By Chinedu Madu
The Amaifeke autonomous community in Orlu LGA of Imo State was recently agog as their traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty Eze (Dr) E.C. Okeke (OFR), installed a Los Angeles based African American, Queen Nina Womack, as “Ugo Nwanyi” in recognition of her passionate contributions to the improvement of quality of life of the people in the community.
The revered traditional ruler, Eze E.C. Okeke, who is chairman of Southeast and Imo State Councils of traditional rulers, as well chairman of Imo State Community Policing, paid glowing tributes to the American Filmmaker for her great love for humanity and urged her to sustain the good works.
Queen Nina Womack, an arts and culture professional, humanitarian and food security activist, was full of praises for the traditional ruler and people of Amaifeke community for honoring her while pledging to continue to identify with the Igbo people and Africans at large.
The Hollywood actress, multi media producer and cultural Ambassador for Africa reiterated her commitment to global empowerment through arts , development, and wellness.
Queen Womack who is known for her passion for holistic wellness and food security, annually distributes groceries to thousands of families via her health organization, Lets Be Whole.
This is not the first time Queen Womack has received a chieftaincy title in Africa, having been enthroned in Ghana as a Development Queen sometime ago, which underscores her fast rising influence in connecting global communities through arts, cultural diplomacy, global trade, and community development.
Womack, who traced her ancestry to largely Nigeria via a DNA test, recalled that as a gifted child actor from South Los Angeles, she was confronted with harsh realities growing up around gangs, drugs, and poverty.
She struggled with a lost sense of identity influenced by negative media portrayals of people with African heritage. Her outlook was transformed while in college where she encountered African American history class which exposed the richness of Africa to her, sparking a lifelong passion to champion the continent through her rare talents.
“My journey towards embracing my African lineage changed my life, liberated me mentally, gave me a purpose. When I was young, I grew up ashamed of who I was from watching Shirley Temple movies and painful films like “Roots”, Queen Nina reveals.
“But once I learned the truth about Africa, I developed self pride and began to educate others about Africa’s diversity and it’s impact on the world”.
Queen Nina’s long career cuts across film theatre, cultural festivals, workshops, and public health. Her company, Transmedia 360, recently expanded into Africa connecting Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood with the American counterpart, Hollywood.
She was appointed the US chapter President of the Association of Movie Practitioners And Social Media Influencers, Nollywood (AMPSOM), where she plans to leverage the role to amplify African story telling, challenge stereotypes, and redefine global perception of Africa. In Los Angeles, Nina co-chairs the Black and African Heritage subcommittee for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, contributing to mental health services for both African Americans and African Migrants.
In Nigeria, Queen Mother, as she is popular called, has been part of numerous efforts to attract diaspora investments in the country. She has lots of Agro based businesses and other interests in Nigeria. With this latest title of “Ugo Nwanyi”, Queen Nina Womack, is now a “titled Chief ” in Igboland, where such titles are given to outstanding individuals who are engaged in human capital development and community service.
