Episode 19 | Africanism: Rediscovering the Richness of our African Heritage, History, Religions and Traditions with Architect, Tara Gbolade
THE CULTURE EDITION
A candid conversation with my dear friend, UK-based architect, Tara Gbolade; co-founder of Gbolade Design Studios. In a time where most are scrambling to buy anti-racism books and dabble into discussions pertinent to slavery, Tara talks about her decision to go further and delve deep into our African history, traditions, religions and all the things we were not taught as part our school syllabus. In addition, we navigate through several sub-topics including architecture, meditation and how to defend your (creative) ideas and challenge authority healthily at work, while being raised in a culture where pushing back and speaking up is not encouraged. This was an unplanned episode but one that was deserving to feature in this Lounge. Eavesdrop away.
Tara Gbolade of Gbolade Design Studios
SHOW NOTES
Tara Gbolade on…
(00:05:48) - why she has decided to explore the wealth of African history; pre-slavery
(00:11:30) - babalawos, diviners and healers
(00:17:10) - the link between Christianity and slavery
(00:26:48) - community as a core value in many African communities; and the importance of creating more socially equitable spaces for our community
(00:29:55) - a brief introduction to Tara and her career in architecture
(00:32:36) - the submissive nature of Nigerians and how this impacts our ability to challenge and speak up to authority
(00:63:30) - her experiences while meditating
(00:69:44) - the meaning and power behind her name
(00:76:00) - definition of a babalawo
(00:86:55) - the books she is reading. A Very Short Introduction to African History, A Very Short Introduction to African Religions, Black & British: a forgotten history and Africa Architecture.
Follow Tara on Instagram: @taragbolade and find out more about Gbolade Design Studios.