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Meet Deinfa Okoro, A VERSIONS 2023 Alumni

 “VERSIONS made a huge impact on my understanding of the world and the people around me. It helped to ground me when I moved to a new country and helped me to understand why systems work the way they do.” 

In this series, we’re highlighting our VERSIONS Alumni. You’ll learn about their transformative journeys with and through the VERSIONS Youth Fellowship.

Deinfa

Born and raised in Nigeria, Deinfa Okoro recently moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to attend school. Her love for music began at an early age; by the time she was two years old, she was already leading prayer songs for her family. Her passion for music grew as she did, and she was influenced by various genres, including her favourite—folk. Despite her early interest in music, she didn’t decide to pursue it as a career until VERSIONS reignited her passion and inspired her to make her musical dreams a reality

An Answered Prayer

While religion helped to shape Deinfa and her musical talent, it also brought challenges. Because of a toxic church environment and its strict musical

restrictions, she felt the church’s limitations prevented her from becoming the artist she aspired to be. She found herself drifting away from music, trying to distance herself from the church and, subsequently, her passion. But the space allowed her to better understand herself, her passions, and her beliefs.

Just before discovering the VERSIONS Youth Fellowship’s call for submissions, Deinfa prayed to God. “I asked God to show me a path to express myself musically that is nottied to my past,” she recalls. The opportunity to apply to VERSIONS seemed to appear before her like a direct answer.

When she was accepted into VERSIONS, Deinfa felt elated and validated. “I felt like my life was unfolding and like I was finally being seen,” she says.

Understanding Colonization

As part of VERSIONS, the Fellows are taught about the lasting effects of colonization around the world. Deinfa reflects on how living in Nigeria made it hard to see the residue of colonization, but now, as someone living in the United States and with a better understanding of history thanks to VERSIONS, she sees clearly.

“VERSIONS gave me the ability to look at the story of Nigeria’s colonization in a new way. And it’s helped me understand the experiences of Black Americans. This knowledge has helped me navigate living in America as an African woman.”

For Deinfa, learning about colonization was one of the most impactful parts of the Fellowship. “I didn’t know a lot about how widespread colonization was.” Growing up, she’d known Nigeria was a British colony, but it was presented as a neutral fact. Now, she realizes the weight of that statement.

In fact, the inspiration for her VERSIONS song was a reflection on her life, comparing her experiences in Nigeria and the USA. “I wrote about my experience in both Nigeria and the States and what it was like living in a colonized country.”

Creativity Elevated

The VERSIONS Fellowship has provided Deinfa with the tools to elevate her creativity. She is now better able to navigate the world of musical production and her own creative processes.

“The workshops and sessions were so valuable in helping us to write songs, understand production and everything that goes into songwriting. We had a lot of guidance.”

Deinfa and Social Change

As part of VERSIONS, each Fellow is guided in designing and implementing their own social impact project in their communities. For her project, Deinfa donated organic pantry staples to the People’s Pantry to help underserved communities receive the nutrition they need.

At the beginning of her social impact project, she faced challenges that overwhelmed her—including being in a new country where she didn’t know anyone. However, she overcame her worries and completed the project successfully.

“It felt good. I’m glad I didn’t bail out despite everything.”

Deinfa’s perspective on social change has evolved significantly since the start of the program. “I now realize the impacts of small gestures. Social change can be in the form of a post, a picture, or a comment to a stranger. It doesn’t have to be grand. You can make a change and impact someone’s day just by how you treat them. When you leave an impression, they’re already a changed person.”

Advice to Future Applicants and Fellows

Deinfa’s advice to future applicants and Fellows is to give it their best. “Be serious about it because you never know where it might lead you. And don’t be shy.”

A Life Changed

This young Nigerian artist’s life has changed significantly because of VERSIONS. “I feel more aware. I feel more grounded in myself now that I better understand important historical events like colonialism. I feel more open to people from different cultures, especially now that I’ve been around them and heard their stories. I have this greater sense of human connectedness, and I’m very grateful for that.”

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