Meet Makda Yohannes!
Where you from/ what's your Heritage?
My name is Makda Yohannes and I come from Eritrea, East Africa but born and raised in Sweden, Europe. .
How long have u been natural?
I have been natural for 6 years. I had a perm from the age of 12, but in 2009 I did the big chop because I was tired of the perm and self-hate and i wanted to be and feel more natural and care free. I had freeform locs for about a year but later got rid of them and I now have an Afro.
What does being natural mean to you?
Being natural to me means embracing how God created You perfectly with no errors and being comfortable with it, regardless of the opinions of others. Be it, hair, facial features, body shape, personality etc…
How has being natural positively affected/changed aspects of your life besides your hair?
In the beginning when I went natural I used to obsess with my hair and i had a vision of how I wanted it to look, like I needed to have defined curls, checked my length like every other week, I compared my hair to other ”naturalistas”. But slowly but surely i stopped doing that and felt more comfortable in my own skin and learning to love myself, not just loving my hair but loving my whole being without comparing myself to other females. With time everything around me became more beautiful, and I realized the “outside world” had not changed, rather my own perspective. After my big chop I started to become more aware of the programming in society on a deeper level and became more conscious of what I eat which led to my vegetarian/vegan diet. Basically I started to take care of myself in a better way because I came to realize it was more than just hair.
Name your top 3 natural hair products:
Coconut Oil and Shea Oil. And I use the African Black Soap as a shampoo.
What is your current passion/What drives you?
I could name a lot of things. What drives me at this moment is independent organization I’m active in since around 3 years back called the Uhuru Movement that work for a better way of life for the poor and majority of the people in the world in various ways. Also I will go to school in Miami to study different types of Massage therapies with a focus on Women’s reproductive health which for a long time have been something I want to pursuit and I am grateful that it will become a reality now after a lot of effort.
Do you have a favorite Quote/ What is it why?
I have a lot of them but the first thing that came to mind was a quote from Erykah Badu - ” I'd rather see a person with a natural mind and processed head than a person with a natural head and a process mind” This speaks volume to me. I am aware of how some people have misinterpret this statement. But I can really relate to this quote because she is targeting something that not many people can see, which is the spirit or the soul of the individual. This forces you to see beyond the physical which you can only do when raising your vibration and live without any judgement.
What does living "au naturel” mean to you?
To live Au Naturel to me, means living in tuned with the higher force. This is the true and natural essence of our existence and our BEing. To live with a purpose bigger than yourself basically, seeing yourself like a vessel of the Creator kinda.
What is your favorite creative outlet?
My favorite things to do is to travel to different countries and continents to experiencing different cultures which helps to expand my mind and worldview. I also Love to meditate as it helps me in my everyday activities and how I encounter other people even when we don’t share the same views. Also I started crocheting a few months ago and will soon start my own crocheted clothing collection.