Meet MARIAN YESUFU: Artist and Mama

We had the good fortune of connecting with MARIAN YESUFU and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi MARIAN, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I would love to see more people that look like me free to create endless weird, out of the box, quirky, smart, unconventional, imperfect art.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am the founder of the Afro Civilization fair and Black Women in Comedy festival here in Los Angeles CA. I am the artistic director of Soul Sista Comedy. I am a comedian and I am a mama of two beautiful kids. I am most excited about the unlimited possibilities of the humans opportunity to create. What does that mean? It means we just have so much creative magic within all of us. It is what makes me leave room and space for folks who choose to navigate around me. Sometimes it’s scary for folks because we are so used to be put in a box. Here comes Marian Yesufu. A light bulb of energy, grace and instenseness. I am what I am. I credit my family and community. I am grateful to the folks that raised me and nurtured me. A lot of them are educators. Most of them damn good educators. And some not so good. I learned a lot from the not so good educators as well. Failure and leaning into imperfection has been my healing grace. Life is short. Create what you want and lean into your imperfections. Lead with empathy moment to moment. And be the person to yourself and to the most marginalized among us what you needed when you were a child.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Food and food and nature.

Griffith Park
And
Open Sesame
And
Veronica’s Kitchen my favorite Nigerian food spot…get the Jollof rice, dodo and stewed chicken for first try The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Black Women. Thank you to every Black Women. The tough one, the glamorous ones, the rough on the edges ones, the smart ones, the innovative ones, the hood ones, the imperfect ones. Thank you.

Website: www.marianyesufu.com

Instagram: @marianyesufu

Other: www.bwicf.com www.soulsistacomedy.com www.afrocivilizationfair.com

Image Credits
Marian Yesufu Marco Morgese