People You Should Know: Amaka Nkele

Amaka Nkele is the CEO of Afro Style Magazine. This Nigerian born dynamo lives in the US and runs an African inspired lifestyle and fashion magazine. The mag aims to "support and promote African inspired fashion designers" and to bring African Americans and Africans closer together. The magazine is in a web format but there are plans to publish and distribute it in the US and beyond soon.
Enjoy getting to meet an inspired, hard working, SmartHotGirl, Amaka Nkele:



JUCY: Tell us about what you do

Amaka: I am the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of new Fashion Editorial AfroStyle Magazine (www.AfroStyleMag.com)

JUCY: How did you get to this position?

Amaka: I attended Howard University majoring in Political Science with a minor in Journalism. A manager for a well known fashion retail company in America and eventually began my work on the magazine.

JUCY: Advice for people who would like to do the same thing you are doing?

Amaka: If you have the passion for it, do it! Start off somewhere and gradually make your way forward. Everything will fall into place.

JUCY: Tell us about AfroStyleMag.com?

Amaka: AfroStyle Magazine is a premier online magazine focused on Africa and Africa inspired lifestyle and fashion. It covers contemporary issues such as fashion, health and healthy living, entertainment, tourism, sports, arts and culture and more.

ASM supports and promotes African Fashion in its entirety and highlights the impact of contemporary African Fashion on today's Western, European and other trends in clothes and accessories. In addition, we celebrate achievers and trend setters who positively represent Africa.

AfroStyle offers a forum for people of African descent and other races to interact on issues of the day in a way that not only encourages positive dialogue and understanding of the issues, but will give readers a better perspective of Africa, its peoples and cultures.


JUCY: What do you do to relax and have fun outside of work?

Amaka: I work out, go to the movies or go exploring places with friends when I can. I love sleeping too!!.

JUCY: Name 2 Africans everyone should know? Why?

Amaka: My mother Ngozi Onyioha: She is writer (Teenager at War, The Accused, The Condemned, The Reprieved and many more ). She is a huge influence in my life and a major supporter of my work. She is also a writer for the magazine!!
My grandfather Chief KOK Onyioha: He was an amazing man. An influential person in my life and in the Nigeria. Creator of the Godianism. He was a writer. He worked as a journalist for Nnamdi Azikiwe's (1st President of Nigeria) newspaper “The African Pilot”. He delivered several sermons at the United Nations General Assembly conferences in New York, U.S.A. and was invited to address several United Nations Special Session on World Disarmament. He delivered numerous lectures on tours of major African American and international universities.


JUCY: 4 Places everyone should know?

Amaka: Nkporo (My village in Abia State)

Lagos (Attended Elementary and High School)

Abuja (Have not been there yet but I've seen a lot of photos of it….Looks great!!)

Umuahia (I remember a lot of Christmas times spent there)


JUCY: Who do you think is Jucy?

Amaka: I would say my friends: Nneka, Ngoma, Boma, Uju, Christi, Angela…too many to list.

My AfroStyle Team: Asia, Camille, Erica Sanae, Kate, Roxy, Cameron, and Ken Pivak.

JUCY: What is a misconception about you?

Amaka: A misconception is that I am always serious or not friendly because I am not always smiling. I have a fun side. You just have to get to know me.

JUCY: If you had 5 dollars left what would you buy with it?

Amaka: Oh man….I have to buy big cup of coffee, a pack of “Extra” bubble gum and a banana and if there's change I pocket the rest.


JUCY: Who's the most annoying person/thing in your city?

Amaka: I would rather not say….. (laughing)

JUCY: If you could live in Africa during any era, what would it be?

Amaka: I am actually happy that I am in this era. But another era I think would be the 70s. From what I understand from uncles and aunties, those were jamming times.

JUCY: If you could have a dish named after you at any restaurant, what would it be and why?

Amaka: It would be Ukpogede because by merely looking at it, one is unsure on what the taste would be like until you taste. Its so good and pretty healthy!!

JUCY: Which African Past or present would you like to meet?

Amaka: Of course Nelson Mandela…I am still keeping that hope alive. Miriam Makeba. Djimon Hounsou, Seal. I have a long list.

JUCY: If you could be a flavour what would it be?

Amaka: I am fine with being the Chocolate flavour.

JUCY: How did you get into your job?

Amaka: I just got into it. I did a little bit of research on what an Editor in Chief does and started to figure it out as AfroStyle Magazine was put together. There's always something to learn.

JUCY: What is the best part of what you do?

Amaka: Seeing the ideas come together visually. After going back and forth on how I want editorials, shoots, photos to look, it's still amazing to me when look at the site and see how everything flows; everything makes sense. It's a great feeling.

JUCY: There are lots of perks doing what you do. Please name a few?

Amaka: I would say meeting new and exciting people. Invitations to events.

JUCY: Any not so fab things?

Amaka: There's a lot of work that keeps me up until the wee hours of the morning. But it's worth it at the end.