Thoreau once said, “The world is but a canvas to the imagination.”  Jane Musoke-Nteyafas is a dynamic and powerful African sister who fully embraces this philosophy, expressing her boundless imagination and talent through poetry, short stories, plays, music, and the visual arts.  Jamati recently caught up with this Phenomenal Woman to talk about art, beauty and self-love.

Jamati:  You have a very interesting multi-cultural background.   Tell us about your heritage and the many places you’ve lived. 

I was born in Moscow Russia.  My dad is a Ugandan diplomat so I did some globe-trotting.  I lived in Russia, France, Denmark, England, Uganda, Cuba and Canada.  I am a Canadian citizen. I speak several languages including French, English, Spanish, Danish, Luganda and some Russian.  I understand Portuguese and have conversations with my Angolan and Brazilian friends where I modify my Spanish so they understand me, but I understand them.  I also understand Italian.  Most people are impressed when they hear that, but I am nowhere near my father and his languages - he speaks way more than I do.  I am really his daughter.

Jamati:  Many artists aspire to be a “triple-threat” – maybe to be able to dance, sing and act.  But you are like a sextuple threat.  You are a poet, a visual artist, an author of short stories, a playwright, and a musician.  What is the source of your seemingly boundless creativity?

To be honest I am not sure.  I am very very blessed by God.  It all comes from a higher power for sure, so I cannot take all the credit.  The bonus is that I discovered most of these talents when I was a child, so I always knew what I was good at.  The downside of being that talented is it comes with its share of haters.  But you learn to handle them and keep them out of your spiritual orbit.  I like the fact that through my talents I am able to empower and inspire people.  I get loads of emails from people saying that a poem, story, play or piece of art touched them and that is probably what gives me the greatest joy more than the accolades.

I used to feel strange about the music side because I discovered it kinda later in life.  The music side is something that I am still discovering and playing with.  It’s side of me that I’ve struggled with because I felt like I was too talented and there was this guilt because some people did not even know what their talents were and I was finding out I had another one.  What helped me get over this is the fact that there are tons of people who inspire me.  Jill Scott for example sings, does poetry and acts.  Even Alicia Keys sings and does poetry.  Beyonce sings, acts, and I even read somewhere that she paints.  So I found out that it’s ok to have many talents.  But I have a fleet of people who have heard me and wonder what I am waiting for.  They really believe in me. I am working with some Toronto guys here to see what can come out of it.

Jamati:  Some African parents would tell a child who wanted to be a writer or painter to “get their heads out of the clouds” and do something more practical, like become a doctor or lawyer.  Did your parents encourage your creativity?

My dad wanted me to be a lawyer or doctor like many African parents.  I wanted to be a diplomat like him, and it’s something that I think I can still be, but not quite yet.  I am so busy doing the articles, writing stories, painting etc. that all I need really is more time and money of course to do all that.  As it is, I do everything I do on top of a regular 9-5 job, and I am looking to spend more time pursuing my true passions.  I am not sure that working at the Embassy will do that.

I am a multi-dimensional person and because I am blessed with many talents I do not want to be locked down to one thing.  I love my art for example but I could not just do that.  It’s not how I work.  I feel very vibrant when I have many things going on.  My dad is proud of me at the end of the day.  He keeps hearing about me from his peers, so he sends me the most encouraging emails telling me to keep following my dreams.  At the end of the day he just wants me to be happy.

Jamati:  You have also been a beauty queen, winning Miss Africanada in 2000.  What was the pageant experience like?

It was a great experience.  It’s really like performing and I enjoyed it.

Jamati:  You are a very beautiful woman, but to some, you may not fit the “western” standard of beauty that so many aspire to.  Did you feel any pressure to change your look, when you competed in pageants?

(Smiles) Thanks for the compliment.

But to answer your question - not really.  I was just myself.  Do I feel the pressure to change my look?  What woman living in the Western society does not?  The pressure is always there.  But I am not changing my hair just because someone said that straight is better.  It’s all perspective.  I  walk down the street and people keep complimenting that same so called controversial hair that I need to change in order to finally “fit” the western standard.  I am a deep thinker and things like that make me think.  But I am not a conformist.  I don’t follow rules too well.  The standard of beauty is so fickle and changes.  I mean Marilyn Monroe was size 14 and curvy and was considered very beautiful.  Then Twiggy came along and she was “it.”  If you go by these ever-changing standards you’ll never be happy.

The western standard of beauty is just one standard of beauty, you know?  What about Arab women, Chinese women, Indian women, Aboriginal women, Latin women and yes, African women?  Do our standards not count?   What I am saying is there is beauty in variety.  Different looks are more or less celebrated.  Now it’s time that different SIZES are embraced.  Because the reality is most women, even European-looking women do NOT fit the western standard of beauty.  It’s not broad enough to embrace say women above size 12.  Women are supposed to have rounded hips, thighs, butts and all that nice feminine stuff.  This feels like I just wrote a novel but it needed to be said.

Jamati:  Tell us about your most recently published literary work Butterflies of the Nile.

Butterflies of the Nile is my first book.  Finally.  I was always asked when will you have a book we can read?  It’s a collection of short stories where the main character in all of them is Ugandan.  I make them Ugandan because it’s a country many people do not even know exist. Uganda is the source of the Nile. But the characters are Ugandans who live in Africa as well as the Diaspora.  One of them moves from the USA to Uganda and struggles with adapting to the cultures back home, including the pressure to be married off.  Another one is a young girl who struggles with her boyfriend constantly telling her that she is not pretty enough because she is too dark and has kinky hair.  I deal with interracial dating, internet dating, self-love, self-image, colourism, the hair issue, the dilemma of being single and love.  Some of the themes are uncomfortable, but they are real themes.  I’ve already had people approach me because they feel like their story is being told and they are happy about that.

Jamati:  Any other books in the works?

I have a poetry book called Goddesses, Priestesses and Queens.  Very powerful poems.  Probably the most powerful I have ever written. Then there are the twin poetry books called Daughters of the Nile and Sons of the Nile.  I also have a novel [in the works] called Zola’s Treasure based on 15th century Africa.

Jamati:  What would you say is the main message that you try to send through your visual art? 

Love yourself as you are.  If you believe in God, trust that he did not make mistakes when he made you.  There is this poisonous lie going around that people are not enough; not beautiful enough for example until they have changed themselves, you know, by lightening their skins, plastic surgery, starving themselves etc.  It’s great to experiment with different looks, but when the basis of the change is based upon thinking you are not good enough or beautiful enough it’s misplaced.  I have a poem called Not Good Enough based on that.

This piece by Jane is called Ishtar, and represents a strong, confident, beautiful, creative woman.

Jamati:  In your work, you frequently speak about the importance of self-love.  Why do you think self-love is so important?

It’s important to me because I see the effects of not loving yourself around me.  It translates into so many complicated issues mostly stemming from self-esteem issues.  Insecurity, inadequacy issues for example.  It’s tough. I struggle with that myself as well, I am human.  But when you feel good about yourself, you can focus on achieving things, bettering yourself and making a contribution to the world.  There is a certain sense of empowerment, strength and pride in being happy with who you are and loving yourself.  There is also a sense of liberation in accepting yourself and no longer confining yourself to the incarcerating restrictions of [beauty] definitions that do not include you in the first place.  Besides if you do not love yourself, how can you love others?

Jamati:  Your artwork shows women as having what are typically thought of as “African” features such as kinky hair, full lips, wide noses and big lips. Why do you think it’s important to show such images?

Because those are reflections of reality.  Those images exist.  We exist.  People with such features are not invisible.  We are very visible.  There is a continent and a network of islands full of us.  Kinky hair, full lips, wide noses, dark skin and thick lips are the common features of black people.  I am not saying we have all have these features but we have at least one of them. They have been portrayed negatively and derogatorily in the past and so with my art I am restoring the beauty of these features.  I mean, we think it mostly women, but I have met beautiful dark-skinned men who wanted to lighten their skins because people made fun of their darkness.  Dark-skinned men who hated their skins because they thought it was ugly.  Yet men like Djimon Honsou, Idris Elba and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje are considered hot by all kinds of women!

Jamati:  For many of us, life can get so hectic that it’s hard to tap into our creative flow.  Do you have any advice about how we can all nurture our creativity?  

Just be yourself.  Accept yourself as you are, flaws and all.  When you are busy focusing on what is wrong with you, you are blocking your flow of blessings and creativity.  Seriously.  No one is perfect, but we all have gifts to offer to the world.  You also have to be spiritually connected.  We are all connected to a higher power and that is the source of our creativity.  Meditate, pray, whatever - partake in some form of spiritual activity and be grateful for all of your blessings for that brings more.

Surround yourself with people who love you and support your dreams, because people’s negativity can easily rub off on you.  Trust your inner being or your intuition because it’s never wrong.  If you have an idea, act on it right away.  Other people are getting similar ideas and those that act on them are the ones who get ahead.  Do not be afraid to do things your way instead of the way it’s always been done.  That is called innovation.  Rest as well is important.  I used to be like the energizer bunny.  I’d go, go, go.  But I have learned the value of resting.  If my body and brain are tired, I will chill.  When you are healthy and refreshed it’s a lot easier to tap into your creative source.

Jamati:  Who is your favorite writer?

I have tons but if I have to choose absolutely one it would be Ben Okri.  If it is possible to be in love with a writer’s words, then I am love.

Jamati:  What music have you listened to in the last five days?

Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Mary J Blige, Jill Scott, Justin Timberlake, One Republic, Tupac, Nas, Linkin Park, TShaka Mayanja, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent and loads of Zen music. Ironically when I am painting I can only listen to hip hop. I am of the hip hop generation so I love my hip hop to death. Lots of changes have happened to me recently, and I am learning to be less judgmental and re-value hip hop. I mean really listen to the words and understand where these brothers are coming from. Like everyone else they too want to be understood.

At the end of the day our realities may be different but we are all trying to improve our lot. So I can listen to someone like 50 Cent or Tupac and maybe not relate to some things, (just like they would not be able to relate to everything about me,) but relate to what they says about haters, wondering who really loves you or struggling to make it . . . .

Jamati:  Last year you won a Planet Africa Award and this year you just won a 2008 African Canadian Women Achievements Award. How does that make you feel?

Listen, I am an immigrant.  I was not born in Canada.  I moved here like many other immigrants and my first years were tough.  They were so tough they almost broke me.  I am also someone who grew up without a mother and so I had to raise myself up in so many aspects.  My first relationship was with someone who told me that I’d never amount to anything, I was not talented at all and that I was not pretty enough.  It was an extremely verbally and emotionally abusive relationship.  But despite that I decided to prevail and follow my dreams.  So to receive something like that years later is encouraging.  There is loneliness to being as creative as I am, but to know that my peers are watching my work and appreciating it motivates me to keep going. So for those refugees and immigrants who are discouraged by their conditions and having to start all over again; for those women who have been in relationships that have broken them; for any orphans out there, I hope that I am an example of hope.

Jamati:  What is next on the horizon for you?

Publishing more books, writing more poetry, creating more art and doing something with my musical skills.  Essentially doing more of what I do.   I am not about to stop.   I am unstoppable. My goal is to represent my continent and be one of the most powerful forces in the literary world, art world, entertainment world and media.

Jamati:  Thank you so much, Jane.  It’s been a pleasure talking with you.

Thank you Jamati for this interview! I appreciate this.

Visit Jamati’s Poetry Section to read Jane’s poem, I HAVE ATTITUDE, written especailly for African women.

To learn more about Jane and her work, visit her website, www.www.nteyafas.com.