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

Hi Aniekanabasi, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The mission of Sensiil Studios is to create a multimedia library of narratives featuring BIPOC characters and culture to bring unrestricted representation to the sci-fi genre. With a slew of characters from across the pan-African spectrum, we have committed to building a non-politicized, unashamedly black story for anyone from middle school to college age.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I started writing in 1st grade and never stopped. As I realized the lack of representation in my favorite genres, even failing to write ethnic characters myself, I had a paradigm shift and began to imagine my stories in a very different light. They felt more authentic and relatable to me. Around 2019 I began writing and world-building for my flagship graphic novel, Aaru En Duat, and spend about four years refining it. This brought me to create spin-offs like my 2022 release, Lost With All Hands. I also realized there may be a financial barrier for some, so there are free webtoons and stories available on my website. Like me, there are people of African descent that love comics, manga and animation but don’t have many options for black content in that realm. Sensiil Studios will be bridging that gap. For more information visit my website, sensiilstudios.com or message me on social media, @sensiilstudios.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Initially, I invested out of pocket for my first printed comics. I did this knowing I would recoup those funds and it gave me the momentum I needed to start gaining traction. This year, my 2nd year, I crowdfunded over $1,ooo via Kickstarter to print one of my titles. I’m currently looking for sponsors and investors to be able to execute my larger plans and projects.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Sharing my content is easy and free to do. It’s by far the easiest way to build my recognition and let people know what I’m doing and that there are many free projects for new customers to consume. I love to get fans involved by raffling special merchandise, open casting for voice actors, and the occasional giveaway. So be sure to follow me on Instagram especially where I’m most active.

Contact Info:

• Website: sensiilstudios.com
• Instagram: @sensiilstudios
• Facebook: @sensiilstudios
• Twitter: @sensiilstudios
• Youtube: Sensiil Studios
• Tiktok: @sensiilstudios