Meet Tanzania Hughie: Multi-Dimensional Creative Being

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanzania Hughie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanzania, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Being your true authentic, unfiltered, unedited, whole, and healed self is risky. It’s rather revolutionary to live in and on purpose. To take the risk to be exactly who I am may be the riskiest thing I’ve done. When you are your true self and you become unapologetic about it, you defy what others expect. Even what you may have perceived about yourself. When I decided to fulfill my life’s purpose as a creative I think I had ran and denied myself as much as I could. Even up until this year I still had some deep scary sacrifices to make. Making the decision to never work a job that wasn’t creatively inclined again may have been me taking a huge risk or ” betting on Me” as I like to say. Knowing your worth and the worth of your creativity is really important in this industry. Absolutely trusting your talents is risky and fearless simultaneously. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
So I started calling myself a Multi-Dimensional Creative Being because I do many things. I am a Writer, Actor, Director, Singer, Dancer… I can paint, draw. fashion design, cook. and I got a mean right hook punch! Navigating being so creative and knowing when to focus on a main talent has always been a challenge. I have been drawing, dancing and singing since I can remember. I studied dance a little but most of it was self taught. Drawing came naturally as well. All of my creative gifts came naturally and I feel very honored to have had the ability to have had the chance to explore them all. I truly and totally know that my biggest issue that I had to conquer is fear of myself and my own success. It is something that I battled because shrinking so you are not seen so others can feel comfortable with how bright you shine is how I managed. So you don’t recognize how great you are. So you don’t ever fully take the risk and bet on yourself so you can succeed. The biggest lesson I have learned is life is to be experienced. The journey is what you make it and to go easy on myself. My journey and how I choose to walk it is the most important choice I will make, My voice is the one that matters. My creativity comes from a powerful place. When you feel like your creative voice has been silenced, or muffled and you finally feel freedom you never let it go. My passion, my creative voice is free. It represents the phoenix who can be reborn from the ashes to be seen in it’s glorious, victorious infinite powerful and passionate self.

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.
I live in NYC! I think I must hate all the tourist things people like to do. So my New York looks like going to Rays Pizza on 93 on the upper east side for a slice. I feel like the best time to visit the this city is spring or fall. so if its fall let it be right at the end of summer so we can go to Johnny’s in City Island and get any kind of fried seafood, scallops the size of your fists! and the best tarter sauce. Yes go see all the spots everyone says to go to, it’s only right. But my New York is going to the Shrine for a late night Afro beat Caribe dance session. Brunch is a thing, so whether is rooftop 230 Fifth or Angel of Harlem boozy and happy y0u will be. If I’m going to give you Halal I take you to the best Gyro on Fordham road. The best Souvlaki is in Astoria and Mermaid Inn in Manhattan has the best oyster bar. When I want to listen to live jazz ill take them to the Smoke jazz house and then to the dinner on 86th for a stiff Manhattan on the upper west side. Grand central Station Diner has the best Tuna tartare ever. I

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Where do I start? If I am a universe that is to be adorned by starry eyed watchers than my greatest attributes are my celestial bodies, suns, and galaxies with me that help me conjure this magnificent glory. Better known as my tribe. I have had a tribe since I was born. I have a magnanimous Godmother who is my anchor and truly is the image of unconditional love. I have been fortunate have recently to be working with some phenomenal inspiring Black, Latina and Indigenous Womxn. I’m so grateful for the womxn of NNLB United, and The Gathering for Justice lead by Carmen Perez-Jordan I have truly found my voice by capturing theirs. A huge shout out goes to Alex Hugo, Lavon Collins, and Luc Stephen my creative partnerships for this past year and my creative community. Last but not least I have a tribe of friends some I have known since college, some since I was twelve years old they keep me grounded and they are mirrors I can’t avoid. My friends are the ones that will remind me of my greatness even when I can’t see it.

Website: www.tanzaniahughie.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanzaniahughie
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanzania-hughie-124a8b11/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TanzaniaHughie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urhynss
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/tanzaniahughie1
Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9840283/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1#actress www.vimeo.com/tanzaniahughie

Image Credits
THE CABIN by Luc Stephen DNA by Lavon Collins and Tanzania Hughie BULLY THE DEAD DONT DIE by Alex Hugo Co writen by Tanzania Hughie Pictures by myself Picture of me with camera around my neck taken by Keris Lovè