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FunTimes Magazine

Adrienne Tingba


Adrienne Tingba is a young creative professional with a range of experiences, giving her
titles like editor, model, creative director, humanitarian, ex-Coca-Cola Liberia
executive, fashion designer, photographer, writer, reporter, and journalist. With all of these interests and titles, she mostly likes to be referred to as a [Storyteller].

Tingba studied Criminal Justice at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, before returning to Liberia in 2016. At home, she continued to share stories of Liberia and the African people through
her website, The Koloqua Dialogues (thekoloquadialogues.com) and social media.

As a story teller, Tingba uses her work to share her experiences, beliefs, ideas, creativity, and research with the desire to inspire her readers and the Liberian people. She intends to use her voice and work to show case the importance of creating a space for African voices, the reclaiming and retelling of African stories, as told by past generations of African storytellers. Her motivation is to preserve the African culture and story.


How did you figure out what your passion is?

I discovered my passion for writing through my long relationship with words, as they have always come easy for me. I learned to speak earlier than most children and I went through school at the top of my class in English, Spelling, Literature, etc. For a while, I tried to do everything besides writing, but it all changed on a Sunday afternoon back in November of 2014, when I decided to embrace my talent as a writer.

I also decided to use my voice to make the world a better place, with a focus on Africa. It was then I made the conscious choice to blend my talent into my passion, and ultimately, into my career.

What has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?

Although I try to base my work largely on my passion instead of the rewards that come with it, it is always an incredible feeling to write an article that resonates largely with its intended audience. With God guiding my steps, I am confident of greater accomplishments in my future.

Although, it is a dream and plan of mine to expand from the internet media space into radio, television, and print media, which will be referenced as a source for cultural preservation and an archive for Liberia and the West African region. I also want to encourage more women to join the media space in the West African region, to increase the reach of stories affecting African women.

What advice would you give to other young people beginning their careers?

As young people, we often feel that we have the luxury of time on our side, so we tend to misplace our priorities. Likewise, because we are young, many of us are not in a place of optimal self confidence, or assurance. As a result, we tend to doubt the power we have within us, which delays us in working toward our dreams. As young people, it is important we understand just how much power we have within us, as we will be the ones guiding and leading our societies in no time.

We must let go of the illusion of time being on our side and get started on our dreams with immediacy. You never know what can become of something if you don’t start.

What does being a part of the African Diaspora mean to you?

Being part of the African Diaspora is a privilege I do not take lightly. I believe the opportunity of being in the USA in this very moment has exposed me to truths and possibilities I did not imagine possible. As a result, a large part of my work is to encourage those in the diaspora to make it
their business to move back home, and even encourage African American interest in our respective countries. There is strength in numbers, and as such, I believe it is our duty as diaspora Africans to take our key learnings back home and share with our people. It is easy to get spoiled by the comforts of the diaspora, but it is important that we make our homes in Africa just as comfortable, so as to reclaim the power we’ve been stripped of all these years.

Being a part of the diaspora is like being an extension of our various nations, and so we have to take seriously the responsibility of rightly representing our nations and continent, and working toward making it better for us now, and for our future generations.

Nominated by 30 under 30 Alum
Samuel Cole