With films such as "Saving Sarah", "Player no 10" and "Broken Edge" under her belt, Cameroonian Syl Anim is a budding Nollywood actress based in Nigeria currently featuring in TV series such as "The Maze" and "Mum and I".Not content with acting only, this entrepreneur in the making has also flexed her creative muscles at jewellery designing and clothes making creating a niche for herself by the materials she has chosen to use in her products.
Here below is an interview she gave DC. Happy Reading y'all!
DC: Who is Syl Anim, describe her in 4 adjectives.SA: Ok, erm [she laughs], I am fun loving, focused, easy going and hard working.
DC: How did you get into jewellery design?
SA: Erm, I started with crotchet clothes then later on I realised that I could make jewellery with wool and that's how i started. I taught myself and perfected it.
DC: So you didn't do any jewellery design course?
SA: No, not at all, even the crochet, no one taught me.
DC: So do you only use wool in your designs?
SA: No, I use wool, I use wood, I use beads, all sorts. My signature is with the wool.
DC: Where and how do you source out your materials?
SA: I get the wool from abroad and some from Nigeria. The ones I cannot get in Nigeria I get abroad. But I get wood and beads in Nigeria. It depends on the colour and the texture.
DC: What else do you do apart from designing?
SA: I also make clothes and bags, I am currently working on my African collection using Ankara fabric. I am also an actress in Nollywood films and I did some acting in Cameroon.
DC: So what types of tv stuff did you do in Cameroon.
SA: I did TV series, soaps and films in Cameroon. I actually started with stage acting.
DC: How encouraging have your parents been in your career choices?
SA: At the beginning they were not in support especially as I had to leave for Nigeria. Later on once my movies came out, they loved it and started encouraging me.
DC: What is your academic background?
SA: I did theatre art at school.
DC How does it feel to be a Cameroonian living in Nigeria?
SA: Erm at the beginning it was a bit difficult. It took me time to get used to the food and to immense myself in their culture but now I feel like a Nigerian. Apart from the traffic and Nepa seizing lights, everything else is ok!
DC: Are they welcoming to foreigners?
SA: They were welcoming but you know everywhere is different.
DC: Where are your jewellery designs available?
SA: Erm, right now they are with me in Nigeria and some are with my mum in Cameroon. Some are on facebook too and I am currently working on a website which will be live soon.
DC: How can one buy them?
SA: You can contact me and buy from me and if you are international, you can buy and I will post via courriers.
DC: What are your passions?
SA: I love what I do and acting.
DC: And your inspiration?
SA: God, because I believe I was born with this talent. Other designers have inspired me such as Deola Sagoe, Jewel by Lisa, Tiffany Amber, Ere Hart, Modella, Frank Oshodi etc etc Nigeria as a whole has inspired because they are very fashionable and this place has really opened and improved my creativity.
DC: What is the secret to success in your opinion?
SA: You have to be passionate, have believe and be focused to work towards it. Patience also comes into it as success does not come like that.
DC: What do you think needs to be done in Cameroon to stop the drainage of talents?
SA: Create an awareness of talents, we need to have a market for these talents. The economy in Cameroon is a major drawback and this needs to be sorted to permit people to be able to spend as they like.
DC: What is the best thing about coming from Cameroon in your opinion?
SA: Erm, the fact that we are peaceful and easy going.
DC: Africa is, complete in 4 words.
SA: [She laughs]...Africa is peaceful, hopeful, my motherland and my creativity.
Get ordering!
Thanks for checking the blog again. Watch out for our 1 year anniversary special in the coming days.
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DC: Dulce Camer
SA: Syl Anim
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Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx
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