By Christy Anyanwu
Ambassador Nneka Isaac Moses is the co-founder and Managing Director of Goge Africa Worldwide Limited, a cultural programme on television that started in 1999. October 1 was the first time it debuted on four television channels, and this is their 25th year. There are many activities to mark the anniversary. In this interview, Nneka spoke about the humble beginnings of Goge Africa, challenges, achievements, the next phase, and lots more.
What were some of the most memorable challenges encountered on this journey with Goge Africa?
When we started, we almost stopped before we even took off. Do you remember the Bellview Airline crash some years ago? That same plane brought us back from The Gambia to Lagos and continued to Abuja, where it crashed. Our crew had gone to The Gambia at the invitation of the President.
Throughout this journey, we’ve faced numerous life-threatening situations. One such incident was during a trip sponsored by the Ethiopian government and Ethiopian Airlines. We visited the Ura Kidane Mihret monastery on the Zege Peninsula to meet the monks and shoot some footage. We were advised to leave before 6:00 p.m., but we lost track of time while exploring the market and the ancient treasures. Despite the tour guide’s warnings, we left late and were caught by the waves.
As we sailed, the water kept lifting and tossing our small boat. The waves were intense, and water started getting into the boat. A monk sitting beside me remained calm, praying quietly. His calmness reassured me, and I began praying and praising God as well. On that trip were my husband, our son, our camera crew, and a Ugandan intern working with us. We continued singing praises, and soon the situation calmed down, though our boat had gone off course. The captain eventually found his way back.
We’ve faced many such life-threatening situations, and we are alive today to tell the story. If anything had gone wrong, we could have perished. Despite frequently flying, going on boat and ship cruises, and traveling by land, water, and train, I am not scared. I trust God completely.
Your dressing, accessories, and hairdo are extremely different from the norm most times. How do people perceive your personality?
Back then, it wasn’t fashionable to dress African, especially in Nigeria where I come from. But I wasn’t seeking acceptance from the status quo. I aimed to make a statement for my continent, my culture, and the mosaic of cultures in Africa. Research was challenging since there was no Google 25 years ago when we initiated Goge Africa. I relied heavily on photographs I had seen and my intuition as a creative person. I started as a fashion designer, not just making clothes but also styling my hair uniquely. Sometimes, you’d see me with chalk or dots on my face when presenting Goge on TV.
While many presenters wore European designer labels, I focused on authentic African attire. We ventured into places others wouldn’t. Our curiosity and passion were unmatched. Once, in South Africa, a lady noticed our distinctive dress with cowries and suggested we see a Sangoma. Unaware of what a Sangoma was, I agreed. The experience was intriguing and slightly scary as the woman danced and made gestures. She consulted the oracle and told our host that we were sent by the ancestors, who would protect us. She prophesied that we would travel widely, our names would be known, and we would promote Africa as our ancestors desired.
My husband and I didn’t take her prophecy seriously at the time. This happened in 2001, about two years after we launched the program. During that trip, we met Brenda Fassie, Ringo Madlingozi, Lucky Dube, Black Mambazo, Bongo Maffin, Gloria Bosman, and many others.
Your dressing was a bit strange year back. What was the perception then?
Back home in Nigeria, I once went to the market wearing cowrie jewelry, including earrings and rings. When I asked a woman selling fish for the price, she said N1,000. I bargained as usual, offering N500, then N400, and she agreed. Curious, I asked why she accepted my price, and someone nearby explained that the cowries I wore is fetish and had a significant meaning. At that time, such items were imbued with cultural significance. Today, however, cowries are commonly used for buttons and various artworks and are now widely accepted.
Interestingly, non-Africans, particularly foreigners, and Nigerians living abroad appreciated my dress sense from the beginning. Europeans also showed admiration. Over the years, I’ve noticed a shift in perception and a greater acceptance of cultural items and fashion. It’s now considered cool to wear natural hair, and I’m very happy because we have contributed to this change in perception.
However, I believe there’s still much work to be done to overcome the psychological damage inflicted by colonialism on our culture. Many people are not fully proud of their heritage. I remember when skin bleaching was common. Changing these deep-seated attitudes requires significant effort.
Stardom, how has that affected you as a person?
I have many star friends, but I don’t consider myself a star. I still go to Ketu to buy fruits, Mile 12 for foodstuffs, and Oyigbo market. When I go to the market, I dress very ordinarily, without my sometimes-elaborate costume, so it’s not easy to notice me. The perception, however, is interesting. When I enter the market, people often murmur, wondering if it’s really me. Some would say, “If it’s her, what would she be doing here?” Then someone might come up and ask if I’m the presenter of Goge Africa. I often pretend not to understand and respond, “What is Goge Africa?” This usually convinces them it’s not me. They sometimes remark, “You even sound like her.”
As a recognizable face, people are surprised to see me in places they don’t expect. In highbrow areas or supermarkets, they are more likely to believe it’s me. That’s just how it works.
You have not really changed in terms of physique and finesse, what’s the secret?
There’s no recipe. I know I have good genes from my parents. I also have a very high metabolism. I eat everything I want. This morning, I had unripe plantain flour and vegetable soup, fish and cow leg. Not too long ago, I had a pizza, a slice of it with malt. I eat a lot, especially during the day, because I’m very active. I’m not big on exercise, but I will start soon because my chief bridesmaid, Kate Henshaw, is heavy on exercise. So, I’m going to emulate her.
Did you envisage Goge Africa becoming popular and blow this way?
(Laughs) Has it blown? We are just taking it one day at a time. People say our culture is fetish. I recall a letter from NTA in 1999, one lady that we gave our pilot episode to watch, and she responded with a letter that the show was fetish and unfit for public broadcast. That letter would have killed our spirit, but we said, okay, we need to do this show to prove to this woman and others like her that African culture is not fetish, that African culture is beautiful.
For us, anytime we fall is an opportunity for us to rise.
Did you have mentors and sponsors in the beginning?
Mentors in culture? It was difficult then. I can’t think of any mentor that spurred us on then. My true mentor was actually my mother. She was a hardworking woman. Growing up with her (my dad had passed early) and looking at the way she did things, following her advise and her footsteps helped me. She’s always telling me, there’s always a way where there is a will to do something. My mother would tell me that nothing is impossible. She’s a very strong and resolute woman and her sense of success is not really in cash, but she’s a woman of substance. And she’s my guiding light and my mentor. Isaac Moses (my husband) is my greatest inspiration. He constantly encourages and supports me, telling me that I can achieve anything. Initially, I doubted my abilities in presentation, but he reassured me saying, “Babe, you can do this.” He emphasized that mistakes are part of the process, and in a non-live program like ours, any errors can be edited out to make everything look perfect. At that time, all I wanted him to do was to model my clothing so that I could make sales at my shop Akenn. G ltd.
Where are you
I am from Ihiala, in Anambra State.
Before Goge Africa, what were you doing?
I was a boutique owner, selling and making clothes. I was also a member of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN). At that time, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija (the richest woman in Africa) was our president, and Funmi Ajila and I would carry her handbags and that of Mrs. Abba Folawiyo of Labanella Fashion in Surulere. The name of my small boutique was Akenn. G Limited, a company my mother encouraged me to register back then.
Goge Africa is 25 this year. Are there any special activities for the celebration?
Since the beginning of 2024, we have had a series of events to celebrate this milestone. The celebration kicked off with the Face of Goge Africa on March 23, 2024. This inaugural event was strategically to highlight the significance of this year. The star-studded Face of Goge Africa aimed to connect with the younger generation, recognizing that many who grew up watching Goge Africa are now influential figures, in different sectors of the economy including the entertainment industry. This event was not a typical pageant; it focused on showcasing creativity and culture rather than just physical appearance. We had five winners who received various prizes and opportunities to travel to different African destinations and the diaspora.
Next, we are focusing on tourism training and promotion with the major event being the Goge Africa Festival, scheduled for October 26 and 27 at Mobolaji Johnson Arena (Onikan Stadium) in Lagos Island.
After the festival, we will host a luxury cruise to connect with the African diaspora in the Caribbean. The cruise, starting from Florida, will visit four countries, including The Bahamas, aboard the magnificent Wonder of the Seas. This eight-night cruise will feature high octane luxury entertainment, presentations, and networking opportunities.
We are committed to making Goge Africa 25th anniversary a memorable and significant celebration.