My name is ibn Hajia Fati, a digital journalist with Africanews in the Republic of Congo, I'm a proud product of the Ghana Institute of Journalism - that facility equipped me with the skill from which I draw my salary – good money if you ask me.
I'm just one of a half-dozen platoon of now men and women who suffered a military upbringing principally at Accra New Town - opposite 37 station (in the YZ building) and later at the ZorZor line area. A story for daakye - the future.
My blog Thoughts of Hajia Fati's Son is one of my beloved outlets for sharing memories of times past when I used to be a child. On here, I have told over a dozen childhood episodes and still counting.
But for me, it only makes sense if I can tell the story of others, the journalist that I am. I recently decided to diversify content on my blog to tell the story of others.
Enter social media, I have become friends with scores of people, I do not know personally, it's something about social media. But knowing what people do here, I told myself it was best to inculcate the story of others on here.
Moh Awudu is the first of many -Inshaa Allah.
All the better because of the rather colourful and beautiful nature of his story. The last I wrote about him was last year when he turned to human painting at the now famed Chale Wote street festival. Find my story on Moh as published on Meet Moh Awudu: the artist painting people in Ghana on Africanews two years ago.
So recently I was back in his Facebook Messenger, I'd seen him painting outside of Ghana, in faraway Sao Paulo, what was up with that, I needed that beat for my blog, he obliged and here we are.
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| Moh repping Ghana and Africa on the world stage. |
Moh, describes himself as a product of the university of Nima. Nima is the cosmopolitan United Nations - whoever you are come let's stay -a society dominated by Muslims and bastardized by criminal elements - very sadly so.
But again, only if the positive, powerful stories of Nima will be told. Hold it! Moh is one of several Nima success stories. Shout out to the many that live the genuine life and project Nima as the Ni'ma (Arabic for blessing) that it has been, is and continues to be.
Quick question and answer session between Moh and Yours Truly. Pardon my feeble attempt at patois-lizing my questions
Son of Hajia Fati (SoHF): Yo Moh, what ya doing in Sao Paulo, Brazil, me audience wan know?
Moh Awudu (MoA): I'm in São Paulo for the 4th international graffiti fine art biennial which pooled together graffiti fine artist from around the world.
SoHF: Who den who power this visit for ya?
MoA: In my capacity as the sole African participating, I'm representing Ghana and Africa. My trip was sponsored by Acrilex Ghana and BTL Africa.
SoHF: Share with us man, some of the works you fired and how it felt to be part.
MoA: Over the three-week trip, I joined other artists to exhibit our works at the memorial for the exhibition, lapa train station, ibis budget hotel and the world famous street art center gallery, alma da rua.
For me, this was one event I always dreamt of as a urban fine artist and it’s a big breakthrough for me on the international scene and a learning field along the side.
SoHF: Sao Paulo, what de city be like. Jist we....
MoA: Beautiful city of beautiful people and a lot of freedom. It's a city of street art, exactly the way i have always imagined Accra'd be like. Accra can and must learn from the way they use art to create a tourism destination.
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| Moh busy at work |
SoHF: Africa sure needs a street art thing as dat going on, you dig?
MoA: Yes Africa need to start art events that can continue projecting tourism, culture and positive image about us.
SoHF: What the role of dem government and others in the graffiti and fine arts industry?
MoA: Governments and private institutions need to support the art scene and public need to give artist permission to start using public spaces to project our culture.
SoHF: Last words boss, you wan share a message with dem young artists out there?
MoA: You must always be ready to sacrifice, believe in anything positive you (are) doing. You will become a global ambassador someday and that gives you the platform to tell the story of where you come from. It'd make - if you want, force; people to read abt your country, continent, culture and history.
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| Ghana meets Brazil on Sao Paolo walls |
Here's the deal, if you got any such stories to share, come through. If I get contacts, I'd draft questions, if I get the answers, I'd blog the story. Come let's tell stories together. alfa.shaban@africanews.com, @alfaafrican
14 Safar, 1440 = 23 October, 2018
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| Pick out the Moh, clue: Man in blue. |
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