Today we’d like to introduce you to Uzo Mgbahurike.
Uzo, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I think it all started with being seen and feeling accepted for my individuality. I left Nigeria for the States when I was 14. It was the same story most immigrants have. Assimilating was difficult and I shied away from being my authentic self. Senior year of high school I think the ending of 2015, I started to embrace the things that made me stand out. I was more outspoken even with my “accent,” I wore clothes that would often showcase my Igbo culture and it didn’t become a thing. By “become a thing,” I mean people didn’t stop me to ask what I was wearing or where I was from. I could be me without having to constantly educate those around me. I stayed local and went to school at UTA and that was where the blossoming began. I started modelling, acting, writing and directing plays, communicating ideas visually, and many more. I quickly learned that I had something to say and as long as I could figure out the right way to say it, I would speak freely. The success and failures taught me a lot about myself while instilling confidence and trust within myself. I trusted my judgement about a lot of things and my no’s were firm and confident. This allowed me to gravitate to a lot of amazing like-minded individuals, some of who have been my closest friends till this day.
Alright, 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?
It’s definitely not been smooth. A lot of the struggles have been internal, you know. Early on it was speculating as to whether people would connect or even care to listen to what I had to say. Right now, I’ll say it’s being comfortable with being fluid and open to ideas. Radio Uzo won’t always be one thing but people love to categorize and box ideas. I think it helps to keep things pretty organized subconsciously. It’s also been really difficult to remain consistent when I have school and work to think about. But again, nothing worthwhile or sustainable comes easy and I think the constant reinventions allow for things not to get stale.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the host/creator of Radio Uzo. A space for free thinkers, slackers, the opinionated, and those who want a space to question everything while laughing about everything. I currently curate these feelings and moods through the Radio Uzo Podcast and live radio shows. I consider myself a multidisciplinary artist interested in bringing to life things I’d like to see in the world. I accomplish this most of the time through different visual mediums, collaborations, and conversations. So far, the coolest part about Radio Uzo has to be the access it’s given me. I get to meet and talk with a lot of cool people with unique stories and perspectives of the world and how things fit in it. I’ve done episodes with brand strategists, future dentists, photographers, close friends, and more interesting individuals. Looking forward to expanding the range and telling more interesting stories.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Dallas, honestly. I don’t think a lot of people know how good we have it here. Dallas has this modern sophistication mixed with southern hospitality that you won’t find anywhere. The food options are pretty diverse and there’s always something to do if you look closely. Best part about the city is definitely the nightlife. There’s something for everyone. Worst part is probably artist visibility. I think it’s cool that people like to stay true to their roots but it doesn’t help from a marketing standpoint in my opinion. For example, if you were an artist from let’s say Cedar Hill or Mansfield, how do you market yourself? More people are familiar with Dallas than they are with Mansfield but there’s this subtle push to stay to where you’re from. You hear things like, “you’re not really from Dallas, you’re from Arlington.” I think this often hurts the artist when it comes to visibility and collaborations.
Contact Info:
- Email: radiouzo19@gmail.com
- Website: https://radiouzo.weebly.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radio_uzo/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dubonde_wav
Image Credits
Christopher Michaels Brian Walker Ayomide Damolekun Shotbyshalom
