‘Believe in yourself and give value to this planet’ Onye Ubanatu
Onye Ubanatu has always been on a quest for freedom. As a young boy growing up in historic Warri in southern Nigeria he loved to chase birds, beguiled by their ability to fly. Now he has taken flight too as an in-demand videographer and content creator travelling across West Africa and beyond to capture stories of its people and places. Here, Onye reveals how he manages to live a life of travel and how being forever on the move has taught him that while Warri will always be special “home is anywhere my heart feels at peace”.
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Q. Have you always had that ambi-
and breadth of Africa showing how
tion to pursue life on your own
beautiful we are amidst our chal-
terms?
lenges. The ability to imagine things,
A. There is something about growing
or craft a path and be able to express
up in Africa that prepares you to take
it visually is one of the most amazing
value to one of the world’s biggest
responsibility for yourself at a very
parts of being a creative entrepreneur.
and richest cultural festivals – The
early age. I was lucky to be born in
But you see, my growing up days
Argungu International Fishing &
the historic city of Warri where our
gave me the confidence to believe in
Cultural Festival. Projects like this
daily life was and still is characterised
my imagination, and ideas as a means
that celebrates the cultural diversity,
by creativity as a means of survival
of creating value and inspiring others.
unity, and richness of Africa inspire
and that challenged my imagination
This has created a long-lasting vision
me greatly. Another proud moment
and sense of responsibility to go after
to tell the African story from a place
was being the first to design and
something I believed in, which is visual
of strength to inspire us first and also
produce the first ever Nigeria Football
storytelling and event design.
to inspire the rest of the world.
Federation award event.
Q. Is that one of the best things
Q. You work with the latest technol-
Q. Your work showcases the people
about being a creative entrepreneur
ogy in film and photo editing, but
and places of West Africa. Why is it a
– that you are the architect of your
you often use them to showcase and
place of endless fascination to you?
own life?
preserve some of West Africa’s most
A. West Africa is an amazing region
A. From a very early age, I have
ancient and fragile traditions, such
filled with hospitable, resourceful
always wanted to travel the length
as the Argungu Fishing Festival in
and inspiring people. I have come to
GLOBETROTTER As a content creator, Onye Ubanatu lives a life of travel
Nigeria. Why do these jobs appeal to you? A. One of my proudest moments is getting the opportunity to bring
