Today we’d like to introduce you to Babz Afolabi.
Babz, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story is one of luck. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and was blessed to move to Northampton, England. I grew up in a rough part of Northampton called the Eastern District; I went to a fancy school called Pittsford. Being poor but growing up with wealthy people was an interesting dichotomy. To stop myself from getting bullied and to draw attention to myself, I became a class clown. I failed all through high school, but fortunately for me, the UK system does not have a GPA system. For my last two years of high school, I buckled down and got decent enough grades to be able to go to college in America.
I picked my college, Michigan State, without knowing anything about the college, the state, and the people. The first few years in America were a huge culture shock. I soon started to love the culture at Michigan State, and it was the perfect environment to let my creativity flourish. At the end of my junior year, I got into photography and DJing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When you are constantly moving to new places, one big struggle is finding yourself. My life has been a constant struggle of figuring out who I am and adapting to new environments.
This uncertainty of myself bled into my creative work. I would suffer from imposter syndrome and not seek out opportunities in DJing and Photography. I didn’t believe I deserved to be booked for what I did. I would constantly do free work, undervaluing myself. As I honed my craft, I became confident in showcasing my skills and reaching out for opportunities.
One last challenge of mine is juggling so many different passions with ADHD. It’s often hard to focus on what I need to do or what is important to me. It is easy to beat yourself up because you aren’t as productive as most. One thing I’ve learned with ADHD is to do the stuff that gives you that excitement and rush of dopamine. Focusing on things you don’t want to do will stress you out.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a DJ, Photographer, and Digital Marketer. I am a versatile artist that is constantly picking up new skills and new ways to express myself. In terms of my DJing, my style is amapiano, afrobeats, and house. My sound draws from my experience of living in Nigeria, The UK, and the States. What separates me from other DJs is I will get you dancing throughout the night. I only pick songs that make people want to move.
When it comes to photography, what makes me stand out is my rich colour grade and stunning portraits. I love vibrant colours and capturing beauty.
Some of my biggest achievements are curating my own event called Diaspora Dance. A cultural event that brings a global sound to LA dance floors. I have also DJ’d at events like Pangea Sound, and famous venues like The Roxy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://visualsbybabz.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babzaf
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/babz.afolabi/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BabzAf
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@babzaf
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/manlikebabz
Image Credits
Babz Afolabi
