We were lucky to catch up with Oni The Africanpinupgirl recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Oni , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

When I was about five, my grandmother would take me to her church. It was called Wells Cathedral, a COGIC. Church Of God In Christ was what the acronym stood for. But I never knew that at that age, nor did I care. All I cared about was, that I was about to sing my favorite song “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!” It was my regular number I’d perform every Sunday for a church of onlookers due to my Grandmother’s influence in the church. I don’t think I sang all that well back then..at all! But the sheer joy of being on stage, holding a mic, and entertaining a crowd was discovered before I entered the first grade.

After that, I can remember entertaining my friends at the lunch table in elementary school, rapping, performing poetry and spoken word in HS, rocking a crowd in college and it’s been going on ever since. The love has only grown stronger. I truly love to entertain, and have people enjoy themselves while establishing community.

Oni , 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?

If you’re looking for a host to build community with your crowd, entertain and make them laugh then look no further. Call me Oni or Africanpinupgirl, but just never call me late to the show. I’m a comedian, and host with a musical background who entertains crowds with a unique flair.

As a person who has always entertained my family and friends getting into entertainment full time has always been a dream of mine. Now, I offer hosting services including karaoke, comedy shows, open mics, and even corporate team building events. As a certified teacher who insists on teaching with fun and innovative methods, I make sure people have fun at my events or classes. You will laugh, smile, and enjoy yourself.

I’m most proud of the way I’ve pursued my passions and dreams relentlessly. But, I’m set apart because I’m super cool, and humble as well as a genuine person who sincerely loves people, and wants to see how I can share the talents God has given me by entertaining others, teaching in fun ways, and making people feel better with this comedy therapy.

ONI is an African name that means desire, and it so fitting because I have a deep desire to succeed and stay on top of my artistic and academic pursuits. Many mispronounce it, but actually it’s pronounced “Ah-nee”

“africanpinupgirl” means my style is influenced by African and Vintage fashion which you see in the afrocentric prints and accessories I choose, as well as some of the vintage looks I wear. I make my own clothes, and often wear my original designs on stage so I mix the two aesthetics.

When I host your event, you can be sure you will get cute, colorful, and comedic. Your guests are going to have an amazing time and LAUGH as we establish community. Please follow me on IG & Tiktok @africanpinupgirl and email [email protected] to make a booking inquiry.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, and respecting many art forms is watching yourself improve. As well as watching doors open that were previously closed to you, and gaining new opportunities to do what you love. Which for me is comedy, hosting, and entertaining.

Practice seems to be a lost part of mastering an art. However, it is integral in becoming great at something. The beauty of life and gaining experience is the ability to become better at anything you practice enough. If you put the time and effort into an art, you will be rewarded with more skill and more adeptness at that art.

There is nothing limiting any of us from reaching whatever points in our chosen craft that we desire. But we have to put the work in. As a creative and an artist, who respects and practices their respective craft, I’ve gained a deep understanding. YOU ARE LIMITLESS!

You’re capable of greatness if you simply apply yourself, and be relentless in the pursuit of your goals. As Napoleon Hill once said, “Your only limitation is the one you have set up in your own mind”

Live without limits, love without limits, pursue your passions without limits, and most importantly CREATE without limits, and the rewards are unimaginable. When someone tells me they related to my art after a performance, it means the world to me.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

At about 18, I was a singer and a rapper. My uncle was managing an artist who ended up getting a deal. So, since I idealized getting signed at that at the time, I believed any and everything he told me. Well, one day I finally mustered up the courage to have him listen to some music I had recorded and was very proud of. He listened to it, and then flatly told me… “You can’t rap AND sing. People are going to be confused and they’re not going to like that, plus your singing voice isn’t all that great anyway. Maybe you should just rap.”

To say I was crushed was an understatement, it changed the way I was pursuing music. It changed the way I believed in myself. My chase wasn’t as active. I began putting limitations on myself. Years later, EVERYONE raps AND sings!
Now, in hindsight I really just wish I wouldn’t have listened to that opinion. Least of all internalized it. You can’t let others tell you what you should do or what you can’t do.

Nor should you let them make YOU doubt YOU. I’ve had to try and practice self-love in the presence of much self-doubt. I work hard on it. It’s a daily effort but an important one. The lesson to unlearn was to doubt myself, the lesson to learn was to love myself and believe in myself. Sometimes we feel we need to look outwards for validation. That’s the one thing I now know, I don’t have to do anymore. I look inwards first now, and seek validation from within.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @africanpinupgirl
• Youtube: @pinupentertainment
• Other: Follow my TikTok @africanpinpgirl DM to inquire about booking.

Image Credits
Ikahnic Photos Motion Flyers Sommore Scan the Goddess