYLES
    • TUTORIALS
  • CARE
    • ALL CARE
    • HAIR 101
    • ASK AN EXPERT
    • NATURAL
    • WEAVES & WIGS
    • STRAIGHT
    • BRAIDS
    • LOCS
    • TRANSITIONING
  • PRODUCTS
    • SHOP
    • LEARN
  • FEATURES
    • HAIR STORY
    • ON THE STREET
    • WORKING GIRL
    • CONVERSATIONS
    • LIFE
    • CULTURE
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • \\ VIEW ALL
  • TV
    • BLACK HAIR IS…
    • DIY vs DFY
    • #HAIRTIES
    • Mom Cuts
    • PRETTY
    • PRETTY SHOULDN’T HURT
    • YOU CAN TOUCH MY HAIR
    • ON THE SCENE
    • \\ VIEW ALL
  • BOUTIQUE
    • CONDITIONERS
    • STYLING
    • SHAMPOO
    • TREATMENTS
    • \\ VIEW ALL

 | Discover Yeluchi

  • STYLES
    • ALL STYLES
    • NATURAL
    • WEAVES & WIGS
    • STRAIGHT
    • BRAIDS
    • CORNROWS
    • LOCS
    • PROTECTIVE STYLES
    • SHORT STYLES
    • TUTORIALS
  • CARE
    • ALL CARE
    • HAIR 101
    • ASK AN EXPERT
    • NATURAL
    • WEAVES & WIGS
    • STRAIGHT
    • BRAIDS
    • LOCS
    • TRANSITIONING
  • PRODUCTS
    • SHOP
    • LEARN
  • FEATURES
    • HAIR STORY
    • ON THE STREET
    • WORKING GIRL
    • CONVERSATIONS
    • LIFE
    • CULTURE
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • \\ VIEW ALL
  • TV
    • BLACK HAIR IS…
    • DIY vs DFY
    • #HAIRTIES
    • Mom Cuts
    • PRETTY
    • PRETTY SHOULDN’T HURT
    • YOU CAN TOUCH MY HAIR
    • ON THE SCENE
    • \\ VIEW ALL
  • BOUTIQUE
    • CONDITIONERS
    • STYLING
    • SHAMPOO
    • TREATMENTS
    • \\ VIEW ALL
Un-ruly
  • STYLES
    • ALL STYLES
    • NATURAL
    • WEAVES & WIGS
    • STRAIGHT
    • BRAIDS
    • CORNROWS
    • LOCS
    • PROTECTIVE STYLES
    • SHORT STYLES
    • TUTORIALS
  • CARE
    • ALL CARE
    • HAIR 101
    • ASK AN EXPERT
    • NATURAL
    • WEAVES & WIGS
    • STRAIGHT
    • BRAIDS
    • LOCS
    • TRANSITIONING
  • PRODUCTS
    • SHOP
    • LEARN
  • FEATURES
    • HAIR STORY
    • ON THE STREET
    • WORKING GIRL
    • CONVERSATIONS
    • LIFE
    • CULTURE
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • \\ VIEW ALL
  • TV
    • BLACK HAIR IS…
    • DIY vs DFY
    • #HAIRTIES
    • Mom Cuts
    • PRETTY
    • PRETTY SHOULDN’T HURT
    • YOU CAN TOUCH MY HAIR
    • ON THE SCENE
    • \\ VIEW ALL
  • BOUTIQUE
    • CONDITIONERS
    • STYLING
    • SHAMPOO
    • TREATMENTS
    • \\ VIEW ALL
from the editor: by way of london
  • 0
  • 2254

from the editor: by way of london

  • by Antonia
  • Features / From the Editor

If someone asks me what my ethnicity is, I resoundingly and proudly say Nigerian.

If I’m asked where I was born, I say Brazil.

If I’m asked where I’m from, now that I live in Paris, I say New York. When I lived in New York, I would say Florida. When I lived in Florida, I would say Nigeria or Nigeria by way of London as my family, like many Nigerians I know, lived in the UK before landing in America.

Apparently, there’s a term for people like me: Afropolitan, which was popularized by writer Nigerian-Ghanian writer Taiye Selasi. Urban Dictionary puts it simply: “An African who was educated in the US or Europe and spends a significant amount of time in those parts of the world. It doesn’t matter whether they are born abroad or not; the important thing is their global perspective on issues, as well as their mixed cultural identity.”

While Selasi, herself, gives a colorful description of the Afropolitan set:

…the newest generation of African emigrants, coming soon or collected already at a law firm/chem lab/jazz lounge near you. You’ll know us by our funny blend of London fashion, New York jargon, African ethics, and academic successes. Some of us are ethnic mixes, e.g. Ghanaian and Canadian, Nigerian and Swiss; others merely cultural mutts: American accent, European affect, African ethos. Most of us are multilingual: in addition to English and a Romantic or two, we understand some indigenous tongue and speak a few urban vernaculars. There is at least one place on The African Continent to which we tie our sense of self: be it a nation-state (Ethiopia), a city (Ibadan), or an auntie’s kitchen. Then there’s the G8 city or two (or three) that we know like the backs of our hands, and the various institutions that know us for our famed focus. We are Afropolitans: not citizens, but Africans of the world.

I’ve never felt the need to define my own culture, especially not with only one word. In conversations, when I have the time and am in the mood, I’ll give the short synopsis: I’m Nigerian but was born in Brazil, grew up in London, went to boarding school in Switzerland. Other times I just say whatever’s convenient. I won’t lie, I like my colorful background. And I’m titillated by the term Afropolitan. It’s nice having a ‘glamorous’ term associated with Blackness or Africanness. Most often the words associated with us are far from glamorous. But the term does lean on the elitist side of things and does typically describe the upper echelons of African populations. So I personally keep the term at a distance.

But the idea of Afropolitans and multi-cultural life experiences is rich in things to talk about, which is why we’re dedicating our April issue to the Afropolitan experience, specifically Afropolitans in the UK. On my recent trips to London it hit me just how cosmopolitan the city is. Wikipedia says there are over 300 languages spoken in London. And as I spoke with and interviewed girls for our docu-series Pretty, the city’s melange of cultures became even more apparent.

So I’m looking forward to diving deeper into this particular aspect of the global Black experience and sharing what we discover with you.

– Antonia

editor-afropolitan-2

If you happen to be in London, check out the ‘umbrella installation’ near Vinopolis Piazza in Borough Market.

Antonia
An entrepreneur at heart, I founded Un-ruly in 2013 after spending six great years in advertising. I'm über lazy when it comes to doing my hair so I'm always looking for easy and quick ways to care and style my hair. Website: https://un-ruly.com
Tags
  • from the editor

Related posts

  • Conversations
0
How I Started Earning $200 a Month After 6 Years

How I Started Earning $200 a Month After 6 Years

3 years ago
  • Features
  • From the Editor
  • Life
0
Your Dreams Won’t Come True on Their Own | From the Editor

Your Dreams Won’t Come True on Their Own | From the Editor

5 years ago
  • From the Editor
0
We Got a Makeover!

We Got a Makeover!

7 years ago
  • From the Editor
0
from the editor: moda + mode

from the editor: moda + mode

8 years ago

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Post

hair story: angela adamou (italy)

by Antonia

from the editor: by way of london
Next Post

trending: go boho! the three looks you need to know for spring 2015

by Staff

from the editor: by way of london
Get Un-ruly In Your Inbox Each Week

Un-ruly was created to celebrate and inspire the versatility and beauty of Black hair and women.

Cassius Network

About Us    \    Press   \    Newsletter   \    Be on Un-ruly   \    Work With Us   \   Terms   \  Privacy   \    Advertise   \     Meet Up   \    Discover Yeluchi by Un-ruly

 

Loading Comments...