uzoma goes to
famena’s famous roti & curry
Why did you agree to meet us at Famena’s?
I love coming to Famena’s, I’ve been coming here for many years - I lived in the downtown area for a long time. They’re lovely people and they make great food. They know how to get along and get to know folks. Coming here, you sit at the counter and I’ve never felt like I’m just a patron, I’ve always felt like I’m a friend. It’s really nice to have places in the community where you can go in and feel that way, while you enjoy a really good meal.
What’s it like having your office downtown?
Downtown is bountiful, rich and dynamic. It’s a historic location and we were excited to find something that we could afford. That was a challenge to find something that was within our price range in our constituency, right downtown, fully accessible, and in a location that has a lot of foot traffic. We have a lot of folks in the area who are navigating any number of challenges and need an easily accessible space to get their voices heard and their needs addressed so it worked out really well for us.
Do you go out to eat a lot in this neighbourhood?
Famena’s is a favourite, the food in the Marlborough is really good - they have a restaurant called Joanna’s and the chef there is great. Akin’s Restaurant on Sargent, Viva Restaurant on Sargent, there’s Fools and Horses, Garry Street Coffee is great, Fête for ice cream and coffee - their ice cream I would highly recommend. There are certain spots I’ll frequent for one thing. I’ll go to different places because I want that coffee, that sandwich, soup from there, mentos from that corner store… it kind of works like that.
With the COVID situation, you want to support local businesses and for the last few months I’ve been physically attending less events or venues. So I’ve been trying to order from and take out from places that need as much support as possible.
Do you get recognized a lot around here?
Yeah. It’s those bus benches, they’re a good investment! You know, if you get them in the right place, a good bus bench or garbage bin - they are game changers. It’s a good thing for kids, they think you’re famous because your face is on a garbage bin, haha. I hope that it makes me more approachable and people know who they can go to if they need support and help and that’s important.
“I was at a clothing store recently, and there was a young Black girl staring at me. She’s walking through the aisles and approached me and kind of whispered, “I know who you are.” She was so sweet, had a really sweet energy about her. I said, “really?” and she responded, “yeah, my mom talks about you all the time.” I thanked her for coming to talk to me, and she looked me in my eyes and said “you’re doing a really good job.” I couldn’t believe it. I thanked her for taking the time to tell me that, and then she walked away. Then someone at the counter leaned over and was like, “oh my gosh, are you an... influencer?” I was like, “no, I’m uh… just a politician.” That’s where we’re at in 2020. So that’s my next goal, to become an influencer.”
What kind of foods did you eat growing up?
Nigerian food. That was our staple. We didn’t really eat anything outside of Nigerian food until we started going to school. That’s when our mom, who was the primary cook in the house growing up, decided that she would start introducing other kinds of food so we didn’t go to school not knowing what other kids were eating. My mom is an incredible cook - like incredible - so I love all of our traditional food. It was always interesting going to school, I never understood why the other kids only ever had like, sandwiches. I was like, ‘where is your rice? Where is your goat meat? I don’t understand, where’s your fufu, do you want some fufu?’ I’m sure kids were like, “absolutely not, I don’t want your fufu.’ They weren’t really inclined to try our food but once they did, for the most part, they loved it. Our food is really flavourful, it’s really rich, very good for you. I was never jealous of other kids’ food.
What was surprising to learn about being a politician?
What has surprised me is how meaningful and significant it is for other people to have you engage with them. To show up at folks’ events, to go to peoples’ homes and hear about what they’re trying to communicate with you - a concern or an experience. It really matters to folks to know that you’re kind to their children, that you go to their events, to show up for them. I knew that mattered but I don’t think I quite comprehended how significant it is. That has been really humbling and it has been a consistent reminder to do the work in a good way and to centre community in the work, because that’s who we should be accountable to. I think I’m lucky in that there are a few really strong examples in our caucus of people who have been doing work in their communities for decades and consistently are accountable to their communities and prioritize that. Being accountable to actual Manitobans who maybe aren’t in the most privileged positions or don’t have access to all of the resources. Those are the lessons I am grateful to have accessed before getting elected and they are lessons I keep getting reminded of so I’m grateful for that.
Like any other relationship, words are meaningless unless they’re supplemented with action. I’m in this because I want to build long-lasting relationships with people and I want folks to know and understand what it is that we’re supposed to do for them in our capacity. I won’t always be the MLA for Union Station. There’s going to be someone else at some point, and folks should expect, whoever that person is, to be someone they can have access to and who will listen to them. And that’s not to say that all the conversations I’m having with constituents are easy or comfortable, or that we see eye to eye - during the pandemic, there’s lots of opinions that people have that we just don’t share.
But in this role, I represent all of the over 21,000 people who live in this area whether they like me or not, whether they voted for me or not, whether or not they share the same values... so it’s about learning how to build relationships within all of those dynamics - which most people never have to do. It’s challenging but rewarding. I’m lucky to have worked in healthcare. There are all kinds of situations where you have to establish trust very quickly and provide the best care to absolutely every single person. It’s really not that different in this role, I have to provide care and advocacy to everybody who comes across our paths or office and I take that really seriously.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be in the NBA, that was my first dream and I wanted to be a lawyer. I didn’t make it to the NBA because they made the WNBA which shattered and collapsed my dream, but then I had another dream - I’d accepted that. I didn’t make it to the WNBA, but because I was pursuing that dream, I made it to the Canadian National Basketball team which hadn’t been on my radar, and that was pretty cool. Law school and becoming a lawyer was actually the plan even after I got my first degree. I played basketball then retired and was like, I don’t want to be student any more, at least not in academia, for a while. I want to work, not be an athlete for a bit and figure out my life. And now I’m a legislator and a psychiatric nurse so it’s worked out well.
What is your favourite word? What is your most overused word?
‘Fam.’ I use fam a lot. But I like that word so much. Maybe I used it too much - I don’t know. I don’t like the word pal. A few years ago someone called me their pal and I was like “don’t ever…”
It’s like it should always have ‘lil’ in front of it, lil pal.
That’s how it feels for me, thank you for articulating that - I’ve never been able to understand why I don’t like the word.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Ten million dollars, are you kidding me?
What position did you play in basketball?
I used to be a scoring guard, so a two.
Do you still play?
I do not play basketball anymore. My knees are not the same age as I am, so it’s not a good look.
We may have heard you low-key DJ, what’s your party starter song?
Look at you, look at you. Well during the pandemic it’s been so painful because there’s no dancing, and all these songs are coming out and you’re like, that would be fire. “No Lie” by Sean Paul feat. Dua Lipa was my song for awhile, and everyone was sick of it, tired of it, and they hated that I played it every set but I didn’t care - it was for me. Now, probably “My Power” from Beyonce.
What are your top three TV shows right now?
I made a point to stop watching TV years ago, but during the pandemic I’ve started again so there are a few shows that I know of that I think are very good. Handmaid’s Tale, very, very horrifying but I enjoyed it. Insecure - that’s actually my favourite show. Now a third, hmmm … not that, that’s embarrassing so that’s a no…
90 Day Fiancé?
Dammit! How did you know that? It’s so embarrassing. It’s fascinating though.
What is your idea of a perfect day?
It would be a day with no work which is a very difficult thing for me to do. I would get 10 hours of sleep the night prior and then a great coffee to start the day. I would be able to physically see and FaceTime with each of my family members - all my siblings and my mom, and my Nenny. Just before 2pm someone would e-transfer me ten million dollars. I’d get a good workout in at the gym, and then get into a sauna.
Wet or dry?
Dry. Wet kind of creeps me out with the drips. Then not too late, around 6, I would have a really great meal that I prepared, that I had the time to cook. So a really great meal that I could share, or eat alone. Quietly.
With a little 90 Day Fiancé?
Why’d you have to bring that up?
What’s your favourite mustard?
I like a spicy dijon. I always wanted my favourite mustard to be the fancy mustard from those commercials growing up, Grey Poupon. I was like, that’s how rich people enjoy their mustard, and maybe one day I’ll make it and eat that mustard.
Interview by Katy Slimmon & Ali Vandale
Photography by Ali Vandale