Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Thelma Sabi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Thelma , appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I believe being successful in life looks differently to everyone but for me there is a recipe to be successful in your Craft. Success in your craft is a combination of a lot of commitment and consistency, a lot of prayer, a lot of humility, a little bit of risk taking and a little bit of timing. In whatever field, consistency looks like practicing and perfecting the craft but also having the humility to listen to others and know when it’s time to add or take away something. With prayer, not everyone believes in a higher power but for me, when you are someone who decides to share your talent with others, it’s a very vulnerable act and when I don’t feel like doing something, I always remember that it’s bigger than myself. Risk taking has to be just enough and at the right time. The things that applied to you a few years ago may not apply to you today, so always pay attention to time.

Thelma , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My brand is MFK Afro, and the MFK stands for Made for Kobina. Kobina comes from a Congolese language, Lingala and it means to dance. When you put it together, it’s really Made to Dance Afro. Growing up in Cameroon, dancing was very social, and there is a community aspect of it, but it wasn’t something I saw as a career. When I moved to the States, I danced here and there but I didn’t fully commit til I joined my University’s African dance team. While in College, the passion I had for it began to grow but as I elevated on the team, I realized that I enjoyed teaching choreography. After graduating, I followed my degree in Communications but the more I tried to leave dance, the more it chased me. Originally, when I first started posting content online, my brand was Wasabi, but when I started to teach more, I created a new page (previously Madeforkobina, now MFKAfro) and ended up having to change my own name on Instagram. Knowing me, the brand name may change again, but even if it does change, the core values will stay the same.

MFK Afro is a community I started that became filled with people who love Afro culture and who showcase this love through being educated in dance classes, performing, producing content or just connecting and conversing with others. Under MFK Afro, there are classes/dance events for all levels, creating, teaching and performing opportunities, and now, a dance studio, MFK Studios (IG: MFKstudiosdmv). The main thing I want everyone to know about MFK Afro is that as long as you are respectful of the culture, you are welcome, especially if you are a beginner. As a generation, we are in a time where things move so fast that it feels so impossible to find a starting point, but the starting point in Afro dance is to listen to the music and to take a class. You can dm MFK Afro on Instagram, facebook, TIktok or email [email protected]. The main thing I’m proud of is sticking to something for the past five years, even through a pandemic but I still have a long way to go. The goal is to grow the community within the DC, Maryland, Virginia area but also build a community in the countries I love, and have a lasting impact on this generation and the generations to come.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Something that people who don’t possess as many creative abilities may struggle to understand is that artistry can be turned off but creativity can’t. As a performing Artist/Teaching Artist in dance, I can always choose not to teach, or dance because it’s my own body. As someone who has worked in visual designing, I can also turn off the art at the end of the work day because I no longer need to do it. Though my Art in these two scenarios can be turned off, my creativity can’t because it’s not something physical, it’s something with my mind. My creativity is going to show in whatever I choose to do which goes beyond the limitations of the crafts. I believe this is where you see the difference between the Artist, the Creative or Creative thinker and the Creative Artist. I also believe this is the reason that it’s so difficult for a lot of people who are Creative to find the balance between working and resting because it feels like our minds are ALWAYS working and we are never completely rested.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My first goal/mission driving my creative journey is creating more opportunities for Africans in the Creative fields so they don’t feel as though they have to choose between money and unhappiness or lack of money and pursuing their dreams. Careers in dance expand beyond just being a Dancer, there is videography, photography, administration, set design, costume creation, fashion, and more and more. My goal is for my brand to expand large enough that I hire people who are passionate about what they do when they come to work. My other goal is to give back to communities who are not able to have all the resources that I have so that they are able to reach their goals as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: mfkafro.com/studio
• Instagram: mfkafro
• Facebook: mfkafro
• Youtube: Mfkafro
• Other: Tiktok: Mfkafro

Image Credits
Some photos by @papakphotos on Instragram