About The Oriki

Oríkì is a form of praise poetry, created and practised within Yoruba tradition (Nigeria, West Africa). Oríkì is often recited and sung as a way to uplift both the individual and their family or ancestry. This perfectly captures the values undergirding Oriki Collective. Words are tools with which we build; build confidence and self-worth, build narratives that captivate, and build pathways to pursue social and cultural change.

About The Founder

Fopé Deborah Jegede is an award-winning writer, passionate about the power of words. At the age of 16, her poem, ‘The Champion’s Story’, was broadcast on the BBC to over 20 million viewers as part of the 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony. She has gone on to win international competitions such as Peace One Day’s speech writing competition, which she recited to over 2,000 people at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

She is a graduate of the University of Cambridge where she studied English Literature. Whilst studying, her love of creativity led her to the position of Head of Marketing of an international student film festival called ‘Watersprite.’ She also pioneered the publicity and videography for Cambridge Development Initiative: a student-led organisation volunteering in Tanzania. This opened her eyes to the world of visual storytelling and the ways it can interact with written and verbal forms. Her greatest ambition is to use her voice to liberate the voices of those who have been unfairly silenced and restore honour to their stories.