The rise and rise of African fashion and urban music is being well documented. What we need to see more of though, is how the business of Africa's entertainment industry is changing with its growing economy. Enter Uduak Oduok. With her blog posts on African business law she brings necessary insight to the pandora's box that is African music legalities. For instance, read up on Davido and Skuki's legal scramble over No Visa and Move It. Not only is she the founder of one of our favourite sites Ladybrille, this attorney/model/journalist owns and runs a legal practice and is also a passionate advocate for women in business.
Real Name: Uduak Oduok
Best known for: Breaking new talents/acts, celebrating brilliant women (Ladybrille) and trailblazing new paths in media – particularly in Africa’s creative communities (Ladybrillemag.com, Africamusiclaw.com).
Where are you from/live? I was born in San Jose, California and raised in Nigeria. I am Nigerian-American.
Places to find you online: www.Africamusiclaw.com, www.ebitulawgrp.com, facebook and twitter: @uduaklaw
When and how did you enter the social media game? I entered officially June 11th, 2007. I got on blogspot and started Ladybrille Blogazine and the rest is history.
What do you mostly tend to use it for? I tend to use it to write or discuss topics that I believe keep my core audience awake at night. This means my portals are used to primarily inform, empower and create awareness.
How has it helped you grow your brand? It has helped many recognize my expertise and appreciate the value of my experience both as an attorney, publisher and media personality in the creative industries. This in turn has meant more financial opportunities, speaking engagements and an even more formidable network of highly connected individuals across the US,UK and Africa.
What is your brand/message? My personal and business brand is simply an expression of my value system. So for me, it is about being unapologetic and uniquely you, believing in yourself and leaving the world a better place than you found it. I believe it is what I try to communicate daily in my use of social media.
If you could have one person follow you on twitter who would it be? Maybe Michelle Obama. She would
learn a lot, especially about Africa’s creative community which would only help enhance her view when it comes to interacting and dealing with today’s modern Africa, in her capacity as First Lady. Also, there are some parallels. She is an African-American woman attorney, a brilliant (Ladybrille) woman and is into health and sharing a health message.
If you could have one person join twitter who would it be? My mom. Lol! You would need to have her meet her to understand. Lol!
Who should every African be following right now? I’ll divide my recommendations by my interests:
Fashion (Fashion Junkii – she knows her stuff)
Technlogy: Emeka Okafor of Timbuktu Chronicles, Erik Hersman aka @White African, Nmachi Jidenma of Cp-africa.com
Business: Africabusiness.com, I am also of late digging Ventures Africa
Art: African Digital Art
Music: Ghanamusic.com, Addistunes.com, Iwantairplay.com
News: Sahara Reporters
Fashion, Culture, Lifestyle: This is Africa, Africa Is a Country, AfriPOP! (been a follower for years).
Finally Fashion & Entertainment Law: that would be yours truly at @uduaklaw on twitter.
What is the role of social media in the “Africa” conversation? To help us tell our own stories and shape the tone of the conversation and our image, especially in the West.
Who is benefiting most from the rise of Africans on social media sites? Africa’s creative industries: Fashion, film and music. The benefit has been phenomenal and the best is yet to come.
If you could invent a social networking tool for the future, what would it be? Hmmmm . . . good question. I think maybe a portal where we can truly connect Africa’s powerful women entrepreneurs in the creative and legal industries. I guess the portals do exist. It is just about executing it.
AfriPOP! socialite is a weekly feature that introduces you to the internet’s socially prominent Africans and lover of Africa. Not backed by a brand or organization, these are individuals who have used the internet to connect with fellow Africans to spread and discuss fresh ideas and thoughts on all things Africa. Their words are their message, their personality is their brand — the AfriPOP! socialite.
