Today we’d like to introduce you to Emmanuel Gyang.
Emmanuel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was originally born in Verona, Italy. My family had moved there from Accra, Ghana had my older sister and me, and then migrated to the United States. They eventually landed in Nashville, TN because of an old family friend. Growing up in Nashville was different because all my roots were back in Ghana so all we had was each other. There was a good amount of times where we had faced adversity in all aspects, but by the grace of God, we persevered.
Throughout my life, my mother instilled in me the pillars of having faith, family, education, entrepreneurship. Fast forward, I went to high school in Antioch, TN and then eventually went to Tennessee State University on a full academic scholarship becoming a first-generation college student. After being in Nashville a majority of my life, I needed a change of scenery; I wanted to make a substantial impact on the culture/community wherever I lived. Now graduated, I moved to Dallas and now currently working as a data analyst for a Fortune 500 financial company. Even though I have only been here for a little more than a year, the city has grown on me as I became more connected.
I started the idea for Mama Africa’s Appeal while I was interning in Dayton, Ohio as an Application Developer for a law publishing company. I took a trip to Columbus, Ohio and saw an influx of fraudulent African clothing sold at absurd prices. During this time, my family’s situation was getting better, but still not the best. I gave my mom a call about what I experienced and I will never forget what she told me: “If you want to do it, I’ll make the call to Auntie [my grandmother] and we can start as soon as you get home. Me and Edy [my sister] will support you the whole way through, no matter what.” I got back to my extended stay, shed a few tears and then prayed.
Fast forward to my junior year at Tennessee State University, I started selling the clothing and accessories my grandma made me in my dorm room. It caused so much of a buzz on my campus that I almost lost my housing. While I was doing an event with my mom and sister, I thought of the name Mama Africa’s Apparel because of my mom and all she has done for us.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, yes. Nashville is not a terrible city. I just felt that if I wanted to grow my career and myself, I needed to take that leap of faith and move to a place where I could able to grow exponentially. My family did struggle growing up so I knew that I had to take initiative and do what I could to break that generational curse by any means necessary. It truly was a testimony knowing that I was able to get a free education after witnessing all of the strife that mother went through from raising my sister and I. She was the catalyst behind me starting Mama Africa’s Apparel, and I thank God daily for her.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Mama Africa’s Apparel officially launched in November 2016. The mission was to provide authentic traditional and modern African clothing and accessories at reasonable prices and create a way individuals can gain knowledge about African culture through fashion. Our slogan is “Mama always knows best”. We specialize mostly in women’s clothing and accessories, however, we do cater to men’s items also.
What makes me proud about my brand is really each customer interaction. I have been able to create relationships with people from various backgrounds. Being able to see the level of excitement of someone saying how unique my items are is unparalleled. When people ask me about how I started, it brings a smile to my face just talking about my journey.
What sets me apart from others is that my clothing garners a level of authenticity and uniqueness that you do not see often. The items I have are being made back home by my family members and you can tell with each article of clothing or accessory. I want people to understand that you can get the real deal and not have to break the bank. You can also learn a thing or two from me about my culture.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up, my family always possessed an entrepreneurial mindset. My father had his own shop in Nashville. I learned how to drive when I was seven years old. One of my favorite memories was when we had to go pick up a front bumper for one of his vehicles in Illinois. I made the seven-hour drive from Nashville to Illinois in this Maroon Kia while my dad was asleep in the passenger seat. On the way back, it was a great bonding moment for me and my dad as we talked about why he started his business. It opened my eyes to how I wanted something of my own in the future.
Pricing:
- Women’s Ankara Print Wrap Skirts w/ Matching Headwraps- $45
- Women’s Kente Print Overalls- $40
- Kente Print Fans- $15
- Kente Print Ties- $15
- Ankara Print Clutch Purse- $25
- Dashiki Shirts- $15
- Mama Africa’s Apparel Logo Sweatshirts – $25
- Mama Africa’s Apparel Logo T-Shirts – $15
- Kente Print Fanny Packs – $20
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mamaafricasapparel.com
- Phone: 615-568-5266
- Email: egyang52@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Image Credit
K.W.O Vision IG: @kolawolewodumade
@k.trece
@_strawberrydream
@msedy_gh
@whitwhithurray
@tj.ayy
@nasjr_
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