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"I want to
change the narrative
of
the African woman
… on the global stage.
I am
tired of seeing
sagging breasts
and
flies around babies’ necks."
‘Belinda Otas’ is what happens when ambition meets assiduousness. Her resume is an enviable list of media powerhouses and renowned global personalities. Belinda is journalism, and journalism is Belinda. Full stop.
In the second part of this four-part post, we discover what drives this passionate and prolific journalist to success, and her advice for aspiring journalists to “find and define [their] voice.”
And so the conversation continues …
Stumbling In Love With Journalism
Yaaya:
You’ve had an interesting career. You almost became a lawyer …
Belinda O:
(Laughs)
Yaaya:
Yet here you are, an award-winning journalist. Here at Yaaya, we hope to use success stories to inspire ambition in young black women. How did you get to where you are today?
Belinda O:
That’s an interesting story. Again, this goes back to getting sick. I’m the first of 8 children. My father wanted a doctor, but I turned out to be a disappointment because I hated Physics and Chemistry, and I was terrible at Maths. I don’t remember ever getting a C in Maths. It was always ‘F’ or ’D’ (laughs). However, I excelled in Humanities and the Arts (History, Politics, Literature). I liked the whole idea of being a lawyer; the idea of being in a black robe and a wig was the symbol of power. But getting sick meant I could no longer continue studying in Nigeria because I was flown out to the UK for medical treatment.
I wanted to study Law or Criminology. I liked the idea of catching the bad guy. But when I got to the UK, and would watch the news, and [see] people ‘get off’ on a technicality, after committing a heinous crime, I thought “that’s not right”. I became disillusioned. I really don’t like to see people (good people) suffer.
Because I was ill and at home, there was no one to talk to. I had been plucked away from all my siblings. It was just my Mom and I. Mom was dealing with the fact that her first child was at death’s door. That was when I started writing. In getting sick, I discovered writing. About 2-3 years after I had a transplant, I went back to university and got a degree in Creative Writing and Journalism, and during my degree I did a work placement. That’s how my journalism journey started. I fell into it, and fell in love with it.
I wanted to study Law or Criminology. I liked the idea of catching the bad guy. But when I got to the UK, and would watch the news, and [see] people ‘get off’ on a technicality, after committing a heinous crime, I thought “that’s not right”. I became disillusioned. I really don’t like to see people (good people) suffer.
Because I was ill and at home, there was no one to talk to. I had been plucked away from all my siblings. It was just my Mom and I. Mom was dealing with the fact that her first child was at death’s door. That was when I started writing. In getting sick, I discovered writing. About 2-3 years after I had a transplant, I went back to university and got a degree in Creative Writing and Journalism, and during my degree I did a work placement. That’s how my journalism journey started. I fell into it, and fell in love with it.
Pearls For Success
Yaaya:
What advice would you give to young women who are considering a career in journalism?
Belinda O:
Oh my word… You have to be tenacious! You have to be resilient…and read. You can never stop reading. When you stop reading and learning, I think the jig is up at that point. Read everything you can find.
Find and define your voice. Ask yourself the kind of journalism you want to do. The kind of stories you want to tell, and why. For example, I write about gender, because I understand the challenges that come with being a woman. They say every story has been told. So how are you going to tell an old story in a new way?
Whose story do you want to tell? Whose silent voice do you want to represent? Who needs to hear it? On whose platform do you want to tell it? What are you passionate about? What would you like to change? What legacy do you want to leave behind? Those are the kind of questions you ask yourself before you embark on a journalism career.
I truly believe that the key thing is knowing what you want to do, why you want to do it, and then finding out how to do it.
Whose story do you want to tell? Whose silent voice do you want to represent? Who needs to hear it? On whose platform do you want to tell it? What are you passionate about? What would you like to change? What legacy do you want to leave behind? Those are the kind of questions you ask yourself before you embark on a journalism career.
I truly believe that the key thing is knowing what you want to do, why you want to do it, and then finding out how to do it.
Yaaya:
Some invaluable pieces of advice there … Any more pearls?
Belinda O:
I think it is very crucial to have a mentor. Your mentor should be someone who challenges you. Pick someone whom you respect and is more knowledgeable than you [are] to mentor you. Listen to them, and ask questions. They can advise you, but they probably will not have all the answers. But because they have been on that journey longer than you have, they have an idea of how you can navigate your way through it.
You have to be dogged. You have to be determined. Journalism is not the kind of job that makes you rich. It is not a 24 hour party.
Yaaya:
It most certainly is not ...
Belinda O:
As an African woman, I understand the challenges that come with being considered a second class citizen. Your position is number 2, and that of the male child is number one. I want to change the narrative of the African woman that has been defined on the global stage. I am tired of seeing sagging breasts and flies around babies’ necks. I want to show the other side of the African woman. The African woman who is leading a multinational agency or company. I interviewed Folorunsho Alakija, who according to reports is the richest black woman in the world. For me, that is a milestone. It is not every day you get to sit in the presence of greatness. She humbled me with her humility. That was the biggest take-away when I interviewed her. I will never forget that.
Yaaya:
What is the one highlight of your career to date?
Belinda O:
(Pauses)
Yaaya:
Belinda is silent. This must be a big question…
Belinda O:
(Laughs) Last year, when my body rejected my only kidney, it was a very trying time. When that happened, I became so hungry. I made a list of people I wanted to interview. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been on my list since I became a journalist. I finally got to interview her in December [2012]. Writing that article was a beautiful experience! I respect her as a writer. I appreciate the fact that she has found her own voice on the world stage, and is not afraid to say the things she says, without apologising for it.
Interviewing Adichie was a highlight. Interviewing men and women like Folorunsho Alakija and Tony Elumelu, one of Africa’s leading business men and philanthropists have been great highlights this past year.
Yaaya:
That is quite something. How do you balance such a high impact career with your personal circumstances?
Belinda O:
Being able to finish an article is a highlight because I really do struggle due to the amount of medication I take [and] their side-effects, which boy oh boy, I do not like. Imagine taking your early morning dose and knowing full well that you are going to sleep for at least another 3 –to-4 hours and cannot type a word. Then wake up, quickly do some research, try and write but [then] it’s time to take another set… and this is in addition to days when I have relapses in terms of living with chronic unexplainable pain.
Fit hospital appointments into that, physiotherapy sessions and other things…it can be a lot for me. If you ever meet me, you will also see I am rather tiny in size…so physically, it can be challenging and exhausting. The magazines I write for, I appreciate and being made Assistant Editor of New African woman was pretty cool.
That said, every day is a highlight, each day I don’t get [called] from the hospital that I must now go back on dialysis is a highlight in my life, career or no career. Being alive is key to having a career.
Fit hospital appointments into that, physiotherapy sessions and other things…it can be a lot for me. If you ever meet me, you will also see I am rather tiny in size…so physically, it can be challenging and exhausting. The magazines I write for, I appreciate and being made Assistant Editor of New African woman was pretty cool.
That said, every day is a highlight, each day I don’t get [called] from the hospital that I must now go back on dialysis is a highlight in my life, career or no career. Being alive is key to having a career.
In the forthcoming posts, Yaaya and Belinda explore the importance of celebrating achievement and storytelling. Belinda shares her views on social invisibility, and on the importance of platforms like the New African Woman and Yaaya. Like this post? Leave your comments below to continue to support Yaaya’s vision of providing platforms to voice powerful stories of incredible women like Belinda. Invite others to join the conversation by sharing this post!
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