Photography: Emmanuel Oyeleke
Ebuka Obi-Uchendu is on the summer digital cover of SCHICK Magazine, wearing an array of dapper looks. The award-winning Nigerian presenter and renowned Big Brother Naija host modeled quite a number of color block pieces as he stuns on the cover of the magazine’s quarterly publication.
Ebuka, who looks dapper in a mustard-colored blazer and a pair of purple pants while reclining on a chair, tells the magazine that being stylish is one thing he doesn’t mind being known for. “I don’t mind it,” the media personality told SCHICK. “I also don’t mind being known for being stylish; doesn’t harm me in any way. I just don’t want to be known only for that. I have a whole career with too many parts to simply be seen as ‘the fashion guy’ on Instagram. As long as people appreciate it, but also recognise it as one of my many parts, I’m good. Just don’t make it what I’m all about.”
Photography: Emmanuel Oyeleke As stylish as he is, Ebuka is one guy who dresses up himself without a stylist responsible for his looks. And according to the 39-years-old, he’s more comfortable styling himself. “I’m completely in charge of all of it,” he said. “I don’t have a stylist. Never really had one. I basically have ideas of what I want, have a conversation with the designers I like and we make it work. I’m not always comfortable with letting someone else be in charge of my image, so I’m glad that I’m able to handle that. That’s how I work.”
Just in case you didn’t know, he’s the guy who does not sacrifice comfort when it comes to fashion. No, don’t tell him to wear those Christian Louboutin Dandelion leather loafers if there are not comfortable because he’d not.
Photography: Emmanuel Oyeleke “The first thing I think of when I’m dressing up is comfort. If I’m not comfortable, I’m not wearing it,” Ebuka added. “Any outfit that gives me that is all I want. I’m not trying to out-dress anyone or make a statement. Yes, I like to take risks sometimes, but if it’s comfortable, looks good and makes me feel confident, that’s all I need.”
On Big Brother Naija:
“As humans, we continuously aspire to reach the top, so from the day I started hosting my first TV show in 2006, I started picturing it. I also figured it would make for a great story, seeing a former housemate host the show, but I didn’t sit around feeling entitled to it. I got on with my work, believing the opportunity would come one day.”
On cultural pride:
“I’m super grateful for that deep-rooted connection [my parents gave me]. No form of globalisation has made Asian powerhouses lose their culture today, so we have no excuse here. You only lose what you don’t value.”
For more on his accompanying interview, you can scoot over to SCHICK Magazine.
