Ayishat Akanbi is a celebrity stylist based in London. The British-born Nigerian  has done well in her career and has granted  interviews to BBC and other UK-based media organisations. Recently, she became the stylist for Nigerian artistes such as Whiz kid, Davido and Wande Coal.  That connection is drawing her  closer to her root as she is yearning to visit Nigeria for the first time in January. Speaking with CHRISTY ANYANWU at her office in Briston, London, she talked extensively about her home-coming, her growing up in UK and other issues.

Where are you from?

My mum is from Osun State and my dad is from Ilorin.

When you moved to London, how have you been able to adjust to life?

I have always have big dreams, big ambitions, so coming to London to me is where I should be. It’s just like coming home. It felt like, I was leaving a strange place in Southampton. But coming to London, I really felt like yea, this is where I want to be, this is where I get a chance of coming to myself and make something for myself.

You went to university here?

Yes, I went to Kingston University and I studied media and cultural studies at the university.

What inspired you to media study when you knew you will end up a stylist?

I studied media because I grow up watching a lot of TV. In school, I got to study media studies, I enjoyed it,  maybe to become open minded. I want to know more. Even though am doing fashion now, fashion is still about the media in some way. I feel that my degree has helped me because my job isn’t just dressing people, is about having a sound understanding of how everything in the media works.

Your mum is a stylish woman, how has she been able to influence your person?

My mum, I will definitely say is my greatest influence in fashion. Even now, no one will ever look at my mum and think she is my mum. The fashion definitely started with her because she introduced me to a lot of designer’s names quite early. The more luxury side of fashion I like definitely comes from my mum. She exposed me to a lot of designers name and when I was young she will dress me in moschino, Dolce & Galbana, all these things I didn’t appreciate at a time. They didn’t mean anything to me. I just like my Nikki, Addidas; I just want to be like all my friends. Brand names they don’t mean anything to me. She always appreciates quality. She got me thinking and looking about clothes in a very different way.

When did you launch yourself into styling?

It was about two and a half years ago. I met my first client, Labyrinth before he was signed to his record label. Before he was signed, he was looking for a record deal and I suggested maybe we fix his image and I suggested maybe I can help them. I haven’t done that before and when he did say yes, I shared all my ideas, I presented it back to him and   his managers and they quite liked my ideas. From there a job was formed. I wasn’t paid much. When he did get signed, he kept me.

How did your dad feel when you choose to be a stylist?

Just like all  Nigerian fathers do, with NO. he didn’t exactly get it in the beginning and also my mum. They didn’t know anyone who is a stylist. They just wanted me to get a normal 9 to 5 and work  hard like every body else  and get promoted after two or three years. I kept on telling them I have enough plans but they don’t really understand. But now they do. Now that I can get recognized on TV, am financially independent, my dad and mum are cool with me right now, especially when I stopped asking them for money.

Your take on Nigerian artiste?

I had one assistant working with me that was a Nigerian. She knew so much about the afro beat music. I don’t know very much about the Afro beat tune. I don’t know very much about the afro beat at a time. She told me is the new thing that is reigning, everyone is talking about it and she writes some of the artistes. Whizkid is one of her favourites and Davido and Wande Coal. She knew Whizkid tour manager and I told her if she could send my work to them and Whizkid liked it. Ironically, Whizkid never had a stylist before.

He watched a couple of my videos on U tube and really loved it and I have been the first stylist he has and we have been working ever since. Davido came to London in October, he wanted to shoot a video, and he came to London to work with moriz, who is a director here. He worked with lots of artistes, because he has seen my work and he knows my client, he introduced me to Davido, I got some clothes. It’s a really fun day. He shot the new video for Skelewu. Not the one you have seen, he shot a new Skelewu video. For Wande Coal, the very first time I met Whizkid, Wande Coal was there. They stayed in the same hotel building. I stayed outside and I saw someone, he looked very eye-catching, I moved closer to him, I introduced myself and he introduced himself. I told him I liked the way you look. He took pictures with me and he gave me his manager’s picture. It was at that point I realised he does music too. Not too long after, he left the UK, then came back, he called  that they were doing video and that was it.

Who are your clients?

It can be anyone. Some of my clients are managers. Most of my clients are music artistes. I dress people who have just given birth and want to look sexy again. I dress older men, I dress older men who want to attract any type of woman, I dress all kinds of people, and it’s not exclusive to celebrities or musicians.

As a Black, how have you been able to penetrate as a stylist in London?

Maybe because I don’t see colour. I’m not aware I am black. I’m just human and that is why I see everybody as human.

What is your vision?

I would love to be the most successful stylist and work with different clients all over the world. I would also want to start my own kind of workshop where I will be speaking to young people, it is not often in the UK to see young black people getting such opportunities. It’s not particularly easy. I want to speak with young people on a regular basis and tell them some of my tips, tell them things am reading about, what inspires me, what is helping me. I will also do the same thing in Nigeria. I will like to talk to people there. I want to do things closely home, be a part of solution in some way. I know my area is fashion, but there is nowhere my intellect stops. I know there are lot of things in Nigeria that are not particularly right and people are living the way they should be. I just want to be positive and assure people there are opportunities and jobs you can look out for. When I was young, I didn’t know I will be a stylist, I didn’t know that certain jobs exist. I never thought like that. I will like to speak to bankers; I will like to speak to people who are key in Nigeria. If I am having conversations with these people, we can make things happen. I like to be part of the solution to things that happen in Nigeria. It’s not just about celebrity service but anyone who wants to feel good about themselves. You are going to parties, cocktail, dinner party, you are not too sure of what to wear, we take that load off and I can help you in that area. Or you have a school reunion, you haven’t seen your school friends in the last 10 years and you need that killer black dress I can be of help.

You look younger than 25, what is the secret?

I have been told I look young. Sometimes I even get 13. I use the same palm olive just like anybody else. I don’t really have a beauty regime. I think maybe what helps is a positive attitude. Some people hold religion highly important, I hold a positive attitude, as well as religion but I think it is important to stay positive, focused and kind. Kindness is my religion. If you are kind, it will come back to you. I’m never really angry, it helps. I don’t shout that much, it keeps me young. I am not shouting, I am smiling all the time.

You have unique hairstyle. 

I was experimenting so many different things. My life as a stylist is quite busy. I just literally want to get up and go. I thought about the braids, I shave the sides. It makes it different because a lot of girls have braids. The only way my own can be different is, I don’t have them all over my head from the top. I get my braids done every 4-6 weeks.

Would you marry a Nigerian?

Can I marry a Nigerian? Hmm if a Nigerian can handle me, why not?

When do you intend coming to Nigeria?

I got a taste of Africa last year, I went to Uganda. That was my first time in Africa and that was amazing. It surpasses my expectations in  every single way. I hear Nigeria is even bigger. I think in this country, there are different perceptions about what Africa is about, about what Nigeria is about. It’s a lot of stereotypes, its even affected me the things I hear from people. Nigeria is even better. I learnt in Nigeria you can have anything you want, you are free, you can do anything you want, but speaking candidly, you are not free here. When I went to Africa, you are free. To me,  I will retire there definitely. They have got good weather, the people are friendly. I think the only thing that Africa is missing is the healthcare and electricity, all this kind of little thing. If you have all that, it will be the best place in the world.

How much of Nigerian food do you know of?

It is funny, when I live at home with my mum, I pretty much hate the Nigerian food. I think it was my  rejection of what I have been told here because it is not presented in the way the English present their food. It was very  alien to me. It is slimy (ewedu), what is this? Now that I don’t live at home, it’s the only thing I crave. Now when I eat it, I think of home, I think of my mum, I think of my experiences growing up. I do enjoy Nigerian food now and I definitely will be learning to cook it.

If not stylist what would you have become?

I have always wanted to be a DJ before I dabbled into styling. I love music and that’s why I love to work with music artistes. I will like to have a charity of some sort. I want to work with the youths definitely. I do mentor some youths in London, they see me every week  and I give them advice and encouragement.