Interview (Sonia Aimy)

Interview with Sonia Aimy
singer, performer, dancer, actress, activist, etc. Location: Turin, Italy

Please introduce yourself

My name is Sonia Aimiuwu (Artiste Name: Sonia Aimy). I am an actress, songwriter/singer and art director.

Editor's note: please visit www.soniaaimy.com for more information about Sonia.

As an artist, what are some of the highlights of your career so far?

Interesting productions with different national theatre company and TV companies in Italy, music concerts in different international festivals, I also produce and direct shows with African theatre group in Turin Italy. My recent production is a TV drama series on Italian national Television RAI and will be on air throughout the season

Where can people purchase your CDs?

On the internet and in shops.

As an Edo woman living in Italy, how do you deal with the negative stereotype that every Nigerian/Edo woman in Italy is a possible sex-worker?

It is very difficult to deal with. It's a continuous battle trying to defend not only myself but in particular, the women. Knowing the type of job I do, I am sometimes shielded from such negative stereotypes, however, other women do routinely suffer the indignity of being referred to as: prostitutes, touts and as women without manners. Partly, this is true but cannot be associated to all the women. So what I do is to try to sensitize awareness by always using myself as an example, by trying to also organize initiatives for women in order to have more women joining me in the fight to eradicate these negative stereotypes and most of all I think the big task is to stop Nigerian women from perpetuating these stereotypes. They condemn without knowing indirectly that they are also being stigmatized. Wherever an Italian or a European hear of a Nigerian woman he or she does not care where the Nigerian lives the first impression is that they are all the same whether you leave in US, CANADA or even in Nigeria. The worst I have discovered during my international trips is that even the same Nigerians who first lived or have siblings who live or lived in Italy condemn all the women. It makes me remember our parable "Oyik?k? rhi?ki ya muoyieh?n" (a person who stole a bicycle is going to the market to apprehend the person who stole a fish). The point I am trying to make is that, we must not only condemn, as women, we must come together and think about ideas or actions that could help solve this problem.

Another very important aspect we lack is enough cultural education. We cherish our homeland but do not really value its betterment or do not consider our actions and doings as a contribution to the betterment of our nation.

There are many other African countries where people live poorer than in Nigeria but when they get to Europe they try to do their best by abiding by the rules and regulations of the host country and also dedicate their time in integrating into the culture of the host country and it is when you open up to understand other people's culture you can discover useful similarities or differences that would enrich anyone in developing a stronger cultural identity. Usually when you have a strong cultural identity you will be proud of yourself, of your country no matter the circumstance and be proud of the host country.

And having our women engage in prostitution illegally or as victims of human trafficking does not mean we must condemn the women. Instead, we must try as women to look for a common solution to this problem. My being a professional international artiste does not exempt me from being called or classified a prostitute…but do I have to condemn the vulnerable victims?

An Indian saying goes "A "MAN", certainly a Woman is what he dreams…he becomes what he dreams"!