We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Obafemi Kinsiedielele a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Obafemi, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I would say that both of my parents attended and graduated from an HBCU! With them being from the Arkansas Delta, born in the 1950’s, they have experienced part of Southern American history through the eyes of the African American with the hardships that life offered in rural Arkansas at that time throughout the 1960s. They laid a foundation for valuing education, self sufficiency and creativity that helps to fuel me today. Self respect and the importance of knowing who you are is something that they set me on the path of self discovery.

Obafemi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Peace yall, I’m Obafemi Kinsiediele, also known as Obafemi, Brotha OB, and O’Brennan Moss. I am a true Renaissance spirit and devoted champion of growth in all its forms—from the soil to the soul. As a dedicated father and partner, my life’s work is intrinsically dedicated to uplifting my community. My journey is rooted in my parents’ HBCU legacy from the Arkansas Delta, who instilled in me an unwavering value for education, self-sufficiency, creativity, self-respect, and the critical importance of knowing who you are. This foundation fuels my multi-faceted approach to addressing systemic challenges like food insecurity, land loss, and health disparities within our Black communities.

My work spans community, education, creativity, and economics. Through GSC Community Gardens, I leverage my passion for horticulture to foster healthy living and food sovereignty, transforming neglected spaces into vibrant oases. As a co-developer of the Sankofa Institute & Education Services and an advocate with the Arkansas Black Homeschoolers Support Group, I champion culturally relevant and holistic education. Creatively, as a recording artist since 2001 and one-third of MCE (Music Culture Edutainment) since 2008, I craft conscious hip-hop soul narratives. Furthermore, my entrepreneurial spirit led to 720 Sage Wear, a cultural clothing brand, and co-founding the Pine Bluff Black Entrepreneurs Network, actively fostering local economic growth.

What sets me apart is this holistic, Afrikan-centered integration of my diverse passions, explicitly linking contemporary struggles to ancestral wisdom and a Pan-Afrikan vision. I proactively build sovereign solutions, rooted in Ubuntu and Black Consciousness, aimed at dismantling systemic dependency and disempowerment. I am most proud of witnessing the tangible transformations in our community—from vibrant gardens to empowered individuals. My main message is clear: I am serious, committed, and driven by a powerful work ethic. My vision is a meticulously planned future we are actively building, believing wholeheartedly that ‘Never forget our roots, our truth, and our power’ is the very foundation of our nation-building work.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The connections that made is priceless. I mean don’t get me wrong, being compensated financially for what I do is amazing. The fulfillment is the lightbulb moments that I sometimes get to witness with other people based on something that I’ve shared or done. To see people take something I’ve said in my music or through a class or workshop and actually put it to use puts me in a state of gratitude.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I would say to value art and the artist as essential to our lives. If there was like a living wage for artists across the board, it would help artists remain authentic to their craft and maybe not have to compromise their artform just for the sake of makin a dollar.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/9obafemi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/9Obafemi/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrennan-moss-48017b242
• Twitter: https://x.com/9OBAFEMI
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@9ObafemiK/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/obafemi-kinsiedilele
• Other: https://linktr.ee/9Obafemi

Image Credits

Cedric E. Adams, Andre Thornton, Kwaeisi Golliday