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Define Genius - An Ode To The Arts




What does Genius mean to you? If you Google the term Genius here is what you will find "exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability"

Growing up in a typical Nigerian environment, those in the arts were not worthy of being called geniuses. And I am convinced that a lot of people still believe that if you are no scientist then one should stick to smaller terms when describing themselves.

 When people speak about geniuses to aspire to they never call the names of my favourite musicians. Of course not! They are no genius they just make nice music, nothing special so they are tossed aside. The name of hair stylists, fashionistas never made the list. Of course not! they just made us pretty.

I have grown up and I am redefining what genius means to me. When I say the word genius, the photo of Albert Einstein with his dishevelled grey hair no longer comes to mind. The images that pop in my head after Kanye, of course, are great writers and poets that carve beautiful words that touch the soul. People who preserve humanity in their words. They tell the story of people both living and dead.

That dancer who moves like he or she is not human. Actors that interpret our stories. Men and women who freeze life through their lens. The artist whose painting evokes emotions.

The men and women who have done nothing but proven that there is beauty in the world by existing in their awesomeness that's what genius means to me.

What does genius mean to you? Let me know who defines genius to you in the comment section. 
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Location: Nigeria

Comments

  1. Unknown20 June 2019 at 14:58

    Absolutely true. Genius to me is just being exceptional in the little things you do. Genius doesn't have to belong to just a set of persons or mind, I believe everyone is a genius in at least one way or the other.

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