ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Walé Oyéjidé - Designer, writer, musician, lawyer
TED Fellow Walé Oyéjidé combats bias with creative storytelling.

Why you should listen

As the founder of Ikiré Jones, Walé Oyéjidé, Esq. employs fashion design as a vehicle to celebrate the perspectives of marginalized populations.

In addition to his role as the brand's creative director, Walé Oyéjidé designs Ikiré Jones's textiles/accessories and serves as the company's writer. Oyéjidé is a TED Fellow, and his apparel design can be seen in the upcoming Marvel Studios film "Black Panther."

Oyéjidé's design work was part of the "Making Africa" contemporary design exhibit, which was at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, the Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain, the Kunsthal in Rotterdam, and the HIGH Museum of Art in Atlanta. He was also featured in the "Creative Africa" exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His work exhibited at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Fowler Museum, UCLA. He has been invited to lecture about his work in Brazil, Ecuador, France and Tanzania. His designs also appeared as part of the "Generation Africa" fashion show at Pitti Uomo 89 in Florence, Italy. 

Oyéjidé's writings include freelance creative copywriting for Airbnb. He is also an attorney, public speaker, and a recording artist/producer that has collaborated with J-Dilla and MF Doom, among others. And for what it's worth, Esquire Magazine noted Oyéjidé as one of the best-dressed men in the United States.

More profile about the speaker
Walé Oyéjidé | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal 2017

Walé Oyéjidé: Fashion that celebrates African strength and spirit

Walé Oyéjidé: A moda que celebra a força e o espírito africano

Filmed:
899,451 views

"Ser africano é ser inspirado pela cultura e estar repleto de eterna esperança no futuro", afirma o estilista e colaborador do TED, Walé Oyéjidé. Com sua marca Ikiré Jones (cujo trabalho aparece no filme da Marvel "Pantera Negra"), ele usa um estilo clássico para demonstrar a elegância e a graça de grupos conhecidamente marginalizados, por meio de suas roupas de belo corte que possuem uma história para contar.
- Designer, writer, musician, lawyer
TED Fellow Walé Oyéjidé combats bias with creative storytelling. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
It is often said that the stories
of history are written by its victors,
0
869
4251
Dizem que a história
foi escrita pelos vencedores,
00:17
but if this is true,
1
5144
1312
mas, se isto for verdade,
00:18
what becomes of the downtrodden,
2
6480
2048
o que acontece com os oprimidos
00:20
and how can they ever hope
to aspire for something greater
3
8552
2778
e como eles podem ter esperança
de almejar algo melhor,
00:23
if they are never told the stories
of their own glorious pasts?
4
11354
3372
se jamais puderem contar as histórias
de seu passado glorioso?
00:27
Ostensibly, I stand before you
as a mere maker of clothing,
5
15705
3920
Estou aqui perante vocês, aparentemente
como um mero estilista,
00:31
but within the folds of ancient fabrics
and modern textiles,
6
19649
3143
mas entre os vincos
de tecidos antigos e novos,
00:34
I have found a higher calling.
7
22816
1650
respondi a um chamado maior.
00:37
Through my work as a designer,
8
25411
1509
Trabalhando como estilista,
00:38
I've discovered the importance
of providing representation
9
26944
3103
descobri a importância de representar
00:42
for the marginalized members
of our society,
10
30071
2942
os membros marginalizados
de nossa sociedade,
00:45
and the importance of telling
the most vulnerable among us
11
33037
3293
e a importância de dizer
que o mais vulnerável entre nós
00:48
that they no longer have
to compromise themselves
12
36354
2409
não precisava mais se ajustar
00:50
just so they can fit in
with an uncompromising majority.
13
38787
2640
apenas para se encaixar em uma maioria.
00:54
It turns out that fashion,
14
42505
1594
Acontece que a moda,
00:56
a discipline many of us
consider to be trivial,
15
44123
2470
uma área que muitos consideram fútil,
00:58
can actually be a powerful tool
for dismantling bias
16
46617
3413
pode ser uma ferramenta
poderosa para destruir o preconceito
01:02
and bolstering the self-images
of underrepresented populations.
17
50054
3579
e reforçar a autoestima
de grupos sub-representados.
01:06
My interest in using design
as a vehicle for social change
18
54833
3262
Meu interesse em usar a moda
como um veículo de mudança social
01:10
happens to be a personal one.
19
58119
1476
é bem pessoal.
01:12
As a Nigerian American,
I know how easily the term "African"
20
60156
3178
Como nigeriano-americano,
sei facilmente que o termo "africano"
01:15
can slip from being
an ordinary geographic descriptor
21
63358
3262
pode deixar de ser
um mero termo geográfico
01:18
to becoming a pejorative.
22
66644
1825
para se tornar pejorativo.
01:21
For those of us
from this beautiful continent,
23
69686
2501
Para nós, que somos deste belo continente,
01:24
to be African is to be inspired by culture
24
72211
2983
ser africano é ser inspirado pela cultura
01:27
and to be filled with undying
hope for the future.
25
75218
2579
e estar repleto de eterna
esperança no futuro.
01:30
So in an attempt to shift
the misguided perceptions that many have
26
78647
4581
Assim, em uma tentativa de mudar
as percepções inadequadas
que muitos tinham
acerca de meu local de nascimento,
01:35
about the place of my birth,
27
83252
1675
01:36
I use design as a means to tell stories,
28
84951
2896
passei a usar a moda
para contar histórias,
01:39
stories about joy,
29
87871
1538
histórias sobre alegria,
01:41
stories about triumph,
30
89433
1443
histórias sobre triunfo,
01:42
stories about perseverance
all throughout the African diaspora.
31
90900
3007
histórias sobre perseverança
acerca da diáspora africana.
01:46
I tell these stories
32
94580
1302
Conto essas histórias
01:47
as a concerted effort
to correct the historical record,
33
95906
3349
como um esforço conjunto
em corrigir um registro histórico,
01:51
because, no matter
where any of us is from,
34
99279
2949
pois, não importa de onde viemos,
01:54
each of us has been touched
by the complicated histories
35
102252
2626
cada um de nós foi tocado
pelas histórias complexas
01:56
that brought our families
to a foreign land.
36
104902
2238
que nossas famílias levaram
para um outro país.
01:59
These histories shape
the way we view the world,
37
107728
2884
Essas histórias modelam
a forma como vemos o mundo
02:02
and they mold the biases
we carry around with us.
38
110636
2615
e dão forma aos preconceitos
que carregamos conosco.
02:06
To combat these biases,
39
114029
1762
Para combater esses preconceitos,
02:07
my work draws aesthetics
from different parts of the globe
40
115815
2723
meu trabalho desenha a estética
de várias partes do mundo
02:10
and crafts a narrative
about the importance
41
118562
2001
e cria uma narrativa acerca da importância
02:12
of fighting for inclusivity.
42
120587
1489
de se lutar pela inclusão.
02:15
By refashioning images
from classic European art
43
123217
2858
Remodelando as imagens
da arte clássica europeia
02:18
and marrying them with African aesthetics,
44
126099
2136
e unindo-as à estética africana,
02:20
I am able to recast people of color
in roles of prominence,
45
128259
3539
sou capaz de recolocar pessoas de cor
em papéis de destaque,
02:23
providing them with a degree of dignity
46
131822
1914
dando a elas um grau de dignidade
que não possuíam anteriormente.
02:25
they didn't have in earlier times.
47
133760
1919
02:29
This approach subverts the historically
accepted narrative of African inferiority,
48
137015
4484
Isto muda a narrativa historicamente
aceita da inferioridade africana
02:33
and it serves as inspiration
for people of color
49
141523
2509
e serve de inspiração para pessoas de cor
02:36
who have grown wary of seeing
themselves depicted without sophistication
50
144056
3421
que cresceram acostumadas
a se ver representadas sem sofisticação
02:39
and without grace.
51
147501
1150
e sem graça.
02:42
Each of these culture-bending tapestries
52
150072
2159
Cada uma destas peças
alteradas culturalmente
02:44
becomes a tailored garment
53
152255
1985
se torna uma roupa sob medida
02:46
or a silk scarf, like the one I am
very coincidentally wearing right now.
54
154264
3937
ou um lenço de seda, como este
que coincidentemente estou usando agora.
02:50
(Laughter)
55
158225
1442
(Risos)
02:51
And even when surrounded
in a structure of European classicism,
56
159691
3318
E mesmo que estejam imersas
na estrutura do Classicismo europeu,
02:55
these narratives boldly extoll
the merits of African empowerment.
57
163033
3864
essas narrativas ousadamente exaltam
os méritos do empoderamento africano.
02:59
In this way, the tools of the masters
become masterworks
58
167798
4826
Desta forma, os instrumentos dos mestres
se tornam obras-primas
03:04
to celebrate those
who were once subservient.
59
172648
2356
que celebram aqueles
que um dia foram submissos.
03:09
This metaphor extends
beyond the realm of art
60
177014
2227
Essa metáfora vai além do domínio da arte
03:11
and out into the real world.
61
179265
1880
e entra no mundo real.
03:13
Whether worn by refugees
or world-changing entrepreneurs,
62
181169
3787
Seja vestido por um refugiado
ou por um empreendedor social,
03:16
when people are allowed
the freedom to present themselves
63
184980
2667
quando as pessoas possuem
a liberdade de se apresentarem
03:19
in a manner that celebrates
their own unique identities,
64
187671
2817
de uma forma que celebra
sua identidade única,
03:22
a magical thing happens.
65
190512
1776
algo mágico acontece.
03:24
We stand taller.
66
192312
1372
Nós crescemos.
03:25
We're more proud and self-aware
67
193708
1573
Temos orgulho e consciência
03:27
because we're presenting
our true, authentic selves.
68
195305
2785
pois estamos nos apresentando
de forma real, autêntica.
03:30
And those of us who are around them
in turn become more educated,
69
198620
3644
E aqueles de nós que estão em volta,
em contrapartida, ficarão mais sensíveis,
03:34
more open and more tolerant
of their different points of view.
70
202288
3459
abertos e tolerantes
acerca de seus pontos de vista.
03:38
In this way, the clothes that we wear
71
206809
2412
Assim, as roupas que vestimos
03:41
can be a great illustration
of diplomatic soft power.
72
209245
3770
podem ser uma grande demonstração
do poder de persuasão diplomático.
03:45
The clothes that we wear
can serve as bridges
73
213709
2143
As roupas que usamos
podem servir como pontes
entre nossas culturas
supostamente desiguais.
03:47
between our seemingly disparate cultures.
74
215876
2561
03:50
And so, yeah, ostensibly I stand
before you as a mere maker of clothing.
75
218461
5246
E assim, claro, estou aqui frente a vocês
aparentemente como um mero estilista.
03:56
But my work has always
been about more than fashion.
76
224786
2429
Mas meu trabalho sempre foi além da moda.
04:00
It has become my purpose
to rewrite the cultural narratives
77
228024
2763
Ele se tornou um motivo
para reescrever narrativas culturais
04:02
so that people of color can be seen
in a new and nuanced light,
78
230811
3992
para que as pessoas de cor
possam ser vistas sob uma nova ótica,
04:06
and so that we,
79
234827
1215
e para que assim, nós,
04:08
the proud children of sub-Saharan Africa,
80
236066
2032
filhos gloriosos da África subsaariana,
possamos atravessar o globo
04:10
can traverse the globe
81
238122
1698
04:11
while carrying ourselves with pride.
82
239844
1880
repletos de orgulho.
04:14
It was indeed true
that the stories of history
83
242767
2391
Era mesmo verdade
que as histórias da história
04:17
were told by its old victors,
84
245182
3346
foram contadas pelos antigos vencedores,
04:20
but I am of a new generation.
85
248552
1793
mas eu sou de uma nova geração.
04:23
My work speaks for those
86
251472
1440
Meu trabalho fala por aqueles
04:24
who will no longer let their futures
be dictated by a troubled past.
87
252936
3513
que não deixarão seus futuros
serem ditados por um passado problemático.
04:28
Today, we stand ready
to tell our own stories
88
256473
3555
Hoje, nos mostramos prontos
para contar nossas próprias histórias
04:32
without compromise, without apologies.
89
260052
2793
sem acordos, sem desculpas.
04:35
But the question still remains:
90
263402
1650
Mas uma pergunta ainda continua:
04:37
are you prepared
for what you are about to hear?
91
265957
2929
você está preparado para o que irá ouvir?
04:42
I hope you are, because
we are coming regardless.
92
270981
3198
Espero que esteja,
porque contaremos mesmo assim.
04:46
(Applause)
93
274622
6354
(Aplausos)
Translated by Viviam Oliveira
Reviewed by Cláudia Sander

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Walé Oyéjidé - Designer, writer, musician, lawyer
TED Fellow Walé Oyéjidé combats bias with creative storytelling.

Why you should listen

As the founder of Ikiré Jones, Walé Oyéjidé, Esq. employs fashion design as a vehicle to celebrate the perspectives of marginalized populations.

In addition to his role as the brand's creative director, Walé Oyéjidé designs Ikiré Jones's textiles/accessories and serves as the company's writer. Oyéjidé is a TED Fellow, and his apparel design can be seen in the upcoming Marvel Studios film "Black Panther."

Oyéjidé's design work was part of the "Making Africa" contemporary design exhibit, which was at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, the Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain, the Kunsthal in Rotterdam, and the HIGH Museum of Art in Atlanta. He was also featured in the "Creative Africa" exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His work exhibited at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Fowler Museum, UCLA. He has been invited to lecture about his work in Brazil, Ecuador, France and Tanzania. His designs also appeared as part of the "Generation Africa" fashion show at Pitti Uomo 89 in Florence, Italy. 

Oyéjidé's writings include freelance creative copywriting for Airbnb. He is also an attorney, public speaker, and a recording artist/producer that has collaborated with J-Dilla and MF Doom, among others. And for what it's worth, Esquire Magazine noted Oyéjidé as one of the best-dressed men in the United States.

More profile about the speaker
Walé Oyéjidé | Speaker | TED.com