Bakare Mubarak is the tallest male model in sub-Saharan Africa. He stands at 6 ft 9in (2.06m). He is also one of the most notable tallest men in Nigeria.
The cultural ambassador and co-founder of Expedition 54 Limited talks about his career and other issues in this interview with Glamtush.
How would you describe yourself?
I am a creative, futurist, entrepreneur, youth, and cultural ambassador. I am a conscious young African development avant-garde who is leveraging on his unique status as a model to strategically promote the African culture while incorporating art, tourism, and humanitarianism.
How was your growing up and were there family influences?
I was born on November 14, 1995, into a royal family (the Faewu ruling house). I am from Oko town, Surulere/Ogo Oluwa Local Government of Oyo State.
I grew up in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State, where I also studied, up until I earned a first degree in Accounting in 2016 from Al-hikmah University, Kwara State. After that, I moved to Lagos.
Before my first degree, I had represented Ifelodun Local Government, Kwara, (my mother’s local government) in pageantry called Mr Kwara International, in 2015. I won and emerged ‘Mr Kwara International 2015/16.’
Was that when you went into modeling?
I actually started in 2016/17 during my reign as a pageant King. Since my modeling career started, I have worked with renowned brands such as Fashion 1 Africa TV, MTN, GLO, African Fashion Week London and Nigeria, and Sustainable Fashion Week New York, amongst many others. I also took a few roles in a few Nollywood movies.
I broke out of the stereotype, that every tall boy should be a basketball player. I leveraged my status to promote culture while incorporating art and tourism.
Ultimately, promoting and propagating my message of peace, unity, and solidarity amongst Africans on the Motherland (Africa) and the world at large, particularly Africans in the diaspora. This brought me before great men, numerous accolades, home and abroad.
There were endorsements from royalties like the Ooni of Ife, Alake Of Egba Land, Oba Akran of Badagry, Olubadan of Ibadan, and more by Virtue of my alignment with them, in furtherance of culture.
The largest art gallery in West Africa in 2019, endorsed me in furtherance of Art, culture, and tourism.
Through the African Achievers Award, I was recognized in 2020 as a Youth Ambassador. The award is rated by Forbes as one of the most prestigious awards on the continent.
In 2021 I co-founded a company named Expedition 54 Limited, an Africa-focused business service organisation, promoting Economic growth through integration and connections that matter between businesses in Africa and other parts of the world with particular emphasis on Africans in the Diaspora.
Our aim is to develop an ecosystem that promotes opportunities for interactions and integrations between stakeholders aligned with Africa’s development.
I was recently appointed the Goodwill Ambassador to the ‘World Fashion Exhibition (Africa is Now)’ Los Angeles in June 2022, and Paris in October 2022.
Also, I was appointed a member of the International preparatory committee, for the World Fashion Week Macau China 2024 by World Fashion Expo company, the same company as World Fashion Week Ltd.
Well, the best is still to come.
How do you feel about being as tall as you are?
Do you have an idea what it feels like to stand out amidst thousands of people? It is one of the best feelings in the World, it is a divine endowment.
Do you have challenges with ladies especially in terms of your height?
Well, I might have to keep this confidential. So many ladies want a tall man, but a lot of them could be a handful.
As the tallest model in sub-Saharan Africa, what advantage has this added to your career?
It is a divine endowment and it is a part of my embodiment. It puts me out there effortlessly whenever I am supposed to be noticed. It makes me seem older and it allows more folks to regard me.
If you can change anything in the modeling industry, what will it be?
I will enact body inclusivity and positivity, such that the industry wouldn’t be so tough.
Also, as a cultural ambassador, how do the younger ones see and embrace culture?
I honestly think we young Africans largely do not truly know our history and as such we are unconsciously letting our cultural identity get more westernized.
African history is really old and we should not let slavery be the only chapter we know.
There is a pertinent need to know who we are and uphold our Identity now more than ever.
Who is your mentor and what inspires you?
Life largely, the universe, inclusive of everything in it; humans and nature as well. I draw inspiration from things that were regarded as impossible in the past but have now been made possible by brave and innovative minds. I have come to realize that many things are deemed to be impossible until they are done.
What is your most embarrassing moment, if any?
I can’t think of any at this time.
What is your philosophy of life?
The total of a human’s life is dependent on his thought process… his mind.
How do you define your fashion style?
I think I am an example of a contemporary African man.
What fashion item must you have?
Well, that will be perfume.
Are you working on any project?
Through Expedition 54 Limited, we bring about meaningful business connections between Africa and the rest of the world.
We are an Africa-focused organization, promoting economic growth through integration and connections that matter between businesses in Africa and other parts of the world with particular emphasis on Africans in the Diaspora.
Our aim is to develop an ecosystem that promotes opportunities for interactions and integrations between stakeholders aligned with Africa’s development.
As an ambassador, I am charged to propagate this vision.
Tell us about your modeling career highlights
One of the greatest highlights of my career is the fact that I have been able to carve a niche for myself, strategically promoting African culture, while incorporating art to pass my message of peace, unity, and solidarity among Africans.
Also, I was commissioned for the production of a fashion documentary, which I featured in. It showcases and promotes African heritage through fashion, and it was shown to a global audience.
The documentary gave an insight into how aso-oke, an indigenous hand-woven African fabric, can be used to make contemporary designs. It also shed light on how the (aso-oke) industry can generate wealth and jobs if supported.
How did you navigate the industry when you started out?
I have always known that luck can take you only so far and the rest is entirely up to you, the amount of effort one puts in every day, and the ability to learn from mistakes.
Also, I have learned that one shouldn’t think for a moment that someone else is going to fight one’s battles with the same vigor and devotion.
Also understanding that good things doesn’t come entirely easy.
From your perspective, what roles do history and tourism play in promoting culture?
History and tourism are one of the bases for promoting culture. History facilitates the awareness or consciousness of one’s identity. It is a compass, which brings about clarity of the past, the present and future. When history is lost, it will be as though one is in the wilderness.
You mentioned the westernization of culture by youths, how can this change or be stopped?
Truly, African culture seems to be slipping away, especially because younger generations are so engrossed with western culture.
On the other hand, there is a lot of effort being put in place by a few conscious Africans to preserve our culture and heritage. More than ever, I am proud to be among the young African generation charting the course and systematically upholding our culture and heritage. A lot of work has to be put in place to mentally ‘decolonise’ and emancipate the average African mind.
That will enable us to completely take charge of our own narrative. Telling our stories is one of the most important things we should begin to do if we want people to take us seriously.
What has life taught you?
It has given me some experience, put your knowledge to use.
