Recently, Paramount Africa added Oluchi Harrison as the newest member of the MTV Base Culture Squad. The Paramount Culture Squad is a group of young, fearless visionaries who are trailblazers in their own right. Their value lies in humanising the channel brands like MTV Base, BET, Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. Their addition to the brand is to provide a diverse, youthful perspective on issues of importance, drive social change and inclusion, and positively influence cultural change. In this interview with Harrison, she expresses what being a part of the team means to her and her intention to drive change.
How do you feel being a part of the MTV Base culture squad?
It is actually very exciting, it’s a major part of my career. It brings a sense of responsibility to be associated with this platform as it significantly impacts youth culture. It’s a big part of not just my life but my career as well. I cannot wait to see it unfold; all the creativity, expressions and connections I would get from this.
How do you intend to use this platform to spotlight and celebrate African creativity?
This is an opportunity for me to showcase and celebrate the richness of African creativity. If you look through the entire African space from music to entertainment and content creation, the entire sphere of creativity is deeply interwoven in the African society and this is exactly what MTV Base is pushing and it’s that platform where I’ll be able to amplify diverse voices, music, talents and stories for the appreciation of Africa’s cultural wealth and I look forward to involving myself in the fabric of MTV Base that promotes African culture.
What are your goals as a member of the Culture squad?
The goals I have set is to imprint not just myself, but Africa on the map, more and more. There are a lot of Africans putting the spotlight on African creativity and my goal is to ensure that Africa is seen more and more; our entertainment, pop culture, and lifestyle, is seen in every way possible. I intend to be a reflection of Africa as a whole and literally to bring that spotlight. My goal is to make a mark on the African landscape and worldwide.
On entertainment generally, what role does the African culture play in shaping global entertainment industry and what do you think the continent can put in place to do better or take over the space?
When it comes to the African culture and its role in global entertainment, I would say that the African culture is a major influence in the space and it is shaping the global entertainment industry. You would see that Africans are collaborating with more international arts. Our music has gone beyond borders. There’s amapiano, afrobeats and it is breaking borders every single day and we are receiving awards left, right and centre. We see international acts put on our fabric, showing that Africans are making imprints in their minds and their spaces. With the global rise of genres like afrobeats and amapiano, it’s evident that Africa needs to take center stage and our works inspire storytellers and creatives, enriching narratives and broadening a collective imagination and there is always room for more. We would do more. There’s no cap, no borderline for how far we can go and how much we can do.
In relation to this, how do you intend to maximise your passion for the African culture at the culture squad?
So, the MTV Base culture squad helps to purposefully give the African originality the bigger stage, which connects well with my culture and brand. I am the type of person that will always push forward my brand as an African, a Nigerian and an Igbo woman. As a culture squad member, I aim to spotlight and foster those conversations, celebrating our vibrant and diverse heritage, putting African acts on the map, hearing more stories and promoting positive cultural expressions and embracing the richness of our collective identities. I will majorly put us out there and even more, as much as the opportunities present itself.
How has your background prepared you for this role?
I have a background in broadcast. I have had over a decade of experience in media. I have moved from corporate to lifestyle, entertainment, music, the entire industry. I have moved from presenting to producing to brand influencing and I have worked with esteemed organisations both locally and internationally. Hosted various shows and events, all of these have equipped me with the versatility that I need for this role as a culture squad member and it’s literally been the stone in which the foundation of my career has been built to this very moment.
How do you intend to sustain your relationship with your followers on social media with this new role to ensure that they get that sense of connection?
On social media, I call my community members ‘Ndi Ibem’ it is translated as my people in English and it’s a reflection of the community I have built over the years. With this new audience on MTV Base, I intend to strengthen that bond by actively engaging them and connecting my social audience with the MTV Base audience and ensuring that they are intertwined. So that their stories will be told and everything will be amplified.
Do you have any final words, these may cut across words of encouragement for the youths or consumers of your content?
My final words will obviously be, keep going, keep pushing. I have a few people who have said that I am an inspiration to them. Everything will fall into place. One final thing I say to my social media community is to have a nice day.
