Today we’d like to introduce you to El Nathan Manu
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Art has always been a passion of mine, whether it’s film, music, or fashion. My mother is a fashion designer and my grandmother runs a great fashion brand and school in Ghana. Growing up as a Ghanaian in mostly white-populated areas, it was difficult for me to find myself. I was often made fun of for my interests through elementary and middle school. It was odd for other kids to see a black kid interested in the arts when their perception of what a black person is was very different than that. But I didn’t get discouraged and I owned it, I learned and I grew. I started taking an interest in how I dressed in around 3rd grade, and I improved my style every year. I compose and arrange choir music in my spare time, and sometimes I get the chance for my high school choir to sing them. I’m also currently finishing up a movie script that I hope evolves into a real film I direct. Also, in late 2023, I began working on my fashion brand, Abelonde. I started it not necessarily because I wanted to make clothes, but because I wanted to promote a lifestyle. I want people to feel cool, to look cool, to be cool. That’s what the brand is all about. I feel like I was blessed with ideas, and I’m on earth for a reason. So I have to show people what I can do and what I’m capable of, and I can’t wait at all.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. As I said before, I was bullied a lot growing up. As an African in the States, I felt like an outlier. I wanted to hide parts of myself, but those parts are what make me unique, so I owned them. I sing, I write music, I write books and movies, and I make clothes. I can’t let anyone’s opinion drag me down. These past few months since my sophomore year of high school started, I’ve been through a lot. I’ve lost people I loved, close friends, had a near-death experience. But through it all I just kept my trust in God and kept moving forward, using art as an outlet for my emotions. I started writing a whole movie, just as a way to express my emotions concerning love, death, and moving forward. So yes, even though it hasn’t been easy, it’s not supposed to be, and struggles make us who we are. Without struggle, I don’t believe there is a point to life. Nothing you win will ever have any meaning to it if you didn’t lose things along the way. Loss is important to character, and I use that to build myself to be better.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I do a lot of things. On August 14th, I began writing a movie adaptation for a book I love called Goodbye, Eri. I’ve been working on it for the past 3 months, and I’m very close to finishing it and hopefully making it a real thing. I also love music. Both of my parents sing, so I guess I picked it up from them. I write my own songs, as well as composing and arranging music for choirs. But most importantly, I am starting a clothing brand, Abelonde. I’m proud of the fact that I’m really great at whatever I do. I have a passion for art and if I really put my mind to something, I will be the best at it, no matter what. I’ve decided I absolutely will be successful, and I will not change my mind about that. I’m only 16, and I think that gives me more of an edge to be noticed. Being young gives me the advantage of surprising people with what I can do and what I’m capable of. The earlier you start, the better.
How do you define success?
Success for me is to be able to do what I love and to be noticed and appreciated for it. Whether it’s fashion, music, film, or school, I want to do the best I can and for people to love what I do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abelonde.4.abelonde/profilecard/
- Twitter: https://x.com/abelonde?s=21
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@abelonde
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/jack.blonde.jack/profilecard/
