It was in 2017 when I lost my father. My dad was a very important person to me. He was my best friend, the one who really inspired me. He died of cancer. It was incredibly painful to see him dying, slowly for three months. This was the worst experience of my life. And after the funeral, my uncle, who had lived here in Russia for 15 years, said: “You know, just come to Russia to put your thoughts in order.” This trip was supposed to be for 6 months just to unwind, change the scenery, and distract yourself. But when I arrived, I started helping him in business, everything went well, and besides, I met a girl. Then I thought that I should stay here to start a new life.

«The biggest problem is that wherever you are, being black, you are still going to be judged»

This is one of the most difficult parts of life in Russia because I have a very low level of language. Fortunately, most of the people around me know English at the same level as you. Therefore, it is much easier for me now. But when I first arrived, I had to use an interpreter all the time. I think that most young people know English and they just don't have enough practice. They still understand the language a little bit, the problem is more in communication.

Before I left Nigeria, I didn’t know what racism was. I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never experienced it on myself. But in Russia I encountered it, and it is not the most pleasant experience. It’s terrible that people judge you by the color of your skin. The only thing we’re different about is that you have white skin and I have black skin, but at the end of the day, we’re all human. I think there should be no segregation because someone is white and some are not. There is no superior race. If, for example, aliens came to the earth, they would not divide people by the color of their skin. They will see us all as a human race. But in fact, we created this established racism around ourselves.

I faced racism towards myself in a subway, which is why I hate an underground, every time I become a target of someone’s gazes. Everything that such people know about blacks is completely wrong.

Racism in Russia does not have wide resonance, as in the history of Russia there was no slavery (in its pure manifestation). This is the case in France, America because their ancestors already got used to this racist system, they all had slaves from Africa. The biggest problem is that wherever you are, being black, you are still going to be judged.

For example, when I fly somewhere, I am thoroughly inspected several times. They have eyes on where I go and double-check everything. It happens just because I am black, there is no other reason. I stand out, and they think I’m a criminal or a crook. And sometimes I even have to explain that I am a musician and they need to search me on Google and so on.

See what coronavirus has done to the world. It made us realize that whether you are black or white, it affects us all the same. I think if they can take coronavirus ​​seriously, then they should take the issue of racism with the same attitude because it kills people. This is a very serious subject that needs to be taken just as acutely. That is why there are many protests now. Everything turned out in this way because it has happened before. People still face this and it’s scary. Perhaps some people do not understand why others are protesting in the streets. You did not lose someone, simply because he or she is black, and it did not happen to you that your son went to the store and did not return. These are the things that people have to go through and it is definitely traumatic.

And the worst thing is that more and more people are dying, but people are still protesting. Last week, four black persons were hanged from a tree in the states.

«Someone is born with a different identity and many other things, but nobody is born a racist. You are taught racism, you learn from your family, from your mother and those around you»

What I would like to say first is that we have to change our way of thinking. This is not a skin story. We have to teach young people because no one is born a racist. Yes, someone is born with a different identity and many other things, but nobody is born a racist. You are taught racism, you learn from your family, from your mother and those around you. You see how some people treat other people.

Growing up, I saw white children aged 9-10 treat other children horribly. It’s disgusting. They called them “niggers”, “monkeys”, -Get off our street, niggers, monkeys do not belong here.

This was terrible because they were children. They could not know what slavery was; they generally did not understand what was black and what was white. They have undoubtedly learned this from their parents, brothers, sisters.

Children saw how they treated people with different skin colors. Then they thought that black people should be treated in this way and white ones should be treated differently, and this is wrong. We must educate our children to treat people, not based on their skin color. I think that we have to start with the next generation because it has to be stopped.

Of course! As I said, we need to reprogram our thinking. Once we start doing the right thing, the next generation will do the same. First of all, you need to start with yourself, and then take on the younger generation.

I have noticed that many people in Russia do not know what black people are.

Recently it was shown on TV that all blacks live in caves. Come on, we have kings! We have diamonds, gold, and all the jewelry you can imagine. The media show that Africans live in caves. We don’t live like that. Some part certainly lives in poverty, but the majority does not live as TV shows. We don’t live with monkeys. You can go crazy... Why is this demonstrated on TV? And when I go somewhere, people start asking: “Is it true that you live with monkeys?”, “Do you live in the thicket, in the jungle?” It is 2020 after all. If you want to broadcast something about Africa and persons with dark skin, there is a lot of good content to share. But why do you highlight things which are very wrong for children’s education?

A white guy came to school and killed 25 kids, and they buy him a McDuck. They didn’t kill him. And the black guy was taken for fake checks, and he was killed. See the difference.

Yes, but he did not kill anyone. He could face 2 years in prison as a maximum. It’s not a life sentence or 25 years, just 2 years in prison. But he was killed.

We’ve been asking for equal rights for a long time. Many people have passed away, it did not start today. People are angry, they have lost their families. And they are accused of being too aggressive? When the quarantine began, many people protested simply because they had not had a haircut for a long time or wanted to get to the beach. They were quite aggressive, but no one attracted the police or the National Guard. They protested because they wanted to go to the salon for a haircut and nails. But people are protesting now because their brothers were killed, killed like animals. What would you do if you were them?

Yes, it was peaceful at first. But the government reacted incorrectly. And people are sick of it. But behind it, all is the story of how this guy died, how the other guy Trayvon was shot 12 times, just for the warning, how another guy was shot in front of his mother. And when people think about it, they lose control. And the government is not even trying to regulate the situation correctly. This is deep. Now there is a revolution for our children to live in peace.

Happiness is not about how much money you have. It’s about how free you are, and how freely you express yourself and develop. Many people spend a lot of time looking for money, and when it finally came, people just started looking for happiness. It is only your decision to be happy or not. You can own all the money in the world and not be happy with it. And at the same time, you may not have anything, but you will feel the happiest.

3 things I would change if I had the power or the opportunity is how black people are perceived around the world. We are not animals, we are not criminals. We are amazing and talented, creative people. We can give a lot to the world, and this is the first thing that I would like to change. And the second one, I don’t even know, because you understand how difficult it is to change something all over the world. But thinking about it, I would like people to just get paid to be human. I don’t know if this is possible. They print money, this should not be a problem.

And the third thing I would like to change is the legalization of marijuana..

My inner strength is the understanding that I am from Africa. This is the main component of me, because the life of all humanity began in Africa, although this fact was changed in the history books. If you know that you are from Africa, you understand that you have many different sources of power. This is African power. Everything around us is against the African man, to achieve success, you need to work twice as much as others. We go through many difficulties in Africa talking about how we live. The state does not work efficiently enough, but it must work. And everything is arranged in such a way that we have to survive, suffer, get out in every sense And, if you had to go through this, you have enough strength. Being from such a place is nothing more than strength, knowing your roots, this is what makes you African.

The difficulties we go through at home are very different from what they call difficulties here. This is a test, and this is where all the power lies.