Episode 175: Ugochukwu Onyekwere – Creative Artist

 

 

Ugochukwu Onyekwere is a Nigerian photographer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Over the last five years, Ugo’s work has encompassed a wide range of photographic genres, including portraiture, documentary, event, and fashion photography.

Ugo’s passion for the creative process has recently translated into video production, where he is experimenting with creative and stylistic approaches to story-telling through directing and post-production.

He also expresses martial arts through kickboxing and fitness exercises, and he enjoys motivating those around him to stay fit.

Check him out @joseph.u_

Episode 174: Daniella Sam – Creative Artist/Stylist/Recruiter

Daniella originates from sunny and beautiful Ghana in West Africa and was born into a very close-knit large family of six. She now resides in what she likes to call her second home, Canada. She has been fortunate enough to travel quite a bit and absolutely loves it, and from her travels, she sees the beauty and art in everything, from sunsets to clouds, to faces and fabrics.
From her infancy, she has gravitated towards art, fashion or anything of a creative nature. She has styled for fashion shoots and enjoys bringing beauty out of everyone! Having been gifted her artistic ability by God, she tries to showcase Him in all aspects of her work. When she noticed that her creativity could evoke beautiful emotions, she thought it important to share this gift with the world!
She has done book covers like that of “Afraid of the Dark” byGuyleigh Johnson and completed her full-length illustration of the book titled “Father Song – the book” by Owen O’ Sound Lee in 2022. She published her website, where she sells commissioned pieces, daniellasam.net
Daniella is a fun-loving Christian, who loves to enjoy everyday life, as she sees each day as a blessing. Recruiter by day and artist as a lifestyle, Daniella loves to collaborate and make connections wherever she goes with her bubbly personality and enthusiastic zeal for life!

Episode 173: Gloire Paluku – Artist

As a lifelong artist, Gloire Paluku also Known as Aelfaz Arts grew up in Makindye, Kampala, Uganda, born in D.R. Congo in 2001. He does not have a lot of school experience as an artist but joined a few classes as he was in high school because art was all the things he wanted and a part of his Gene.
Aelfaz is always looking for the next opportunity to translate his everyday experiences, with the major of painting into artistic expressions and world since 2010. His approach and output are constantly evolving as he hones his personal style. However, he refuses to be typecast and works hard to ensure he does not repeat himself.
No matter what, Aelfaz Arts approaches each project with complete enthusiasm and total dedication. The image that he is living in now largely influences his creativity and art as a whole where he has always been pushing hard creativity and his passion to the higher boundaries and enjoys trying different styles.
He always comes up with inter-discipline for his art in his finding of new different ideas to make his art stands out and it preaches too.

Episode 172: Erica Meus-Saunders – Filmmaker/Executive Director, AFCOOP

A storyteller by ‘nurture’, Erica Meus-Saunders left the Bahamas and moved to Nova Scotia six years ago to attend film school. After graduating in 2017, she quickly became immersed in the film industry, working in various crew roles, and creating a few short docs, in which she held multiple roles as director, producer and camera.
Her short doc, The Dreamers – 9 mins, (producer & director), has played at FIN: AtlanticInternational Festival (2019), The Emerging Lens 2019 and the Halifax Black Film Festival 2020, and most recently “Music Resistance” (producer & director), has played at FIN 2022, HIFF2022, and St. John’s International Women's Festival 2022.
She’s just completed a scripted short, “Eua-Lander” through AFCOOP’s Film 5 program, which is currently on its festival run and has played at FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival (2022)and Silver Wave Film Festival (2022). Erica is also the current Executive Director of the AtlanticFilmmakers Cooperative (AFCOOP).
One of her favourite quotes is, “If your dreams don’t scare you just a little, they’re not big enough.”

Episode 171: DeRico Symonds – Community Advocate/Connector

DeRico is a 7th-generation African Nova Scotian. He is the Senior Executive Advisor to the Deputy Minister, of the Province of Nova Scotia, in the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives.
He is a founding member of two non-profit organizations in Halifax, ACCE HFX, and Gamechangers902. DeRico Symonds holds an undergraduate degree in Child & Youth Study (2012) and an MEd in counselling through Acadia University (2018). DeRico is also a nationally certified therapist with the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy association.
DeRico volunteers his time with a multitude of endeavours such as supporting communities through incidents of violence, mentoring youth, making, and creating community connections and leading fundraisers for community members in need.

“If we all do a little, nobody has to do a lot alone” – DeRico Symonds

More info www.dericosymonds.ca

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