Inquisitive Mind : A discussion with Nasir Ahmed on co-founding Baroque Age.

Steve West.
Jul 21, 2017 · 5 min read

There’s a lot going on in my life but a conversation with Nasir always seemed to set me right. For some reason I decided to document one of our discussions, sadly we ended up talking about Baroque Age a lot.

It’s still worth sharing I suppose. I’m always open to documenting, also this was an opportunity to see a conscious reaction from someone in Baroque Age and the readers of this piece who follow the company.

What is Baroque Age ?

Nasir Ahmed : Baroque Age is a new age conglomerate housing all forms of human innovation and creativity across mediums of art (Codelo), music (Euphonic), fashion (Pith), Media (More Branches), technology (Mushroom), business innovation (Basic Things), and other fields we plan on expanding to. It is a safe place for those who do not ‘fit’ into society, a place where you won’t be judged for being yourself, a place for dreams to become surreal.

Tell me about the founders of Baroque Age ?

Nasir Ahmed : Baroque Age started in the mind of Adedayo Laketu, who later brought in Bukunmi Akinniyi and myself as co-founders. We’re just three minds in a third world country from average families trying to be billionaires by creating and innovating amazing ideas, companies with fellow minds from Africa. We’re not conformed to doing some basic shit, we want to create something that will be an empire, a message, a heritage and also an inspiration.

Who is your target market ?

Nasir Ahmed : My motherland, Africa. I believe our forefathers brought us to an era of creative stagnation, all props to them but their era of ‘the only way is the academic way’ is long gone but being who they are they want to stick with the things they were brought up with, this attitude has helped to cripple dreams and life changing ideas, which leaves our comrades in the western world a tad bit ahead of us. This new generation is filled with creative potential and with the emergence of social media they realize that they aren’t ‘weird’ for being different from others, they are gifted talented souls but our society won’t let them be, these are the people that are Baroque Age and with their self realization we all come together to build on this clean slate that is Africa.

How was the name “Baroque Age” coined ?

Nasir Ahmed : The Baroque Era was a period of artistic, creative and innovative awareness during the 17th century, this was a time that really boosted mankind’s thought process and influenced prevailing culture with the minds such as Leonardo da Vinci to bless the future with his many gifts. Hence, we bringing back the baroque age of creative/innovative awareness through our companies and minds, only this time to Africa, and the world at large.

Are you afraid that society won’t be welcoming to change ?

Nasir Ahmed : Society would definitely not accept change right away but before any great feat has ever been accomplished there were doubters and being who I am and through my life experiences I have come to embrace doubt as a norm and find ways to thrive in the deepest pits of doubt. But no matter, the people that our message transcends to will join the bandwagon I’m absolutely sure about that.

What is your role in BA ?

Nasir Ahmed : I’m first Baroque Age’s Director Of Content, literally everything about Baroque Age passes through me for coordination and final approval. I’m also a mind in BA with an artistic instinct to everything which allows me work in areas I’m needed across all our companies and projects. As a person, people have always felt the need to confide in me, even people I don’t know very well maybe because I am a great listener or I just emit this aura of trust around me, and when I talk to people intimately I get to meet the person behind the persona and most times I’ve met beautiful creatures. I just try to help people find themselves while still trying to do the same for myself.

What does BA mean to you ?

Nasir Ahmed : It’s my life. My dreams, my reality and it would be utterly depressing to not be in any of the two, to be trapped in a limbo of another’s reality of white shirts and blue ties. BA put me on the path to need self actualization even before I had satisfied other needs on the renowned Maslow’s hierarchy. I love being who I am and BA is the place where I feel safe doing what I love.

Any advice for potential dreamers across africa ?

Nasir Ahmed : Follow your dreams, there’s nothing as galvanising as striving to make something surreal, and don’t let anyone tell you “your just being young” or “your just being a kid”. Screw that be happy, besides when you were a kid you were happy all the time. Because they didn’t get to live their dreams doesn’t mean you don’t get to live yours, quoting my favourite rapper “Even if you let them kill your dreams it’ll haunt you”. Be Free

Doesn’t all that seem a bit naive to you ?

Nasir Ahmed : Naivety? None whatsoever, it’s self confidence and hard work, First you need to know your worth and let that be your cornerstone and then the more you know your direction the more people try to throw you off balance that’s where hardworking comes in, all of my role models their mantra always balls down to hardwork, there’s nothing like “chill and let the money/success come to me” LITERALLY there isn’t so get up off your ass and start working

Wise words, where do you see BA in a decade or two ?

Nasir Ahmed : In a boardroom with companies like Universal, Disney, UMG, Sony Music, Alphabet, Kering Group, Apple, Facebook, Tesla, Space X, basically being one of the world’s leading conglomerate with all our subsidiaries reinventing their field. Working on how next to change the world.

How do we exist when dreams can’t be achieved cause you aren’t believed in by parents or the society that breeds you ?

Nasir Ahmed : Hate to be the one to tell you, but someone has to , you need to rebel against all of it, your parents, the society, you can’t play by their rules and expect to win the game. So basically, we can only exist when we find comfort and sanity in similar beings therefore we make our own society, Baroque Age is here for you.

Nas, refreshing conversation with you as always, Thank you.

Nasir Ahmed : My pleasure.

MoreBranches

MoreBranches is the home of conscious African content on Generation Z.

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    Steve West.

    Written by

    journalist & creative inventor. @BaroqueAge

    MoreBranches

    MoreBranches is the home of conscious African content on Generation Z.

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