The Roaring 20s
Today you're connecting with Josephine Inika. Through her experience being a 20-something in the 20s.
This Sunday, I have once again decided to offer an interview-style entry
It’s easy for one voice to become monotonous, so Jojo joined me to make it diotonous (I shan’t check if this word exists). Listening to various perspectives is always fun, so do well to let us know what has been your takeaway from these years.
Do you want to go ahead and introduce yourself to my subscribers?
Hi! My name is Jojo (short for Josephine) Inika. I’m a writer, editor, and co-founder of Iko Africa.
Those are the basics, so I’ll share one extra fact for extra oomph - I eat limes with a straight face.
Okay, cultist, how would you describe your 20s in one sentence?
Goodness, Gracious God, What Is Even Going On?
Can you share a lowlight and highlight?
Sure thing,
Lowlight - Loss, both of people and of self. I have had to deal with losing people dear to me and parts/wholes of myself.
Highlight - Being able to always land back on my feet like a street cat. No matter what, I always claw my way back to some semblance of sanity/stability.
What advice would you give yourself about these years if you were a teen again?
Honestly? Nothing.
Everything she did has brought us here, and all things considered, it’s not a bad place to be.
And what advice would you give to unsuspecting teens who can’t wait to be adults?
Try to slow down.
Everything you’re rushing for, you will still meet it in front. Also, it’s understandable that you can’t wait. Adulthood has many perks, like being able to say no, being able to eat what you want and gaining a measure of autonomy that is often denied of teenagers, and being able to be regarded as a proper human being and not an extension of your parents or just a child
Can you share a pivotal moment from your twenties that shaped your approach to writing/ writing style?
This is cliche, but heartbreak.
A long-term relationship ended, and I had to learn who I was all over again. In finding my identity/identities, my writing style formed.
Which author has had a significant impact on your style during this period and why?
Too many to mention.
Way too many. Trying to pinpoint one down is impossible, but I’ve been significantly influenced by my writer friends and their styles.
Can you describe a memorable interaction with a person, place or thing from this era of your life that left a lasting impression
My friends.
Each friend I’ve made so far in my twenties has left a lasting impression, and they continue to do so. They keep saving me, and I am thankful for their deliberate care and consistency in choosing to love me.
Name one thing you would do differently if you could start this era over.
Build a saving habit.
Can you recommend one book, one movie, and one song for my audience to check out?
One book - Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
One movie - The Grand Budapest Hotel
One Song - Achilles Come Down by Gangs of London
As I went over the conversation, I felt it ended a bit abruptly, so I needed to draw a conclusion.
My conclusion is that being at this crossroads between childhood and adulthood can be quite strange, especially since society acts like life ends at 30 (life can, in fact, end at any time).
Your 20s is when you are supposed to complete most milestones, graduate from university, get a stable job, get married, start living alone, get married, have a kid, and the list goes on. It’s easy to feel pressure, but getting older always shows us how the things that felt like life or death a few years ago were just ridiculous.
We are all stabbing in the dark. Till next Sunday, don’t forget to subscribe and most especially…
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