Walé Oyéjidé: Fashion that celebrates African strength and spirit
Wale Oyejide: Afrika'nın gücünü ve ruhunu kutlayan moda
TED Fellow Walé Oyéjidé combats bias with creative storytelling. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
of history are written by its victors,
galiplerin yazdığı söylenir,
to aspire for something greater
öğrenme fırsatını hiç yakalayamıyorlarsa
of their own glorious pasts?
umuduna sahip olabilirler ki?
as a mere maker of clothing,
olarak burada, karşınızdayım
and modern textiles,
kumaşların katmanları arasında
ve asıl tutkumu buldum.
of providing representation
toplumumuzdaki marjinal bireylerin
of our society,
aramızda en hassas ve en kırılgan
the most vulnerable among us
uzlaşmaya yanaşmayan bir çoğunluğa
to compromise themselves
artık kendilerinden taviz vermek
with an uncompromising majority.
çok önemli.
consider to be trivial,
olarak düşündüğü moda
for dismantling bias
getirmekte ve yeterince temsil edilmeyen
of underrepresented populations.
çok güçlü bir silah olabilir.
as a vehicle for social change
I know how easily the term "African"
"Afrikalı" teriminin
an ordinary geographic descriptor
gösterici yerine aşağılayıcı
from this beautiful continent,
hope for the future.
hiç ölmemesi demektir.
the misguided perceptions that many have
sahip olduğu bu yanlış algıları
hikâyeler anlatmakta kullanıyorum,
all throughout the African diaspora.
rağmen azmedenlerin hikâyeleri.
to correct the historical record,
anlatıyorum
where any of us is from,
by the complicated histories
sürükleyen bu karmaşık hikâyeler
to a foreign land.
the way we view the world,
bakış açımızı değiştiriyor
we carry around with us.
ön yargıları şekillendiriyor.
from different parts of the globe
yerlerinden güzellikleri toplayarak
about the importance
ayrımcılıkla savaşın
from classic European art
in roles of prominence,
çıkarabiliyorum,
sahip olamadıkları
accepted narrative of African inferiority,
hor görülme ve aşağılanma hikâyesini
for people of color
ve asaletten yoksun olarak
themselves depicted without sophistication
büyümüş beyaz olmayan insanlar
olan bu olayların her biri
very coincidentally wearing right now.
taktığım gibi.
in a structure of European classicism,
yapısıyla çevriliyken bile
the merits of African empowerment.
erdemlerini yüceltir.
become masterworks
bir zamanlar köle olanları
who were once subservient.
şaheserlere dönüştü.
beyond the realm of art
or world-changing entrepreneurs,
ya da dünyayı değiştiren girişimciler
the freedom to present themselves
özgürlüğü verildiği zaman
their own unique identities,
kutlandığı ve yüceltildiği zaman
our true, authentic selves.
bizim doğru ve asıl benliğimizdir.
in turn become more educated,
daha eğitimli hâle gelir,
of their different points of view.
daha açık ve daha hoşgörülü olurlar.
of diplomatic soft power.
bir illüstrasyonu olabilir.
can serve as bridges
birbirinden tamamen
arasında bir köprü oluşturabilir.
before you as a mere maker of clothing.
olarak karşınızdayım.
been about more than fashion.
daha fazlası olmuştur.
to rewrite the cultural narratives
yeniden yazmaktır
in a new and nuanced light,
ışıklar altında görülebilsin diye,
gururlu çocukları
that the stories of history
be dictated by a troubled past.
etkilemesine izin vermeyeceklere.
to tell our own stories
anlatmaya hazırız
for what you are about to hear?
hazır mısınız?
we are coming regardless.
olsun geliyoruz.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Walé Oyéjidé - Designer, writer, musician, lawyerTED Fellow Walé Oyéjidé combats bias with creative storytelling.
Why you should listen
As the founder of Ikiré Jones, Walé Oyéjidé, Esq. employs fashion design as a vehicle to celebrate the perspectives of marginalized populations.
In addition to his role as the brand's creative director, Walé Oyéjidé designs Ikiré Jones's textiles/accessories and serves as the company's writer. Oyéjidé is a TED Fellow, and his apparel design can be seen in the upcoming Marvel Studios film "Black Panther."
Oyéjidé's design work was part of the "Making Africa" contemporary design exhibit, which was at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, the Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain, the Kunsthal in Rotterdam, and the HIGH Museum of Art in Atlanta. He was also featured in the "Creative Africa" exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His work exhibited at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Fowler Museum, UCLA. He has been invited to lecture about his work in Brazil, Ecuador, France and Tanzania. His designs also appeared as part of the "Generation Africa" fashion show at Pitti Uomo 89 in Florence, Italy.
Oyéjidé's writings include freelance creative copywriting for Airbnb. He is also an attorney, public speaker, and a recording artist/producer that has collaborated with J-Dilla and MF Doom, among others. And for what it's worth, Esquire Magazine noted Oyéjidé as one of the best-dressed men in the United States.
Walé Oyéjidé | Speaker | TED.com