Let me very first start this article by saying that I do not know Linda Ikeji personally, we aren’t close good friends, and I have actually “satisfied” her only a couple of times at celebrations …
Written By:
Francesca Uriri
Published On:
24 Sep 2016
Odia Joy Iyoha: I compose to magnify 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’ve come to comprehend that you can disagree with someone on something and still appreciate them. Whether you accept it or not, Linda has actually shown through her impressive journey of being a blogger and opinion influencer, that she is a motivation to numerous people all over the world. She has boot strapped her method to success using a design that was once out of favor and discounted. She’s an Outlier, and handles to inspire, incite and baffle many at one time, and with fervour.
I can’t believe of a great deal of people who have actually run a modelling agency, an events company, a magazine and a bunch of other services, stopped working at them, and still kept pressing forward. I also do not understand of anybody else (a minimum of not on this side of the world), who is lawfully making loads of money by blogging.
[ad] I imply, before Linda, whoever thought it was possible to buy a house in Banana Island, and open a string of gained from the earnings of running a gossip 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 eventually, successful. Here’s a woman who struck ground zero at some point in her life, and is back to level 100. You need to appreciate such grit and decision, due to the fact that as my Sapele people will state “E nor simple.”
Linda or “Lin-Lin” as she’s fondly called by those who are close to her turned 36 years of ages a few days ago; and to mark her unique day, she published a 14-minute long video on her blog. Within hours of her publishing this video, social networks was buzzing with all type of comments and remarks about it – and I understood that I needed to see it for myself. 3 minutes into the video, I wasn’t quite sure whether I liked it or not, since it came off as a little insincere and scripted; plus Linda looked a little unpleasant dealing with the cam. However, something changed quickly after – I’m not even sure what. But the veneer of coolness broke, and something more warm, earthy, authentic and vulnerable spilled out.
[advertisement] And as Linda began to discuss her failures, her desires, her relationship with God, her belief in the validity of her dreams, her utter wonder at how her life turned out, and the affirmation that she still “plans to be around for a very long time,” something in me likewise paved the way to the hope and motivation that she was sharing.
And possibly it was a psychological moment, possibly that thing was short lived, however I acknowledged it, and I felt it highly. Because it was sincere, powerful and heartfelt. And in that one unique moment, I ignored all the times I disliked Linda, or all the annoying things she had done, and in that suspended area, 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 imagine my irritation when people took just a couple of seconds of that video – of her wanting an amazing male for a spouse – and turned it into a celebration for ugly small talk, ridiculous rhetoric and upsetting remarks. How do you condense ALL she said, and narrow that down to simply one sector of her video? What is incorrect if she honestly (and extremely truthfully I might include), spoke about what she wants? Is her desire for a husband somehow less valid or shameful since she discussed it outdoors? If she had discussed more growing her company or purchasing another house – would those declarations be satisfied with derisive comments? Exists not a peaceful strength and dignity in such a guileless program of vulnerability? When people truthfully and truthfully open up themselves, the least we can do, the least we need to do as human beings is to accord them the regard and self-respect that they deserve.