49th Street: What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
Naya Akanji: I love Women’s History Month, it celebrates women and all their accomplishments, past and present. It’s always interesting to learn some new factoid about what different women have invented or the different ways in which they have contributed to the fight for women’s rights; history tends to gloss over or underemphasize the importance of the contributions women have made in society and it’s important that we remember.
49th Street: Navigating the industry, is there any time you have felt that being a woman put you at a disadvantage? Could you give an example of one of such times?
Naya Akanji: For the most part, I’ve been blessed to have people who genuinely believe in me and my art and that is truly awesome. But girls in the studio is still a rarity. I enter some testosterone-charged spaces where people haven’t heard of me and I just knowwww that they’re waiting for me to fuck up or worse, sing RnB. Lmaooo. I don’t know why they hate RnB so damn much. It would be nice if people were more open minded. You don’t think every guy coming into the stu is a rapper. It’s the same with the girlies, loosen the fuck up! But I don’t even have a single RnB song out, that’s the sad part. Niggas just be assuming shit.
49th Street: Is there a time you have felt that being a woman gave you an advantage? Can you give an example of gsuch a time?
Naya Akanji: Honestly, I can’t think of a single one. But not in a bad way. I just don’t think I’ve gotten any privilege or advantage because of my gender.
49th Street: Mention some of the females who have inspired you to be where you are right now? Fictional or not?
Naya Akanji: I’m gonna have to say my late grandma, Mary Ojogwu. She faced every day with a smile and she never ever backed down when she felt she was doing the right thing. I miss her every day.
49th Street: Do you feel the female gender is underrepresented in your field?
Naya Akanji: Definitely. There really aren’t a lot of female artistes prospering in Nigeria and there are even fewer female producers and sound engineers.
49th Street: If you give any advice to a little girl who wants to be where you are right now, what would you say?
Naya Akanji: Be stubborn. There’s no reward for living your life on other people’s terms.
49th Street: If you had to do it all over again as a woman, would you?
Naya Akanji: That’s the thing though. I know what it is to live as a woman and I love it but I’m a very curious person. I absolutely would like a first hand experience of what the industry is like for men.
