Today we’d like to introduce you to Onochie Chukwurah.
Onochie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Rhythms of The Village is a black-owned family business established in 2013. Onochie Chukwurah father of The Village came to the U.S. in 1969 playing bass guitar with Fela Kuti. Due to war in Nigeria, Onochie decided to stay in America and get his education. Onochie went on to get his bachelors degree in Theater Arts and his master’s degree in Human Development. While in school he started his own production company telling African folktales & later met his other half, Marilyn. They quickly became a powerhouse creative couple, both with a passion for teaching arts and crafts. When it comes to crafts, there is nothing Marilyn cannot make. From dolls, quilts, jewelry, to custom clothing pieces, Marilyn does it all. This is what gave birth to their youngest son, Emeka’s passion for fashion, music, and business. Emeka remembers the days when Saturday school took place in their home, with children from all over the community. This is what led to The Village operation outgrowing the house. After the opening and closing of our charter high school, we decided to open up shop. Emeka shadowed Marilyn and became quite the crafter himself knitting beanies and making graphic tees to sell as a teen. Emeka, like his father, is a man of many talents. He’s known for his fashion that he sews and designs. Emeka also has a way with bringing people together and building bridges between all cultures. This is seen in events such as “Fresh Fruit Saturday” a community fruit program, “Village Market & Festival” a festive event giving a platform for many cultures and vendors to share their talents and heritage, “For The Tribe” an event designed to give young creatives an outlet to grow, share and build together. Now our store serves as an intricate pillar of rich African heritage, art, and cultural accessories for all prospective customers to enjoy. Our unique garments are hand sewn and tailored for each and every size.
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?
Prior to The Village, we opened up a Charter High School funded by Bill and Melinda Gates. The school was designed to cater to failing black and brown students through visual performing arts. This made as a target and a source of competition for the school district, who fought our program in order to maintain high enrollment in the public schools. This was one of our toughest battles. Although we had strong backers, we didn’t know the extent of the district’s political power and resources. They did everything in their power to ensure our demise. Our only goal was to educate the children who were being underserved. Once the school closed, as a family we rose from the ashes like the Phoenix. Creativity flooded our house. We started traveling to crafts markets and festivals with our goods. My father would remind us of his mother who too was a master merchant selling goods outside her home in Nigeria. This spirit drove The Village operation, it was with consistency and persistence that we prevailed. Opening up shop took everything capital, sleepless nights, dedication, blood, sweat and tears.
Rhythms of The Village – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Rhythms of The Village is more than just the items on the racks. We’ve succeeded in creating an authentic experience through traditional rhythms, scents and colors that are drawing to the senses. People come to The Village to escape and get a taste of the motherland. We are known in the community for strengthening the links that hold us all together. Our handcrafted products keep our customers in touch with the importance of supporting small business. We focus on the quality of our items and service. Onochie & Emeka represent a beautiful father and son dynamic. We specialize in upholding traditions that have been lost. With pride, we maintain and pass on our heritage. What we bring to the community is unique and priceless. The World is beginning to recognize Africa again and many follow the trend. We are the pioneers and trendsetters of this new global movement.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Success comes from the amount of people you can touch. Word of mouth is still a powerful tool of advertisement for us. When people leave from The Village, they tell others about the magical experience they had. We strive to raise the standard and to always go above and beyond what’s expected. As demands grow, we are able to keep up with the momentum, this is what makes us successful. When the odds are not in your favor somehow, you must still find a way to win. For the last six years, we’ve worked with joyful spirits. Loving what you do is the key to success. We are mindful of what others are doing but we march to our own rhythm. This way we can manage our growth and remain original.
Pricing:
- We have $12 workshops in drumming, African history, dance…
- We have free monthly events “Fresh Fruit Saturday” & “For The Tribe”
Contact Info:
- Address: 2279 N. Lake 91001 Altadena CA
- Website: rotvp.com
- Phone: 626 616 2561
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: 1rhythmsofthevillage
- Facebook: Rhythms of The Productions
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
