Meet N.K. Condua | Artist, Educator, & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with N.K. Condua and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi N.K., what is the most important factor behind your success?
I think a large part of the success of Adinkra has been my determination to stay true to what I set out to do and the community of people who have supported me along the way. It is really easy to conform to what others are doing, especially when you start to experience increased success along the way, but I have always continued to remind myself that people invest in what Adinkra is today and to conform is to change the product people are investing in. My community of supporters continue to keep me grounded, encourage me, and help me stay focused on the goal of what I wish for my company to become.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As the founder and artistic director of The Adinkra Project, I have had the opportunity of managing the creative direction of the company over the last three years. The work we do is distinctly unique, as it focuses on telling stories that center the human experience, but more specifically being Black in a world that does not always value Black people. Our successes continue to excite me, as they are reminders that the work we do is not only important, but is valued. Getting to this point was not easy by any measure, as I have had to sacrifice quite a bit of personal time to grow the organization as well as manage my time as intentionally as possible because i do have other roles outside of Adinkra.

I am still learning so much in this role and with this organization, but the biggest lesson I have learned thus far is to allow myself grace and enjoyment along the journey. I spend a lot of time thinking about what comes next and how to grow the organization that I sometimes do not consider how much is changing in the interim and to celebrate those times.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
These days I enjoy moments that allow me to decompress from the hustle and bustle of the daily, I enjoy walks on the belt line and trying new restaurants or activities with those I care about.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a special shoutout to every former and present company member of The Adinkra Project, members of the creative team, and guest instructors & choreographers as well as my close friends and family who have journeyed with me since I started the organization in 2019. Starting an organization like this is not an easy feat and the support I receive is never taken lightly.

Website: www.adinkradance.org

Instagram: @adinkradance

Linkedin: N.K. Condua

Twitter: @nkcondua

Facebook: The Adinkra Project

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpEyo0O5drW3gMCSk1PxPTw

Image Credits
Alex D. Rogers Autumn Eliza Visuals