HOPES & DREAMS
As a African native, I aspire to create a platform and voice for those that look like me and/or have shared experiences. Thus, my photo exhibition documents the aspirations of African youth that are bold enough to dream big and dream beyond the typical social or traditional norms that their culture confines them to.
Some of these youths aspire to be althetes, models, singers, entrepreneurs, photographers and influencers. Often times they aspire to have professions that typically are unacceptable in a traditional African household. There are constant pressures to be a doctor, lawyer, professor or engineer. Even in 2020, a child or young adult may experience resistance from their parents if they want to be or do something that allows them to follow their true passion and dreams.
Through my own personal experiences, I understand the challenges that a youth with a big dream may face. Yet, I am a living testimony that no dream is too big or too outside the norm to achieve.
While growing up in Ghana, I really started to take an interest in photography. Soon my hobby became a talent and my talent became a passion. Meanwhile, it was a challenge to accumulate enough money to purchase the expensive and quality equipment needed. Nonetheless, I worked hard and persevered. I want youth to know my story and see my work and realize that their dreams are achievable. The photographs in this documentary tell the story of how struggle becomes triumph and dreams become reality.
Dzegu Elorm Richard
I will pretty much say that I started running track after I saw the 2009 World Berlin Olympics when I saw Usain Bolt run. I was soo amazed at his performance that inspired me to do more like him someday.
Dzegu Elorm Richard is my name. I am 16 years of age,5.10 feet tall and dark in complexion.
In high school, I joined the sports team and I started training to become an athlete, which allowed me to run the 100 and 200-meter race which I was second in both races. And that motivated me to train harder when I discovered I had such talent. More so my school coach and friends were wowed at my performance and encouraged me. During training, I performed way better than my mates, so they nicknamed me ROCKET.
But to be honest I feel like I haven't accomplished much to have what it takes to break the world's record and I aspire to do more. I had to train ten times harder to make sure I was seen and to make sure I was doing what I had to do to be the best. What makes me a good runner is training.
You can't aspect to be the best if you don't do what it takes to be the best. I train Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Tuesday, I don't train on Friday and I train for about 3 to 4 hours a day to be able to achieve my goals.
One day during training I had a hamstring injury that made it difficult for me to train because I was in soo much pain, so I went to the hospital to check it and it was severe. I was devastated when the doctor told me to stop training for a month, so I could recover. It was a difficult and the first challenge I had faced because I had no personal coach who could help me recover, so I encourage myself with this expression, there is no gain without pain. So as time went on my injury appeared to be behind me and I re-establish myself as a contender in competitions, running the 100 and 200 meters.
Dreams without goals are just dreams and they ultimately fuel disappointment, so anytime I think about the dreams I want to accomplish in life, it motivates me to work harder because I promised myself I would do everything in my power with Gods help to make my dream be a reality and make my family and nation proud.
KIRANI AYAT
ARTIST
Sometimes accidents happen to redirect ones journey. For me growing up all I wanted to do was play football until a broken wrist changed my path. I discovered my music talent in my late teens, I was a huge music fan but never thought I’d ever make music but that changed in 2012. After my accident I dropped my soccer cleats for the microphone and it’s been an exciting journey ever since. Family wasn’t supportive neither did they objected but that’s expected. I was my own since I can remember in a household filled with women cause my father wasn’t around. I found a medium in HipHop and being from a marginalized group I feel the need to tell our story and stand out amongst my peers.
Appiah Opare-Atakora
Born Appiah Opare-Atakora but known in the social media
space as Morgan
I'm passionate about African arts and fashion.
My vision is to promote the black culture through African
arts and fashion and to make it a pre-eminent global
standard. Though alot has been done to promote African
art but I believe my footprints are needed in the world of
modeling
Simply I think every man should believe in his Greatness!
CITY OF GODS
HOPES & DREAMS
