Young Offenders star Demi Isaac Oviawe has taken to Instagram to speak out on African pride.
Probably best known for her portrayal of Linda Walsh in Irish sitcom The Young Offenders, actress Demi Isaac Oviawe has shared a poignant post in honour of Blackout Tuesday.
Following the lead of thousands of others around the world, Demi shared a black photo to her social media – accompanying the image with a moving quote on African pride. It reads:
“Most people write me off when they see me.
They do not know my story.
They say I am just an African.
They judge me before they get to know me.
What they do not know is
The pride I have in the blood that runs through my veins;
The pride I have in my rich culture and the history of my people;
The pride I have in my strong family ties and the deep connection to my community;
The pride I have in the African music, African art, and African dance;
The pride I have in my name and the meaning behind it.
Just as my name has meaning, I too will live my life with meaning.
So you think I am nothing?
Don’t worry about what I am now,
For what I will be, I am gradually becoming.
I will raise my head high wherever I go
Because of my African pride,
And nobody will take that away from me.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7hO9nHLWe/?igshid=m46dt3qivnsa
Taken from a book by author Idowu Koyenikan, it’s a powerful commentary on racism and how much work there is still left to do.
